Thimphu Weekend Market

Bhutan Tours - Chillies for sale

Thimpu's weekend market takes place on both sides of the Wang Chhu River and lasts from Thursday night until Sunday night.  Traders come into the city from the surrounding countryside from Thursday onwards and set up their stalls. The west bank is home to the food market, with a wide and amazing range of produce, including some distinctly odd items such as leg of yak and yeast patties (the latter for brewing the local barley beer).  Particularly in eveidence are chillies, which the Bhutanese regard as a central ingredient rather than a flavouring (some dishes consist entirely of chillies!).  On the east bank of the river, reached by a new cantilever footbridge, is the handicraft market, which sells products such as amulets and prayer wheels.  Your guide will be able to help you in assessing the quality of goods, many of which nowadays come from Nepal.