October 30: Her Royal Highness Ashi Sonam Dechan Wangchuck inaugurated the new exhibition hall of the National Museum in Paro. Her Royal Highness also inaugurated the photo exhibition of Bhutan’s participation at the 42nd Smithsonian flock life festival in Washington DC in the US this year.

After the inauguration, Her Royal Highness and the guests visited the photo exhibition on the 42nd Smithsonian Flocklife festival held in Washington DC, USA.

Built at a cost of Nu. 24.5 million, the new exhibition hall has five exhibition rooms and a preparation room on the ground floor. The upper floor will be used as offices. The construction of the hall was funded by the government of India.

In his welcome address, the Labour and Human Resources Minister Lyonpo Dorji Wangdi said the new exhibition hall has been constructed since the existing museum cannot house the all the artifacts collected over the years.

According to the Director of the National Museum the new exhibition hall will also allow more people to visit the museum.

The exhibition hall and the exhibition of the photos from the 42nd Smithsonian Flocklife festival are dedicated to the centenary and coronation celebrations.

Her Royal Highness also released new books authored by Bhutanese writers dedicated to the centenary and coronation celebrations.

The opposition leader, members of the parliament, senior government officials, the Indian ambassador to Bhutan Sudhir Vyas, and representatives from international agencies also attended the function.

The photo exhibition will go on till December 17.