On 7th to 11th Sep/ VOL News Desk/ Her Majesty Queen Mother Ashi Tseyring Pem Wangchuck and Her Royal Highness Princess Ashi Kesang Choden Wangchuck landed in Leh airport for a historic tour to Ladakh. This marks the first-ever official visit of the Royal Family of Bhutan to Ladakh, a significant milestone in the cultural and historical ties shared between the two Himalayan regions.

The relationship between Ladakh and Bhutan dates back centuries, with shared cultural, religious, and strategic ties. During the reign of His Excellency King Singey Namgyal of Ladakh (r. 1616–1642), Ladakh maintained close relations with Bhutan. Both regions, being Buddhist Himalayan kingdoms, found common ground in defense cooperation against foreign invasions and in the promotion of Buddhism. Bhutanese monks and Ladakhi scholars frequently traveled across the Himalayas, carrying scriptures and traditions. Ancient trade caravans passed through Ladakh and linked with Bhutan via Tibet, fostering exchanges of wool, salt, tea, and crafts.

The Royal Family’s visit to Ladakh is not only a historic first but also a symbolic bridge reconnecting centuries-old ties of friendship, faith, and shared Himalayan identity. This event will likely be remembered as a milestone in Ladakh’s cultural diplomacy and as a reaffirmation of the enduring friendship between Bhutan and Ladakh, grounded in history and strengthened for the future.

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