Agency: Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen graced the consecration ceremony of the Wangduechhoeling Palace Museum and Cultural Center on 30 October.
Their Majesties the Gyalyums, Members of the Royal Family, the Prime Minister, senior officials, and dignitaries attended the ceremony presided over by the Venerable Dorji Lopen.
The decade-long project to restore the historic Wangduechhoeling Palace and establish the Museum and Cultural Center began in 2012 under the guidance of Her Majesty Gyalyum Tseyring Pem Wangchuck. Led by the Bhutan Foundation, the project was implemented in collaboration with the Department of Culture and Dzongkha Development, Ministry of Home Affairs. The ambitious effort included contributions from international conservation experts, who worked alongside Bhutanese artisans to enhance local expertise in heritage conservation.
The Wangduechhoeling Palace, an enduring symbol of Bhutan’s royal history and cultural heritage, has been meticulously restored and reimagined as a museum and cultural centre. Originally built in 1858 by Trongsa Penlop Jigme Namgyel in the Bumthang valley, the Palace once served as the royal residence for Bhutan’s first three kings, bearing witness to some of the most defining moments in the nation’s history.
The Palace is unique in its residential palatial design, distinct from the fortress-like dzong architecture. After a decade-long restoration and adaptive re-use process, the Palace has been transformed into a space that honors Bhutan’s unique architecture and cultural heritage while embracing change. The restoration project began in 2012 upon the command of Her Majesty Gyalyum Tseyring Pem Wangchuck to the Bhutan Foundation.
Bhutan Foundation in collaboration with the Department of Culture and Dzongkha Development under the Ministry of Home Affairs implemented the project. The project not only focused on restoring the Palace, but also retaining its authentic architectural style by employing traditional construction methods involving local artisans. This ensured that the Palace remains steeped in its past while being made relevant for current and future generations. Through this project, many artifacts that originated in Bhutan but remained in private collections outside Bhutan have been gifted back