Bhutan National Library

One of the most popular destinations in Thimphu is the National Bhutanese Library, established with the aim of disseminating and preserving Bhutan’s rich cultural heritage. Its grand opening took place in 1967 at the initiative of Queen Ashi Choden. The library was originally housed in the central tower of Tashicho-dzong. It contained a small collection containing precious texts. Soon, due to the rapid replenishment of the collection with new exhibits, it had to be placed in a separate room located in the Changangkha area. It was a four-storey octagonal complex, made in the traditional style of dzong.

The solemn consecration of the new building was held by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche on November 23, 1984. In 2004, an additional building was added to the library, which now houses state documents and national archives equipped with modern technologies that support storage conditions - temperature and humidity. There are also old letters and photographs. The archive has a special microfilming service that ensures the long-term preservation of documents and books.