The closest landmark is also the most famous: Tashichho Dzong, ranked #1,205 of 8,133 worldwide, 2 km north of the city centre.
The 100 km circle reaches into 2 countries — Bhutan (11), India (1).
🇧🇹 Bhutan
Castles near Thimphu
12 castles, fortresses, palaces and ruins within 100 km of the city centre — every one on the interactive map, with photos, distances and directions.
Within 25 km of Thimphu
- Tashichho Dzong
2 km north · Fortress
Tashichho Dzong is a Buddhist monastery and fortress on the northern edge of the city of Thimphu in Bhutan, on the western bank of the Wang Chu.
- Rinpung Dzong
21 km west · Fortress
Rinpung Dzong, sometimes referred to as Paro Dzong, is a large dzong - Buddhist monastery and fortress - of the Drukpa Lineage of the Kagyu school in…
- Dechencholing Palace
6 km north · Palace & château
Dechencholing Palace is located in Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan, 4 kilometres to the north of the Tashichho Dzong and 7 kilometres north of the…
- Simtokha Dzong
5 km south-east · Fortress
Simtokha Dzong also known as Sangak Zabdhon Phodrang is a small dzong. It was built in 1628 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, who unified Bhutan.
- Dobji Dzong
8 km south-east · Fortress
Dobji Dzong is a dzong monastery in Bhutan, on a ridge on the national highway from Thimphu to Haa, Paro District, just a few kilometers south of the…
Day trips: 25–60 km
- Punakha Dzong
26 km north-east · Fortress
The Punakha Dzong, also known as Pungthang Dewa Chhenbi Phodrang, is the administrative centre of Punakha District in Punakha, Bhutan.
- Gasa Dzong
49 km north · Fortress
Gasa Dzong or Gasa Tashi Thongmön Dzong near Gasa is the administrative center of Gasa Dzongkhag in the northwestern region of Bhutan.
- Drukgyal Dzong
30 km west · Ruin
Drukgyal Dzong, also known as Drukgyel Dzong, is a fortress and Buddhist monastery, located in the upper part of the Paro District, Bhutan.
- Wangdue Phodrang Dzong
26 km east · Fortress
Wangdue Phodrang Dzong, also known as the Wangdi Dzong is a Buddhist monastery in Wangdue Phodrang, Bhutan.
- Lingzhi Yügyal Dzong
47 km north-west · Fortress
Lingzhi Yügyal Dzong, is an important Drukpa Kagyu monastery and administrative center situated at an altitude of 4150 metres in Lingzhi, Thimphu…
Farther afield: 60–100 km
- Trongsa Dzong
86 km east · Fortress
Trongsa Dzong is the largest dzong fortress in Bhutan, located in Trongsa in Trongsa district, in the centre of the country.
- Buxa Fort
80 km south · Fortress
Buxa Fort is located at an altitude of 867 metres in the Buxa Tiger Reserve, in the Kalchini CD block in the Alipurduar subdivision of the Alipurduar…
Distances are straight-line from the city centre. City coordinates and population: Wikidata Q9270.
Frequently asked questions
How many castles are near Thimphu?
The Castlemap atlas maps 12 landmarks (10 fortresses · 1 palace & château · 1 ruin) within 100 km of the centre of Thimphu, measured straight-line — a curated selection of well-documented landmarks, not a count of every fortification ever built.
What is the closest castle to Thimphu?
Tashichho Dzong, a fortress 2 km north of the city centre.
See also medieval castles · all rankings · castles by country.