The 2nd Royal Bhutan Flower Exhibition, held at the lovely Ugyen Pelri Palace grounds at Paro, in a majestic setting boasting of the grand view of Paro Rinpung Dzong and Ta Dzong, was hugely popular with innumerable visitors from from Bhutan and abroad.
The wonderful event was organised by the Ministry of Agriculture, which received a Royal Command from His Majesty The King to initiate the exhibition as an annual event last year. His Majesty’s message at the Royal Bhutan Flower Exhibition last year was:
“Where we live must be clean, safe, organised, and beautiful, for national integrity, national pride, and for our bright future. This too is nation building.”
Embracing the spirit of His Majesty’s profound message, the Royal Bhutan Flower Exhibition is organised as a significant event, with the objectives to foster a sense of appreciation for beautiful surroundings, and to encourage horticulture and floriculture based economies. Private nurseries participate at the exhibition, and sell flowers and plants to an increasingly enthusiastic population.
This year’s event was dedicated to Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen, and inaugurated on 4th June, coinciding with Her Majesty’s birthday.
A collection of delightful photographs from this year’s exhibition should help our readers experience some of the beauty and magic of the event!
The Royal Bhutan Flower Exhibition maintains a terrific page on Facebook that has regular updates and information on the event, and lots of pictures. Show your support and like the page.
The Majestic Paro Rinpung Dzong looms thrillingly close to the Ugyen Pelri Palace grounds, where the Royal Bhutan Flower Exhibition is held.
An unusual display at the exhibition is the gigantic flower made of different varieties of locally grown and organic salad greens and lettuce
A cascade of gorgeous summery blossoms over a hill adorned with a perfect, miniature model of the Khamsum Yuley Namgyel Lhakhang of Punakha.
A stunning juniper bonsai tree at the Japanese Garden. Many of the bonsai trees on display are on an average a 100 years old, and have been grown with painstaking care, clipping and guiding the growth of the tree to give it a unique and beautiful form.
This manifestation of the Drukgyel Dzong will soon become an iconic landmark in Bhutan. The Dzong, which is to be rebuilt to its former glory, retains its ancient charm and grandeur, with a unique utse (central tower) and rounded end towers. This is a model of the Dzong on display at the exhibition.
The Queen of Bhutan rose on display at the Royal Bhutan Flower Exhibition. The Queen of Bhutan Rose was named after Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen, and offered to Bhutan by the United Kingdom during the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to Bhutan in April.
The Prime Minister and Agriculture & Forests Minister pose for a photograph with the Miharu Citizens team at the Japanese Garden. The Japanese garden, besides the bonsai displays, featured a traditional Japanese Tea house, performed by a well known tea master.
The floral display at the theme garden belonging to the Royal Bhutan Army.
A traditional bridge over a pool, in a secluded corner at the exhibition.
The gardens also display interesting artwork alongside artistic floral arrangements. This painting featuring Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen celebrates the dedication of this year’s exhibition to Her Majesty.
The Royal Bhutan Flower Exhibition logo features a Raven, holding Blue Poppy blossoms in its beak, representing the national bird and flower of Bhutan, created here with flowers, over a floral birthday message for Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen.
The renowned bonsai master Hirao Masashi, poses with one of the beautiful trees.
Yellow and Orange Marigold.
Multicoloured pansies nod their friendly faces as visitors take advantage of the beauty all around to pose for selfies.
A riot of colours.
A floral birthday cake.
The Thai Garden featured stunning landscaping and amazing products from the Royal Project of Thailand.
The Pangbisa Dzong, which, when completed, will house the Royal Academy, in an exquisite miniature.
A closer view of the perfection that is this miniature of the Pangbisa Dzong.
The precious moment of the Buddha’s Enlightenment, expressed with an adornment of flowers.
Vertical gardens are increasingly becoming fashionable now- they are an answer to lack of space, and can look stunning, even with simple things like recycled bottles used as pots.
Om mani padme hung hri- the holy syllables blaze with an otherworldly power.
A cornucopia of organic vegetables.
A traditional house of the type most seen in the Paro Valley. The houses are invariably pretty in the valley, with 3 rows of decorative windows on the upper floor, set in a gallery. The area around the village house included sheds with farm animals, and vegetable patches- everything that a highland village house would have.
Volunteers clean up after visitors.
A map guides visitors around the huge area over which the exhibition is spread.
Plastic bottle swan boat flower holders, are among the numerous little lovely things at the exhibition.
A mossy dragon leans against a tree.
The Horse and his Boy.
The Wangdue Dzong is a phoenix, slowly rising from ashes to be born again. This is how it will look like when it has reemerged.
Posing for photographs is one of the best activities at the flower exhibition, right after enjoying the numerous lovely flowers, displays, and other features.
A flower rainbow with a special picture.
Guru Rinpoche on a lotus in a pool. The Birth Anniversary of the Guru falls on the 15th of June, and this year is special because this year (fire male monkey) is the same as the year when Guru Rinpoche was born.
An observation pier to enjoy the river breeze and views of Rinpung Dzong across the river.
A crane amongst the fern
Tiny archers indulge in the national sport.
Miniatures of the most prettily decorated traditional homes.
A place to sit and enjoy the sunshine and the views.
Punakha Dzong.
Children play near the model of the traditional Bazam (footbridge) of the Punakha Dzong.
A delightful garden, set up by one of the private participants at the exhibition.
Dwarf sunflowers beam up their own sunshine at the exhibition.
Wonderful collection of photos of Royal Bhutan Flower Exhibition 2016. Honored to have visited the exhibition opened for general public from 5th June 2016 to about more than a week. Its was a great privilege to participate for wishing Her Majesty’s Birth Anniversary.
i feel it is the so nice place on the earth planet just as heaven descends on the bhutan