Let this 300-page work take you on a grand tour of Bhutan—a place steeped in heritage, nature and harmony.
From granite spires to pristine forests and devout Buddhism, Bhutan is landlocked between China and India. Dotted with innate spirituality, beautiful landscapes and a genuine Zen in the air, the country has an intrinsic beauty like no other—pulsating raw energy as colourful prayer flags flutter in the wind. Pulling together a series of images and narratives, the Bhutan: Portrait of a Kingdom bring bits and pieces of this faraway land into your home. Don’t be surprised if, by the end of reading it, you’ll find yourself wandering towards this beautiful country.
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Coveting beauty to invoke the desire of wanderlust, the book sends you on a journey into the heart of Bhutan through the lens of twelve internationally acclaimed photographers such as Steve McCurry, Vincent Munier, Matthieu Ricard and Michael Yamashita. It even features photographs taken by His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the king of Bhutan. With the beautiful compositions written by Matthieu Ricard and Pico Iyer, the book becomes a work of art you’d need to have in your library.
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Here’s everything you need to know about “Bhutan: Portrait of a Kingdom”:
Between the folds of everyday life, Bhutan is a fortress of seasons, grand landscapes, traditions and beauty, and this is narrated throughout the book—an extraordinary project undertaken under the patronage of Her Majesty Queen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck, the Queen of Bhutan. “The book was born of a desire to share my country with the world: to present its mountains and valleys, its people and its rituals, its hopes and its joys. Over the months, the project also became a gift for us Bhutanese, by seeing these familiar visions through perspectives other than our own, we rediscover ourselves,” said Her Majesty Queen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck, the Queen of Bhutan.
Showcasing portraits and images of Bhutanese sprawled across indigenous forests, historical buildings and farmhouses, the book spans a story between 2024 and 2025, capturing every season. Not only that, the book aslo sees natures, wildfires and landscapes that look mythical on page and in real life. The book displays empathy with grace, upholding a sentiment that Bhutan is a kingdom built on traditions and remaining purposeful, with Bhutanese taking a pause and breathing in the raw, unfiltered world they live in.
Clothbound, it makes a perfect book tucked under your chin and on coffee tables—it automatically becomes a precious objet d’art that invites you to travel and discover the Himalayas.
The book will be launched in Bhutan on 13 November to celebrate His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, Jigme Singye Wangchuck’s 70th Birthday and will be available then in bookstores worldwide and online. The French edition of the book will be launched on 11 December in Paris, at La Hune bookstore and gallery.
