National Museum of Bhutan

The National Museum of Bhutan recognizes the critical role it plays not only as a cultural resource but also as an educational resource.  Its mission it to increase awareness of Bhutanese heritage and traditions among Bhutanese people and international visitors alike.  The Museum is also a resource for scholars of Himalayan culture and Mahayana Buddhism.

Museum Programs and Publications

For over a decade, the National Museum has played an important role in promoting the preservation and study of Bhutanese culture in all its forms both tangible and intangible.  Beyond acting as a storehouse for Bhutan’s national treasures, the Museum has hosted many colloquia which have united leading

Bhutanese scholars in an intensive academic environment where they share their knowledge, research and enthusiasm over a multi day period.

Some of the subjects of past colloquia have been:

• The Intangible Culture of Bhutan.  This symposium addressed such subjects as folk tales, traditional dance, cuisine, regional dialects
• Fortresses of Bhutan. Researchers presented their work on the architecture, function, and evolution of this most emblematic Bhutanese art form.
• The Essence of Bhutanese Culture. This symposium looked behind what is visible on the surface to examine more subtle practices around traditional medicines, the preparation and lore of arra, death rituals, various new year’s celebrations, and the presence of local deities.
• Soul and Substance of Bhutan.  Scholars and local experts discussed the history of monasteries, the conservation of temples, the richness of Bhutanese performance arts, and the significance of Bhutanese masked dances.

At the conclusion of each meeting, the authors submit their studies for publication.  Copies of the colloquium proceedings are available at the Museum shop.

The Museum invites the visitor to explore the following links.

The Museum offers these links as resources only. Inclusion on this page does not imply a relationship with or endorsement of any kind of the host. The Museum is not responsible for any content at other sites. Thank you.

Bhutan and Himalayan Art and Cultural Web Sites

The National Museum of Bhutan is under the Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs.  This Ministry coordinates the activities of its constituent subdivisions such as the Royal Academy of the Performing Arts, Division for Cultural Properties, and Division for Conservation and Architectural Heritage.  Additional museums such as the Textile Museum, Folk Heritage Museum and Royal Museum at Trongsa Ta Dzong have since been opened under the governance of this department.

Several international museums also have useful online collections of Himalayan Art.

Himalayan Art Resources, features over 30,000 objects from the Shelley and Donald Rubin Himalayan art collection.

Environmental Sites 

Royal Society for the Protection of Nature – A non-profit organization dedicated to the protection of wildlife and sustainable development practices and policies.

Bhutan Ministry of Agriculture and Forests – The Ministry publishes its Five Year Plans, information on climate change and tracks human-wildlife conflicts.

National Environment Commission – The National Environment Commission is a high-level autonomous agency of the Royal Government of Bhutan and is mandated to look after all issues related to environment in Bhutan.

The Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation and Environment – The Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation and Environment is a Government based research and training institute. Its mission is to foster better stewardship of Bhutan’s natural heritage – land, water, air and species–through science-based research and transmission of scientific results to field practitioners, environmental leaders and policy makers.

The College of Natural Resources, Royal University of Bhutan – An educational institution for rural development in recognition of the interdependence of livestock, agriculture and forestry.

Bhutanese and Himalayan Studies

Centre for Bhutan Studies   The Centre was inaugurated in 1999 to perform scholarly works and research on Bhutan as well as to provide feedback and evaluate government plans and policies. It publishes the Journal of Bhutan Studies semi-annually.

Digital Himalaya Hosted at the University of Cambridge, Digital Himalaya contains a digital collection, storage and distribution of anthropological information from the Himalayan region.

National Library of Bhutan The library houses a large and growing collection of manuscripts, books, scriptures and written documents as well as hand carved wooden blocks used for printing traditional religious books.  The National Library holds one of the largest collections of Mahayana Buddhist literature in the world.  Its web site is comprehensive with links to other resources.

Tibetan and Himalayan Library This site gathers websites, information services, and networking facilities relating to the Tibetan plateau and southern Himalayan regions.

Gross National Happiness

Gross National Happiness Commission. GNH News, Mission, Five Year Plans and Publications can be found at the body that reviews government initiatives.

Gross National Happiness Web site Sponsored by the Centre for Bhutan Studies