I love to explore and discover a culture in depth when I travel. Further, I am enamored with the local art scene so I make a point of visiting museums to absorb as much as I can about a local community and region.

On a recent trip to Bhutan I was very fortunate to visit The Textile Museum. The founder of the Museum is her Majesty the Queen Mother Sangay Choden Wangchuck. Her Majesty feels it was vital to preserve the tradition of textile handiwork in Bhutan and showcase the art form in a national Museum. Further, fostering and promoting the textile art that is so important to the fabric of the culture.

The Textile Museum has been formed to showcase the achievement of Bhutan in the textile arts. The museum showcases the technical and artistic aspect of the textile art. The museum is a beautiful structure mixing modern and traditional architecture overlooking the majestic peaks. There are two floors and two expansive galleries that have a in depth collection of Bhutanese textiles and the history that goes along with every piece.

Adjacent to the main museum is a building that has a live exhibition of Bhutanese weaving. It is so interesting to see the intricate detail and work that goes into each piece.

My visit to the Textile Museum gave me a better understanding of history of the textile arts in Bhutan.