Motithang Takin Preserve | Thimphu

Motithang Takin Preserve sits in a quiet, forested corner of northern Thimphu, just far enough from the city center that the air feels cooler and scented with pine. The road climbs steadily before leveling out near a wooden gate, and the moment you step inside, the preserve feels more like a peaceful hillside meadow than a typical wildlife enclosure.

A Unique Home for Bhutan’s National Animal
The takin, Bhutan’s national animal, looks almost mythical at first glance-something between a cow, a goat, and a small bison, with a gently sloping nose and heavy shoulders. Local lore links the creature to the 15th-century saint Drukpa Kunley, whose playful, unconventional miracles are part of Bhutanese storytelling. The preserve was created to keep the herd safe after earlier attempts to let them roam free led the animals straight into Thimphu’s streets. That bit of history adds a slightly whimsical touch to the visit.

The Setting Among Pine Forests and Soft Trails
The terrain is a mixture of open grassy patches and shaded woodland, with tall pines dropping needles that give the ground a soft, spongy feel underfoot. The hillside opens into a sloping meadow where the takins usually gather. Their deep brown coats blend with the earth tones around them, and the slow, grazing movements give the place a calm, almost meditative pace. Sometimes you catch the faint scrape of hooves on stone or a soft snort as they move between feeding stations.

Paths, Viewing Points, and Close Observation
A looping path winds along the enclosure’s edge, offering several spots where visitors can lean on wooden rails to watch the animals at eye level. On quiet mornings, keepers sometimes place fresh fodder near these points, and the takins wander close enough that you can study the curve of their horns or the surprisingly gentle expression in their eyes. Mixed in with the herd are a few sambar deer, tall and elegant, often standing motionless in the shade as if carving out their own quiet corner.

Small Facilities and a Relaxed Atmosphere
The preserve isn’t commercial or flashy; it has a simple interpretation board or two, a handful of benches, and a relaxed rhythm that encourages slow walking rather than hurried sightseeing. The sounds here are the natural kind-wind moving through trees, dried leaves rustling under a deer’s steps, and distant prayer flags tapping lightly against poles on the hill above.

A Natural Pause on the Edge of the Capital
What stays with many visitors is the contrast between the preserve’s unhurried calm and the steady movement of Thimphu just a few kilometers away. Standing at one of the higher viewpoints, you might glimpse sunlight catching the rooftops in the distance, while the takins below graze as they’ve done for generations. The preserve feels like a gentle breathing space, a small slice of forested Bhutan that invites you to linger a little longer than planned.