The building of this chorten was originally the idea of Bhutan's third king, H.M. Jigme Dorji Wangchuck (“the father of modern Bhutan”), who had wished to erect a monument to world peace and prosperity, but was unable to give shape to his idea in his lifetime due to pressures of state. After His Majesty’s untimely death in 1972, the Royal Family and Cabinet resolved to fulfill his wishes and erect a memorial that would perpetuate his memory and also serve as a monument to peace. The National Memorial Chorten was consecrated on July 28, 1974. The finely executed wall paintings and delicately fashioned statues within the monument provide a deep insight into Buddhist philosophy.

The Memorial Chorten is an impressive monument with its golden spires shining in the sun, its bells tinkling in the wind and an endless procession of elderly people circling around it. The Memorial Chorten was built in 1974 in memory of the third King, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. There are no mortal remains of the King inside the Chorten. There is only a photograph draped in ceremonial scarves on the ground floor. The ceilings of the small porches that grace all four sides of the Chorten are painted on the south with the mandala of the Buddha Ratnasambhava, on the west with that of Hayagriya, on the north with the mandala of Phurba and on the east with that of Vajrasattava. The Memorial Chorten is an excellent introduction to Trantic Buddhism.

In the center, the most visible religious structure is the National Memorial Chorten containing numerous sacred religious paintings and tantric statues. For many, this is the focus of their daily worship and people circumambulate the chorten throughout the day.

Simtokha is about 5 km south of Thimphu on the road to Paro and Phuentsholing. Officially known as Sangkak Zabdhon Phodrang (Palace of the Profound Meaning of Secret Mantras), Simtokha Dzong was built in 1629 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. It is often said to be the first dzong built in Bhutan. It is the oldest dzong that has survived as a complete structure, and is the first structure that incorporated both monastic and administrative facilities. Since 1961 it has been the home of a rigney (religious and classical studies) school. Its students are both monks and lay people. The site is said to have been chosen to guard over a demon that had vanished into the rock nearby, hence the name Simtokha from sinmo (demoness), do (stone). Conveniently, the site is also an excellent location from which to protect the Thimphu valley and the valley leading to the Dochula and eastern Bhutan. The Simtokha Dzong, the oldest fortress of the country now houses the School for Buddhist studies. Built in 1627, this Dzong is oldest in Thimphu and gateway to the Thimphu Valley. The Dzong houses Rigney School for Dzongkha and monastic studies. There are beautiful frescos and slate carvings in Simtokha

Tashichhodzong was built in 1641 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal and reconstructed in 1962, by the Late King, His Majesty,KingJigme Dorji Wangchuck.

While other governments around the world ensconce themselves in fortresses of stone and steel, the seat of Bhutan's Royal Government is in a building that mirrors the county's culture and its people. The Taschichho Dzong was built in the late 1700's and also serves as the home of the Central Monastic Body. The building we see today is largely a modern affair, built in 1962 when His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuk moved the government to Thimphu after a fire at its original location.The complex's central tower is original. Tashichhodzong houses the main secretariat building, throne room of His Majesty the King of Bhutan. During the warmer summer months the monk body headed by His Holiness, the Je Khenpo, makes its home in the dzong.

The rich natural wealth in its pristine state has earned the Kingdom of Bhutan in Eastern Himalayas, the title of ‘Botanical Paradise’. This natural heritage needs to be conserved and protected. We also need to study and understand the Nature to estimate its potential benefits. The first Royal Botanic Garden at Serbithang, 15 km south of the capital city Thimphu, was established in April 1999 by the Royal Government of Bhutan to display Nation’s flora to the visitors and study it scientifically. The inauguration date of the Royal Botanic Garden commemorates the silver jubilee celebration of His Majesty the King Jigme Singye Wangchuk's accession to the throne. The master plan of the Garden involves landscaping, soil improvement, irrigation systems and technical capacity.

Placed under the National Biodiversity Centre along with a herbarium, a seed gene bank, an agro-biodiversity unit, and an animal diversity section, the Botanical Garden aims to be a conservation area for scientific studies, be an educational resource for schoolchildren and visitors, display the rich varieties of the flora of the country and provide a recreational site for the public. The plant life forms represented here belong to different climactic zones. The Buddhist philosophy has been represented here by including a prayer wheel and chorten in the design of the garden, which makes it an ideal place for spiritual reflection and appreciate Nature. Some of the most interesting sites in the Royal Botanic Garden are :< /p>

Aquatic Garden

Arboretum displaying tree species from Bhutan's native broadleaf, deciduous and coniferous forests.

Bamboo Garden, with species of bamboo used to build scaffolding and the bamboo species used to make traditional archery bows of Bhutan.

Economic and Medicinal Plants Collection

Fruit and fodder Gardens

Japanese Garden developed with the help of Japanese technical experts.

Map of Bhutan

Orchid House displaying more than 800 species of orchids from different climatic regions in Bhutan.

Rhododendron Collection, which is one of the largest in the world.

Rose Garden

Bhutan’s Royal Botanical Garden at Serbithang is located at 2300 m above sea level and thus, plants can be displayed here from a range of altitudes. Conifers in the Garden include Chir Pine, Blue Pine, several species of Quercus and Acer. The Garden also has a good number of Bhutan's National Tree, the Cyprus, along with a number of native fruit trees and shrubs such as apples, pears, peaches and strawberries. There is a collection of medicinal and economically useful plants including more than 300 types of plants with medicinal uses and economically useful plants that are used for purposes such as roofing, making dyes, furniture and incense.