National Library of Bhutan

The National Library of Bhutan was founded in 1967 under the patronage of Queen Ashi Phuntsho Choden. Its collection was first kept in the central tower of Tashichho Dzong and later at Changangkha, before moving into its present home at Kawajangsa, above the Royal Thimphu Golf Course. That building, a four-storey tower in the style of a dzong, was built with the government's own funds and consecrated as a temple by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche on 23 November 1984.

What you see

The library holds traditional Bhutanese and Tibetan texts in the old format: long, unbound pages printed from woodblocks, wrapped in cloth and stacked in wooden pigeonholes. It also keeps carved printing blocks, including those for Longchenpa's Seven Treasuries and for the collected works of Pema Karpo, and a collection of historic photographs. On the ground floor is a copy of Bhutan: A Visual Odyssey Across the Last Himalayan Kingdom, recognised as the largest published book in the world; it weighs about 60 kg and opens to roughly 1.5 m by 2.1 m. Staff will often turn a page for you.

This is a working government institution rather than a visitor attraction, so treat the texts as the religious objects they are and ask before taking photographs. It is open on weekdays and closed at weekends and on government holidays. Allow about 30 minutes. The Folk Heritage Museum and the National Institute for Zorig Chusum are in the same part of town.