Thimphu is the capital and largest city of Bhutan. It is located in the western central part of the country within a valley that serves as one of its dzongkhags, known as the Thimphu District.
The city replaced Punakha, the ancient capital, as the nation's seat of government in 1955. In 1961, Thimphu was officially declared the capital of the Kingdom of Bhutan by the 3rd Druk Gyalpo, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck.