5 Boutiques In Thimphu You Can’t Find Anywhere Else

Antiques, textiles, arts and handicrafts in Thimphu! Fill up your suitcase with colorful Bhutanese gems.

Thimphu Shop
PHOTO WENDY HUNG

1. Kelzang Handicrafts – Best Local Fabrics

Yorkay Central. PO Box 685, Thimphu, Bhutan (map)

You spot local Bhutanese wearing beautiful, traditional dresses and robes, now you want to bring something similar back home? Kelzang Wangmo (Jambay) is a designer in Thimphu, and the store Kelzang Handicrafts is perfect for buying Bhutanese skirts, dresses, jackets, fabrics…all that good fashionable stuff! Every pattern comes in different sizes and styles. Beware, they’re all beautiful and you’ll want to take home the whole store!

bhutan fabric shop boutique
PHOTO WENDY HUNG

2. Lungta Handicraft – Best Himalayan Arts & Crafts

Opposite General Post Office Building. Chang Lam, PO Box 1370, Thimphu-11001, Bhutan ‎(mapwebsite)

What you want to watch out for when buying a piece of antique in Bhutan (and you’ll want lots of it once you see them) is the stamp from National Commission. That government stamp indicates your item being safe to go through customs. Lungta Handicraft is perfect for Himalayan jewelries, arts and crafts. We especially fell in love with antique boxes for the home, and jewelries as gifts. 

lungta boutique shop bhutan
FACEBOOK Lungta Handicraft

3. Artshop Gallery – Best Local Artists Boutique

Near the Clocktower / Next to Osang video rental store, 0203 Thimphu, Bhutan (website)

Where new meets traditional, ancient style meets street art! A group of Bhutanese artists have assembled themselves to create Artshop Gallery – a place in Thimphu that not only sells work of these artists but inspiring and supporting local artists who attend Bhutanese schools. From paintings, ceramics, street art to photography, this gallery has a beautiful mixture of traditional and modern art work in Thimphu.

artshop gallery boutique shop bhutan
FACEBOOK Artshop Gallery

4. DSB Books – Best Local Bookstore

Jojo’s Shopping Complex / PO Box No. 435 Thimphu Bhutan (mapwebsite)

There are plenty of bookstores in Thimphu, but DSB Books has a more complete collection of Buddhism and Bhutanese books that you can bring home as coffee table decors. DSB is involved in local festivals as well as having readings by lamas and rinpoches (reincarnated lamas). 

dsb books shop bhutan
FACEBOOK DSB Books

5. Centenary Farmer’s Market – Best Local Groceries

Chhogyal Lam, Thimphu, Bhutan (mapwebsite)

The best part about traveling is to venture in the local market scene. Here, you truly see how locals live, their way of life. Centenary Farmer’s Market has two floors. The first floor contains products imported from India, and the second floor sells products from Bhutan. Bhutan does not have much agriculture products on its own, much of their fruits and vegetables are imports from other countries, particularly from India. Look out for lots of chilis, sugar canes, dried fish. This place is as colorful as the patterns on Bhutanese textiles!

centenary farmers market thimphu bhutan
PHOTO WENDY HUNG

Wendy Hung

CEO, FOUNDER, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

As the founder of Jetset Times, Wendy is an avid traveler and fluent in five languages. When she's not traveling, Wendy calls Paris and Taipei home. Her favorite countries so far from her travels have been: Bhutan, Iran, and St. Bart's because they were all so different!

Jetset Times in your inbox

Sign-up for our newsletter

By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and European users agree to the data transfer policy.