A new exhibition at the Wangduechhoeling Palace Museum and Cultural Centre in Bumthang honours the courage of Bhutan’s warriors and the vision of its successive Kings. Titled “Arms, Armour and the Defence of a Nation”, it was inaugurated by His Royal Highness Gyaltsab Jigme Dorji Wangchuck and Azhi Yeatso Lhamo yesterday.
The museum displays arms and armour that mostly date from the 19th and 20th centuries.
Visitors can see traditional close-combat weapons, including bows, arrows and spears, alongside firearms ranging from matchlocks to modern guns. Kings of Bhutan and other national leaders are believed to have used them.
The final section features portraits and quotations of His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo.
The exhibition pays tribute to the courage of those who served the nation and secured peace for generations. It also marks the 70th Birth Anniversary of His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo.
Kuenga Lhuendup (PhD), Executive Director of the Wangduechhoeling Palace Museum and Cultural Centre, Bumthang, said, “Our intention was not simply to bring together a collection of swords, shields, guns, and military equipment. Rather, we wanted to use these objects to tell a much larger story, the story of Bhutan’s efforts to safeguard its sovereignty, the courage of those who served the nation, and above all, the wisdom and leadership of our successive kings and forefathers in securing the peace and stability that we enjoy today.”
The exhibition is open to the public, giving visitors a chance to see how Bhutan’s history of safeguarding its sovereignty shaped the peace the nation enjoys today.
Thinley Dorji, Bumthang
Edited by Sangay Chezom
