The national library on Gongphel Lam holds a significant collection of ancient Dzongkha and Chhokey manuscripts alongside modern publications. The reading rooms are quiet and functional. What draws most visitors is the building itself — a fine example of Bhutanese ecclesiastical architecture with detailed wood carvings and painted eaves — and the attached collection of traditional block printing equipment. The library also sells reprints of rare texts and high-quality books on Bhutanese culture and history.
National Library of Bhutan
Bhutan's repository of ancient manuscripts and Buddhist texts
A story
The National Library of Bhutan was established in 1967 and holds over 10,000 ancient manuscripts — many of them centuries-old religious texts written in Chhokey (classical Tibetan script). The building itself was designed in traditional Bhutanese style and opened in 1984; the ornate painted façade is one of the more striking architectural examples in the city.