A traditional hotel in the picturesque Thimphu Valley, this is the ideal place from which to explore all of Bhutan’s magnificent attractions. The building is one of the largest in the country and is a blend of Dzong architecture and modern design, featuring a collection of 66 superbly appointed rooms and suites. Festooned with traditional hand-painted murals of clouds and a host of luxury amenities from walk-in wardrobes to home theatre systems, the accommodation here is some of the finest in town. All rooms and suites feature high ceilings and dark wood flooring plus underfloor heating in the marbled bathrooms, and some have balconies or are duplexes with canopied beds and dramatic spiral staircases. The hotel’s inviting bar Ara, provides exotic signature drinks accompanied by entertainment by a lively Himalayan folk band and each of the three restaurants focusses on a different aspect of Bhuddist culture. Visit Chig-Ja-Gye for flavoursome Bhutanese cuisine, or sip special salted butter tea at Rimps, the hotel’s serene tea lounge. The Thongsel, serving European and Bhutanese fare has panoramic windows that open onto stunning vistas of fountains, mist shrouded mountains and Buddhist prayer wheels. Facilities include a heated, indoor swimming pool with Jacuzzi and sauna, while below it you’ll find the sweet-smelling Jiva Spa, with exclusive, signature treatments including the ‘Bhutanese Hot Stone Bath’ as well as traditional Ayurvedic therapies. The hotel is perfectly located in the centre of Thimphu so all of the sights of Bhutan’s dynamic capital city are just waiting to be explored on foot.
