Under the patronage of Her Majesty Queen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck of Bhutan, a pictorial book titled Bhutan: Portrait Of A Kingdom was recently launched to celebrate the 70th birthday of the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the father of the present King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck.
The 312-page book features artistic works from 10 world-renowned photographers who bring Bhutan to global eyes. Over the course of a year, these internationally recognised photographers travelled across Bhutan, each during a different season, to capture the country’s landscapes, traditions and spirit through their unique lenses.
“This book began with a simple wish: to share Bhutan with the world, to open a window onto its mountains and valleys, its people and rituals, its hopes and joys. But along the way, it became something more: a gift for Bhutanese ourselves, to see our home through new eyes. It allows us to witness our familiar world reflected back through the gaze of others, and in doing so, to rediscover what we often overlook,” wrote Queen Jetsun in the book.
The book also features texts by Matthieu Ricard and Pico Iyer, as well as exclusive photographs taken by King Jigme. Together, these contributions offer an intimate and timeless portrait of a kingdom where heritage, nature and harmony are deeply intertwined
With more than 300 richly illustrated pages, the book offers a unique immersion into one of the world’s most preserved kingdoms. Through the camera lens, the country is revealed across the seasons, between grand landscapes, living traditions and moments of everyday life.
A photo captured by King Jigme.
The book features photos captured by Olivia Arthur (British), Chien-Chi Chang (Taiwanese), Karma T. Dorji (Bhutanese wildlife photographer), Stéphan Gladieu (French portrait photographer), Vincent Munier (French wildlife photographer and author of The Snow Panther), Steve McCurry (American photographer, best known for the iconic Afghan Girl), Matthieu Ricard (French Buddhist monk and photographer who lived in Bhutan for a decade), Raghu Rai (Indian photojournalist), Melisa Teo (Singaporean visual artist), Michael Yamashita (American photographer for National Geographic) and Gueorgui Pinkhassov (Russian) photographer.
The book also features a special contribution by King Jigme.
This exceptional art book, printed with remarkable care and presented in an elegant clothbound cover, combines the power of images with the richness of text by Pico Iyer and Matthieu Ricard.
The book was launched last week in Bhutan in celebration of the Fourth Druk Gyalpo’s 70th birthday. The English edition is currently available worldwide through online retailers, at all Kinokuniya bookstores across Asia, and in select bookstores in the US, the UK, Southeast Asia and Australia.
The French edition will be launched on Dec 11 in Paris at La Hune bookstore and gallery and will be distributed through Interforum and available in most bookstores across France, Belgium and Switzerland.
A series of launches across Southeast Asia is planned for early 2026, followed by a photographic exhibition featuring images from the book in Paris during the spring. Locations will be announced later.
An image by Steve McCurry.
Bhutan Portrait Of A kingdom
Size: 230mm x 290mm
Pages: 312
Weight: 2.8kg
Languages: English, French
A high-end clothbound cover featuring 12 different images for an exclusive touch.
A photo by Chien-Chi Chang. P
Melisa Teo’s photo.
Melisa Teo’s photo. P
A work by Vincent Munier, a French wildlife photographer.
A work by Vincent Munier, a French wildlife photographer. P
Photos by Steve McCurry featuring people practising archery, the national sport in Bhutan. P
Steve McCurry’s photo capturing local people’s way of life. P
Chien-Chi Chang’s work. P
