Bhutan - Lindsay Brown [88]
Mila Restaurant (Map; 325519; Dragon Shopping Complex, Norzin Lam) features singers and a Dzongkha comedian most nights. There is a largely local audience and the performers, both amateur and professional, sing traditional Bhutanese songs. When there are professional acts expect a Nu 50 cover charge. After 8pm members of the audience can request songs at Nu 100 each.
Cinemas
The usually crowded and always uncomfortable Luger Cinema (Map; 322317; Norzin Lam) screens Hindi and Bhutanese movies as well as the occasional ancient English/foreign-language movie.
Sport
ARCHERY
Tournaments (Click here) are scheduled on many weekends at the Changlimithang Archery Ground. Whether it’s the traditional bamboo or the high-tech carbon-fibre bows, the skill, antics and camaraderie are always entertaining. For dates of events check the papers. Archers practise at the target field at the south end of Changlimithang Stadium on most mornings.
FOOTBALL
The national football tournament takes place in August at Changlimithang Stadium, with teams from schools throughout the country competing. At major matches the Royal Bhutan Army band provides the half-time entertainment.
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SHOPPING
Thimphu has a plethora of general shops containing a hodgepodge selection such as light bulbs, stationery, farm implements, shampoo, computer disks and canned fish. To provide even more variety, shops may sell drinks by the glass and their sign may read ‘shop cum bar’ or the all-encompassing ‘general cum bar shop’.
Many items on sale are made in India, but there are lots of interesting Bhutanese products, especially textiles, baskets, jewellery, incense, books and religious items.
At the Duty Free Shop (Map; 322167; Norzin Lam) you can buy imported liquor, wine, biscuits and other ‘luxury’ items, but you have to pay the full price, including duty, unless you’re a diplomat or a senior government official.
Archery
Catering to the large community of Bhutanese archers, Bhutan Archery Shop (Map; 332100; Norling Centre, Norzin Lam) specialises in American-made Hoyt brand bows that range in price from US$600 to US$1100. Arrows are the steel-tipped Easton brand, which sell for Nu 280 to 500. It’s a relatively expensive sport. The traditional bamboo bows are usually homemade and the bamboo arrows can be picked up at the weekend market.
Contemporary Paintings & Handmade Paper
Jungshi Handmade Paper Factory (Map; 323431; Khuju Lam; 8.30am-5pm, Mon-Sat) This small factory produces watermark paper as well as cards, lampshades, envelopes, calendars and other items made from traditional Bhutanese paper.
Located near the Clocktower, Art Shop Gallery (Map; 325664; Wogzin Lam) has art supplies, traditional paper and handicrafts, and contemporary paintings from the Voluntary Artists Studio Thimphu (VAST; Map; 325664; www.vast-bhutan.org; Chang Lam), which also sells art during regular exhibitions.
Gho & Kira
If you want to wear Bhutanese dress, there are many shops in Thimphu’s shopping complexes that have ready-made gho and kira in a variety of sizes, patterns and quality. Kelzang Handicrafts (Map; 321353; Yarkay Central, Norzin Lam) and the Handicrafts Emporium (Map; 322810; Norzin Lam) are two to try.
A handmade cotton kira costs around Nu 4000 while a silk kira sells for Nu 50,000 to 80,000. A gho costs about Nu 2000 if it’s made from machine-woven cloth and Nu 4000 to 6000 for hand-woven cotton cloth. A silk gho can cost from Nu 12,000.
In the industrial estate at the south end of Thimphu, the Gagyel Lhundrup Weaving Centre (Map; 327534; Changzamtok; 9am-5pm) produces hand-woven textiles on site and has a selection of cloth and ready-made garments for sale. This is one of the few places where you can watch weavers at work.
Handicrafts, Traditional Arts & Jewellery
Don’t neglect the handicraft section at the weekend market, where you can put your bargaining prowess to the test. To purchase the excellent works by students of the National Institute for Zorig Chusum visit Sangay Arts & Crafts (Map; 327419; Pedzoe Lam), in a building