India (Commonwealth Union)_ Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a two-day state visit to Bhutan on November 11 and 12, reinforcing the two countries’ long-standing friendship and close collaboration. The visit followed the tradition of regular high-level contacts between India and Bhutan, which has built confidence and understanding over time. As the prime minister’s plane landed in Bhutan’s capital, Thimphu, he was greeted with the love and grand ceremony reserved for the closest of friends. A Guard of Honour greeted him at the airport, together with senior Bhutanese dignitaries, indicating the importance of the Himalayan kingdom’s ties with India. The visit was designed to explore new areas of collaboration, expand existing ties, and celebrate the cultural and spiritual connections that bind the two nations together.
Also read:Â Horror at Red Fort: Deadly blast in Delhi kills 13: What investigations have revealed so far?
The grand welcome
Bhutan rolled out an exceptionally warm reception for the Indian leader. Soon after his arrival, Prime Minister Modi conveyed his heartfelt gratitude to the Bhutanese people and leadership for the extraordinary welcome extended not just to him but also to Lord Buddha’s sacred relics, which had arrived earlier from India. These relics hold immense religious significance for Buddhist organizations all over the world, and their arrival in Bhutan was a moving experience for the host nation. Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay echoed these sentiments with a warm greeting, officially welcoming Modi and referring to him as his “elder brother,” highlighting the two leaders’ close relationship.
The relics had travelled to Bhutan accompanied by a high-level Indian delegation led by Union Minister Virendra Kumar, along with senior monks and officials. Their visit represented a collaborative effort between India’s Ministry of Culture and the International Buddhist Confederation, marking only the second time these sacred items have been taken outside India, the first being in 2011 during the wedding celebrations of Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. Prime Minister Modi noted that the greeting he received reflected not only diplomatic decorum but also the depth of feeling between the peoples of both countries. He emphasized that India and Bhutan have a friendship built on generations of goodwill, mutual respect, and common goals.
Meeting with the King
During his visit, Prime Minister Modi met Bhutan’s Fourth King, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, whose 70th birth anniversary was being commemorated throughout the country. The Fourth King’s key role in building contemporary Bhutan and nurturing its ties with India made the meeting all the more significant. Modi extended warm wishes on the occasion, expressing India’s admiration for the Fourth King’s leadership, wisdom, and lifelong commitment to his people. The two leaders spoke about many aspects of the India-Bhutan partnership, including developmental cooperation, cultural bonds, and new areas of engagement.
Their conversation highlighted the shared vision of stability, prosperity, and spiritual well-being that both countries seek to promote. A day earlier, Modi had also held extensive discussions with Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. Their dialogue spanned a wide range of subjects—energy, security, technology, connectivity, defense cooperation, and capacity building—reflecting Bhutan’s development ambitions and India’s support in helping realize them.
70th Birth Anniversary of King Jigme Singye Wangchuck
One of the most memorable events of the visit was Prime Minister Modi’s address at the Changlimethang Celebration Ground, where thousands gathered to mark the Fourth King’s 70th birth anniversary. The event also included the Global Peace Prayer Festival and the exposition of the Sacred Piprahwa Relics of Lord Buddha. Modi began his speech by acknowledging the sombre mood back home following a tragic incident in Delhi the previous evening. He assured the people that Indian authorities would ensure a thorough investigation and deliver justice.
Despite the emotional weight of the events, he spoke passionately about India and Bhutan’s shared spiritual history. He cited the timeless Indian values of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,” which refers to the world as a single family, and “Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah,” a prayer for universal peace. Modi called the Fourth King a wise and humble leader who praised Bhutan’s efforts in environmental protection and sustainable development. He praised Bhutan, the world’s first carbon-negative country that continues to lead in renewable energy development. The Prime Minister asserted that India and Bhutan are connected not only geographically but also by common values, culture, and a deep desire for peace.
Sacred Piprahwa Relics of Lord Buddha
The presence of the sacred relics during the festival added profound spiritual significance to Modi’s visit. These relics, housed at India’s National Museum, were brought to Bhutan for public veneration from November 8 to 18. Their arrival followed Bhutan’s request to have them displayed during the Global Peace Prayer Festival, a landmark occasion aligned with the Fourth King’s 70th birthday celebrations. The relics were placed for public viewing at Tashichho Dzong in Thimphu, drawing large crowds of devotees. Bhutan’s prime minister thanked India for allowing the relics to travel once again to the Himalayan kingdom, noting that such cultural and spiritual exchanges strengthen the people-to-people connection between the two nations.
Global Peace Prayer Festival
A major highlight of the visit was the Prime Minister’s participation in the Global Peace Prayer Festival, a vibrant gathering of Buddhist masters, scholars, monks, and followers from around the world. Modi joined King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck for the inauguration of the Kalachakra Empowerment, which is among the most famous ceremonies in Tibetan Buddhism. The Kalachakra ceremony, taught by many of the most well-known contemporary Buddhist spiritual teachers, promotes inner development, compassion, and the goal of achieving enlightenment. The event welcomed people from around the world and was a massive international gathering. Modi, representing a powerful, shared image of dignified spirituality and principles in an increasingly divided nation, presided over the gathering. His presence at the ceremony highlighted India’s long connection with Buddhism and its current commitment to promoting peace and spiritual harmony.
Kalachakra initiation ceremony
The Kalachakra ceremony, spread over three days, was presided over by His Holiness the Je Khenpo, Bhutan’s highest religious authority. It provided guidance on the three “wheels” of time: the cosmic universe, the human body and mind, and the spiritual road to enlightenment. A group of Buddhist monks created a stunning sand mandala, which was perhaps the most visually spectacular part of the ceremony. The elaborate design, depicting the Kalachakra Mandala Palace, will typically be swept away at the end of the event as a representation of the impermanence of everything. Modi called the Kalachakra Empowerment inauguration a privilege, emphasizing that the ritual holds great spiritual importance for millions of Buddhists globally.
India–Bhutan railway projects
Connectivity was a major theme during the visit, and the two sides announced significant progress on projects that will give Bhutan its first railway links. The Kokrajhar–Gelephu and Banarhat–Samtse lines, fully funded by India, are set to boost trade, tourism, and cross-border mobility. These lines will integrate key Bhutanese towns with India’s extensive railway network, bringing new economic opportunities to the landlocked nation. Modi described the upcoming rail links as transformational milestones that will strengthen the region’s connectivity and enhance people-to-people contact.
Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project
A key moment of the visit was the inauguration of the 1,020-MW Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project, a major symbol of India-Bhutan cooperation in clean energy. The two leaders welcomed the start of electricity exports from this project to India and reaffirmed their commitment to expanding the energy partnership, including the fast-tracked resumption of work on the Punatsangchhu-I project. Together, these ventures reaffirm both nations’ shared vision of sustainable development and renewable energy leadership.
MoUs signed
India extended a line of credit worth Rs 4,000 crore to support Bhutan’s development goals. The two sides also exchanged three Memorandums of Understanding covering renewable energy, health and medical cooperation, and institutional partnerships between Bhutan’s PEMA Secretariat and India’s National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences. Progress in fintech and space cooperation was reviewed, including the next phase of UPI integration, which will soon allow Bhutanese travellers to make seamless digital payments in India. Cultural agreements were celebrated as well, including India’s decision to allocate land in Varanasi for a Bhutanese temple.
India–Bhutan friendship
Prime Minister Modi concluded his visit with a note of gratitude, saying the trip reinforced the deep-rooted friendship between India and Bhutan. In a touching gesture, King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck personally escorted the prime minister to the airport, symbolizing the warmth at the heart of this unique bilateral relationship. Modi expressed confidence that the outcomes of the visit, from energy cooperation to enhanced connectivity, would add fresh momentum to India and Bhutan’s partnership, a bond shaped by history, trust, and shared aspirations.
