3.11 VIEWS OF NATURAL FEATURES AND FORMATIONS

The natural features of visual importance within the city are analyzed through the following parameters:

• The formation of visual corridors and the visual experience they offer
• The boundaries demarcating elements of the valley
• The extent of vision and comprehensibility of the “Visual Scale” of the valley
• The physical structure of the city
• Locations of strategic importance in terms of views and visual access

Views and Visual Sequences
What makes the visual experience offered by the city interesting is the variety of visual possibilities and sequences it offers. This is made possible by a series of “Visual Corridor” formations, and minute variations, in the type and density of vegetation, slope of the hill formations and the very planimetric profile of the valley, which breaks the city into a set of “visual segments”.

The Boundary Demarcating Elements
The physical and visual spread of the Thimphu valley is bound by the surrounding mountain ridges, intersecting to form the confluence of rivers, or, as natural boundaries where the valley takes a steep turn, as is the case with the northern and southern ends of the Thimphu Valley.

Extent of Vision and Comprehensibility of the Visual Scale
The very facility of being able to see the natural boundaries from most parts of the city, makes the visual scale of the city comprehensible. Nevertheless, the structure of the city as a series of distinct corridors and their varying profiles, make it immensely difficult to comprehend the visual construct of the valley at one glance. This induces a continual variety into the whole visual experience of the valley and negates visual monotony.

The Physical Structure of the Valley
The city is enclosed by a series of hill formations that shape it into a narrow valley with a varying profile. These hill formations vary in their physical scale and the nature of their formation as regards gradients and height characteristics.

These variations have led to a distinctive physical characteristic of the valley, which could broadly be broken up into a series of “Visual Corridors” and “Enclosures”.


The Corridors are those segments of the valley profile where the two facing hill formations of the valley are in close proximity forming narrow elongated spaces in between.

There are certain sections of the valley where the surrounding hill formations broaden out to form relatively less confined segments of space. These sections have been looked at as natural “Enclosures” within the valley. For instance, the Motithang, Serbithang, Samteling and Dechencholing areas.

Locations of Strategic Importance It is clear that these characteristics of the valley formation have been used to significant advantage while locating Lhakhangs and other structures of importance, and in the process, endowing them with a certain dignity and status. It is these characteristics and traditions that have to be retained and built upon. Hence, all future development directions within the valley have to consider these established traditions, which are relevant both to the culture and topography of the place. The relevance of these studies reflects in the following segments of “Urban Planning”: • In the location of key public facilities as per their socio-economic status, and as per their significance as visual and cultural landmarks. • The location of low-density residential areas (which cater to the upper income segments), and institutional areas could also be based on the scenic possibilities the respective locations offer. As for instance, in the cases of upper Babesa and Taba. • In the alignments of key city roads to offer the best views of the city, as in the case of Dechen Lam, Rabten Lam and Gaden Lam. • In the location of the peripheral pathways and adventure trails, to link the key view points and scenic points within the city. • Guiding the development directions within the city to retain and safeguard the natural character of the valley and prevent it, from being overwhelmed by uncontrolled development. The visual structure is an important aspect of the Existing Scenario, which can be built upon.

MAP NO. 3.11 VIEWS OF NATURAL FEATURES AND FORMATIONS(Click to view the map)