Motithang Takin Preserve

Bhutan

Part goat, part antelope and entirely unlike anything else, the takin peers back at you from the forest — an animal so peculiar that legend credits its creation to a mischievous saint.

Tucked into wooded hills above the capital, the Motithang Takin Preserve is home to Bhutan's improbable national animal, the takin. Local lore ties this creature to Drukpa Kunley, the "Divine Madman," said to have fashioned it from a goat's head and a cow's bones. Wandering the forested enclosure, you'll spot these shaggy, sturdy animals grazing calmly among the trees, alongside a few other Himalayan species. Cool, shaded and unhurried, the Takin Preserve Thimphu offers a gentle, genuine encounter with the national animal of Bhutan. Among the more offbeat things to do in Thimphu, seeing the takin Bhutan is quietly memorable. Counted among the easy places to visit in Thimphu, Motithang Takin Preserve Bhutan suits all ages. Plan your visit via the official Bhutan Tourism portal: bhutan.travel.

March to May and September to November for pleasant weather, with early morning best for active, feeding takin.

Visit in the morning when the takin gather near the fence to feed, giving the closest views — bring a zoom lens, keep noise low so as not to startle them, and combine the stop with the nearby Buddha Dordenma viewpoint just downhill.

This attraction can be easily woven into BreakBag Holidays' customised Bhutan tour packages, pairing the Takin Preserve with Buddha Dordenma, Tashichho Dzong and Thimphu's markets.

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