Date: 7th – 11th September 2025 – Leh, Ladakh : The maiden visit of Her Majesty the Queen Mother of Bhutan, Ashi Tseyring Pem Wangchuck, and Her Royal Highness Princess Ashi Kesang Choden Wangchuck to Ladakh marked a historic revival of the centuries-old bonds of friendship, culture, and spirituality between the two Himalayan regions.
The Royal Family of Bhutan visited Ladakh at the invitation of Mr. Tashi Namgyal (Lingtse / Flowering Dharma & IICE) and were formally hosted by the Union Territory Administration of Ladakh as State Guests, with significant support from the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Shri Kavinder Gupta, and Adv. Tashi Gyaltson, Hon’ble Chairman / Chief Executive Councillor, LAHDC-Leh. LAHDC too formally extended its invitation to the Royal Family.
The royal entourage comprised, Dechen Lhendup (Private Secretary to HMQM), Rinzing Wangmo Dukpa, Lama Palden Gyatso, Aum Dorji Ohm, Major Gado (ADC to HMQM), Tashi Dema (Medical Specialist), Tshewang Choden Wangdi, Jigme Tenzin (Attendant), Phub Dorji (Attendant) and Karma Lodey Dema.
Day 2 : 7th September 2025:
The Royal Family of Bhutan arrived at Kushok Bakula Rinpoche Airport, Leh, to a grand ceremonial welcome. Hon’ble Executive Councillor of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Leh, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Head Lama (Chakzot) of Stakna Monastery and representative of Chemdey Monastery was present to welcome the Royal Family and the entourage. They were escorted to Hotel Grand Dragon Ladakh, their place of stay with traditional welcome.
Welcome dinner : That evening, a welcome dinner was hosted by Mr. Tashi Namgyal, Lingtse, at his residence in Yourtung, Leh. Distinguished guests included Princess Sarla, Shri Dorjee Lagruk (President, Ladakh Buddhist Association), Shri Rigzin (Vice President, LBA), Mr. Prashant (Deerpark Institute, Himachal Pradesh), and family members of the Lingtse household. The gathering reflected warmth, cultural harmony, and mutual respect.
Day 2 : 8th September 2025: Cultural Visits and Market Interaction.
The delegation began the day with a visit to the Jigmet Couture Textile Museum, followed by a warm reception and lunch at Hemis Monastery.
Hemis Monastery :
Later, the Royal Family strolled through Leh Market, engaging warmly with locals. In the evening, they joined members of Flowering Dharma for a Vietnamese dinner at Saigon Restaurant, marking a delightful cultural exchange.
Day 3 : 9th September 2025: Monastic and Official Engagements :
The day commenced with a visit to the historic Alchi Monastery, followed by traditional Ladakhi lunch at Alchi Kitchen. The delegation returned to Leh by mid-afternoon.
Courtesy Visit to Raj Niwas : In the evening, Her Majesty and Her Royal Highness paid a courtesy call on the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Shri Kavinder Gupta, and the First Lady, Smt. Bindu Gupta, at Raj Niwas, Leh.
Her Majesty expressed gratitude for the warm hospitality of the UT Administration and praised Ladakh’s stunning landscapes, vibrant culture, and the affection of its people.
Lt. Governor outlined the development initiatives of the Central Government under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for Ladakh. The First Lady warmly appreciated Bhutan’s balance of cultural preservation and modern progress. The meeting concluded with mutual hopes for enhanced cultural, spiritual, and educational exchanges.
Dinner hosted by Ladakh Buddhist Association and Ladakh Gonpa Association.
On the evening of 9th September 2025, the Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA) and the All Ladakh Gonpa Association (LGA) jointly hosted a cultural dinner at Hotel Zen Ladakh in honour of Her Majesty the Queen Mother, Her Royal Highness Princess and the accompanying Royal Delegation.
The evening began with a warm reception, followed by a cultural presentation. Sh. Dorjey Stakmo, a renowned singer of Ladakh, enthralled the gathering with a soulful Ladakhi folk song that highlighted the region’s rich artistic traditions.
The dinner was attended by the members of the LBA, including representatives from the youth and women’s wings, as well as the full representation of the All Ladakh Gonpa Association. Both organisations extended their greetings to the Royal Family and expressed their appreciation for this historic visit.
During the interaction, the LBA and LGA representatives provided a brief overview of their ongoing cultural and spiritual initiatives and spoke about the long-standing relationship between Ladakh and Bhutan. They emphasised the shared Buddhist heritage and the importance of strengthening this bond for future generations through continued cultural, spiritual, and people-to-people exchanges.
The evening concluded with a lavish dinner, reflecting the warmth and generosity of Ladakhi hospitality. The Royal Family expressed their appreciation for the memorable evening and for the meaningful efforts of both associations in nurturing Ladakh’s cultural and spiritual values.
The evening concluded with formal addresses by Shri Tsering Dorjey Lakrook, President of the Ladakh Buddhist Association, and the President of the All Ladakh Gonpa Association. Both leaders expressed their heartfelt gratitude to Her Majesty and Her Royal Highness for gracing the occasion.
Day 4 – 10th September 2025: Visit to Mahabodhi School and MIMC Campus
On 10th September 2025, the Royal Family of Bhutan visited the Mahabodhi School at Choglamsar. Her Majesty addressed the students with words of encouragement, urging them to cherish and preserve Ladakh’s rich cultural heritage while also pursuing excellence in education. Her speech was warmly received by the young students, who were inspired by her message of cultural pride and responsibility.
The programme also featured a special address by Venerable Bhikshu Sanghasena, who welcomed the Royal Delegation and highlighted the importance of education, compassion, and spiritual values in shaping future generations.
Following the school interaction, the Royal Family was given a guided tour of the Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre (MIMC) campus, where they learned about the centre’s humanitarian, spiritual, and educational activities. The Queen Mother and the Princess expressed appreciation for the institution’s efforts in promoting Buddhist values, interfaith harmony, and community service.
The visit concluded with prayers and blessings for continued cultural, educational, and spiritual collaboration between Bhutan and Ladakh.
Visit to Thiksey Monastery :
This was followed by a visit to Thiksey Monastery : Following the educational programme at Mahabodhi School, the Royal Delegation proceeded to the Thiksey Monastery, one of Ladakh’s most iconic monastic institutions. The delegation was accorded a warm and traditional welcome by the monks and senior representatives of the monastery.
Her Majesty the Queen Mother and Her Royal Highness were deeply moved by the spiritual atmosphere of the monastery and expressed admiration for its rich history and architectural grandeur.
In a gesture of honour and friendship, the monks of Thiksey Monastery presented mementos to Her Majesty and Her Royal Highness as tokens of appreciation and goodwill. This symbolic exchange highlighted the shared Buddhist heritage and spiritual kinship between Bhutan and Ladakh, strengthening the ties of respect and reverence between the two Himalayan regions.
The visit concluded with prayers and blessings for peace, prosperity, and the enduring friendship between the peoples of Bhutan and Ladakh.
Visit to Stakna Monastery : The Royal Delegation was graciously hosted for lunch at Stakna Monastery in their honour. On arrival, Her Majesty the Queen Mother and Her Royal Highness, along with the entourage, were welcomed with traditional Ladakhi hospitality by the monks of the monastery and the villagers of Stakna. Hon’ble Stanzin Chosphel, Executive Councillor of LAHDC was also present during the occasion.
During the gathering, the monks highlighted the historic spiritual and cultural ties between Stakna Monastery and the Kingdom of Bhutan. They recalled that this relationship was first established during the reign of King Singge Namgyal of Ladakh in the 17th century and continues to remain strong to this day.
The Queen Mother and the Princess expressed their deep appreciation for the warm welcome, acknowledging the monastery’s role in preserving and nurturing the shared Buddhist heritage of the Himalayan region.
Visit to Stok Palace : In the late afternoon, a high tea was organised at Stok Palace with H.E. Raja Jigmet Wangchuk Namgyal and his family, where the two Royal families exchanged pleasantries and gifts.
The Queen Mother, HRH Princess and the delegates briefly sat down with Bollywood Superstar Mr. Salman Khan and shared their love for Indian movies and discussed his upcoming projects. Mr. Salman Khan also expressed his fondness for Bhutan.
Farewell State Dinner and Ceremony :
The day concluded with a Farewell State Dinner hosted by the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC-Leh) at Hotel Grand Dragon, Leh. The evening featured cultural performances by Ladakhi folk artists.
On this historic occasion, Her Majesty the Queen Mother was conferred with the “Bhutan–Ladakh Friendship Ceremonial Honor” by Advocate Tashi Gyalson, Hon’ble Chief Executive Councillor, LAHDC-Leh. In his address, the CEC highlighted the deep historical and cultural bonds linking Ladakh and Bhutan.
Her Majesty, in her response, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the people of Ladakh, LAHDC, UT Administration, and Mr. Tashi Namgyal (Lingtse), for their gracious hospitality. She affectionately described Ladakh as her “second home,” deeply moved by the region’s beauty and the warmth of its people.
Day 5 : 11th September 2025: Departure : The Royal entourage departed Leh for New Delhi in the morning, concluding a memorable and historic visit.
The visit of Her Majesty Queen Mother Ashi Tseyring Pem Wangchuck and Her Royal Highness Princess Ashi Kesang Choden Wangchuck to Ladakh was a milestone event, rekindling ancient ties between the two Himalayan regions. Through cultural exchanges, spiritual engagements, and official interactions, the visit strengthened people-to-people connect, reaffirmed the shared Buddhist heritage, and laid a foundation for future cooperation in education, culture, and spirituality.
The four-day programme left an enduring impression of friendship and goodwill, and will be remembered as a defining chapter in Bhutan–Ladakh relations.
