Textiles have an important place in Bhutanese culture and that is the reason why Bhutan Textile Museum holds such a high importance.
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Located next to immigration office and also known as National Textile Museum and Royal Textile Academy of Bhutan, it showcases some of the best royal dresses and crowns with a brief introduction about Bhutan’s kings. Walk from one hall to another and you will get a full glimpse about how embroidery and weaving are an integral part of Bhutan‘s life and culture.
As soon as you enter the Bhutan Textile Museum, you would start with a documentary on Bhutan textile and the art of weaving. This documentary would give you a glimpse how textiles and weaving have been intact in Bhutan over ages despite all transitions and is an integral part of life even today. Actually, at a point, education was considered incomplete for men without learning the art of embroidery.
As you move up the stairs, you find the first hall with display of dresses, crowns and items from royal family. Further upstairs is another hall that displays dresses, jewelry, ornaments and weaving threads from different regions in Bhutan. This hall will give a glimpse how weaving patterns vary in different regions of Bhutan.
In the same hall, you can also watch videos that show how should one wear ‘Gho’ and ‘Kira’, Bhutan‘s traditional dresses for men and women respectively.
As you move around, you will realize that Bhutanese textiles have been inspired by mundane everyday sights incorporating the meaning of nature, religion and every day life. This Hall also showcases different Cham costumes displaying the traditions weaving through the Bhutan diversity.
There is also a souvenir shop at the ground floor of Museum. In case, you want to watch hand weaving live, just walk out and enter in the building right opposite to the Museum in the same compound. At basement, there is a weaving room, where you will find artisans weaving on their wooden frames, putting straps around their back. Bhutanese textiles are one of the finest examples of human skills, produced even today without the use of modern technology.
Bhutan Textile Museum Location
Please click here. Museum is located right opposite of the Immigration Office. Best time to visit the Museum would be when you visit Immigration office to get your pass extended for entry to restricted areas (Beyond Thimphu and Paro). You can easily visit Museum in 1 hour, time taken to process your Permit.
Museum Timings
Monday to Saturday: 9 AM to 4 PM (Close on Sundays and Government Holidays)
Museum Entry Fee
Nationals: Nu. 25, SAARC Countries: Nu. 50, All Others: Nu. 250, Students: Nu. 10