The city extends in a north–south direction on the west bank of the valley formed by the Raidāk River, which is known as the Wang Chuu or Thimphu Chuu in Bhutan. Thimphu is the fifth highest capital in the world by altitude and ranges in altitude from  to . Unusually for a capital city, Thimphu does not have its own airport, relies on the Paro Airport connected by road some  away.