The Thai King and Queen are set to visit Bhutan later this month. This will be the first state visit to a foreign country during the Thai monarch’s reign. The visit is being made on the invitation of His Majesty, King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, who will officially introduce Their Majesties to Bhutan’s Fourth King and other members of the Royal Family.
Bhutan and His Majesty share close bonds with Thailand.
As crown prince, His Majesty made visits to Thailand, both formally and informally, maintaining a close relationship with the former Thai King. The Thais also adored His Majesty and referred to him simply as “King Jigme.” During our early days of vacationing in Thailand, I remember how the locals there would know of Bhutan on account of our king.
History between the two countries
The friendly ties between the two countries dates back to 1989, after Bangkok was added as a destination of Druk Air. That same year, Bhutan and Thailand developed diplomatic relations. This made Thailand one of the first and rare countries in Southeast Asia to have a relationship with Bhutan. Additionally, a growing number of Bhutanese live, work, and study in Thailand.
During the visit, Their Majesties will visit the Buddha Dordenma Statue, a 54-meter-high Buddha statue, located above the country’s capital, Thimphu. During this visit, 74 Bhutanese and 74 Thai monks will conduct a prayer ceremony of longevity. While neither culture assigns meaning to the number 74, the Thais consider the sum of the two, 148, an auspicious number.
Bhutan is also among the 93 countries that enjoy visa-exempt entry into Thailand.
We hope that the Royal visit strengthens existing ties between the two countries. We also hope that the visit encourages more people from Thailand to visit Bhutan.
Book your trip to Bhutan today! Contact us at [email protected] or call +975 1711-2338 any time, anywhere!