Amankora Thimphu

Amanresorts has been accorded a great privilege in being the first foreign company allowed to open a series of properties throughout different regions of Bhutan. Amankora marks a unique entry into a secluded kingdom whose pristine Himalayan landscapes and remarkably preserved way of life have fascinated travellers the world over. Amankora Thimphu, raised up in a blue-pine forest of the Motithang area, sits close to the capital's intriguing sights and traditional shops.

Two dwellings house a total of 16 suites, featuring a combined living and bedroom that includes a king-size bed, a reading chair and a window banquette providing views across a landscaped courtyard or directly onto the nearby stream and pine forest. Room interiors feature combined wood panel and chocolate brown walls. The traditional bukhari is positioned between the bedroom and the bathroom.

The spacious bathroom opens from the bedroom and provides a terrazzo-clad bath that enjoys a view through a vertical slot window. A shower, toilet and twin vanities and hanging space complete the bathroom. The suites are individually heated during the cold winter months.

The lodge's dzong-inspired architecture incorporates high stone, white-washed buildings accessed through an enclosed arrival court. The combined Living and Dining Room features soaring ceilings and an outdoor dining deck provides views of the nearby stream and surrounding forest. The Spa includes three treatment rooms, steam room and changing areas.

A two-hour drive from Paro, Thimphu lies in a steep valley at an altitude of 2,350m, surrounded by richly forested mountains dotted with ancient monasteries and lhakhangs (temples). The town is built up from the Thimphu Chhu (river) and is centred by the quaint Clock Tower and its surrounding lanes of shops, vegetable and meat markets, and assorted local restaurants. As Bhutan's capital city, Thimphu is home to many attractions and activities, including the National Textile Museum, Folk Heritage Museum and the bustling Changlingmethang Market. It also houses the seat of government and the office of His Majesty, King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, in the majestic Tashichoe Dzong.

Nearby, one can visit Pangri Zampa, two 16th century buildings that now house a monastic astrologer training school. At the head of the valley, a walk across one of the country's oldest cantilever bridges leads to Cheri Goemba where the Kingdom's first monk community was based. Thimphu's main street provides an opportunity to shop for Himalayan jewellery and Bhutanese handicrafts and textiles.