Leh, September 11:
The Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh, hosted a grand dinner on Sept 10 at Hotel Grand Dragon, Leh, in honour of Her Majesty the Queen Mother of Bhutan, Ashi Tseyring Pem Wangchuck, who is on a special visit to Ladakh. Her Royal Highness Princess Chodren Wangchuck also graced the occasion along with other distinguished members of the Bhutanese delegation.
The evening began with a welcome address by Hon’ble Executive Councillor Stanzin Chosphel, who extended heartfelt greetings to Her Majesty and the accompanying delegation. In his address, he recalled the deep historical ties between Ladakh and Bhutan and expressed hope that these relations would be renewed with greater strength in the times to come. He described the dinner as a profound occasion for Ladakh to reaffirm and further strengthen its friendship and goodwill with Bhutan.
Hon’ble Chief Executive Councillor, LAHDC Leh, Adv. Tashi Gyalson then extended his formal welcome, expressing deep reverence for Bhutan’s historic and spiritual ties with Ladakh. In his address, he recalled the centuries-old bonds of goodwill between the two Himalayan regions, rooted in cultural and spiritual exchanges.
H’CEC also put forward a proposal to waive off the Sustainable Development Fee for Ladakhi pilgrims visiting sacred monasteries in Bhutan, for which a memorandum was submitted. He suggested that in reciprocity, Ladakh could extend reduced entry fees for Bhutanese visitors, thereby fostering stronger people-to-people ties. In response, Her Majesty the Queen Mother assured that the proposal would be conveyed to His Majesty the King of Bhutan for due consideration.
H’CEC further noted that Ladakh had much to learn from Bhutan and expressed hope for greater exchanges between the two Himalayan regions.
On behalf of the people of Ladakh,H’CEC presented a special tribute to Her Majesty, recognising her noble presence and her role in fostering enduring bonds of friendship, cultural affinity, and spiritual harmony between Bhutan and Ladakh.
The evening was further marked by vibrant cultural performances dedicated to Her Majesty the Queen Mother, showcasing Ladakh’s rich traditions of music and dance. The performances, staged by local artists and folk groups, celebrated the shared heritage of the Himalayas and created an atmosphere of warmth and festivity.
In her remarks, Her Majesty the Queen Mother expressed her delight at visiting India and shared that her visit to Ladakh had been especially memorable. After spending the past three days in the region, she described Ladakh as a truly unique and majestic land, with its monasteries, mountains, and landscapes leaving a lasting impression on her. She fondly recalled her visit to Alchi Monastery, which she found profoundly beautiful, and conveyed her deep appreciation to the Council for hosting her with such warmth. She expressed her enjoyment of the cultural programmes and folk performances during the evening and remarked that this would not be her last visit, as she considered Ladakh to be her second home.
The dinner was attended by Hon’ble Executive Councillors Tashi Namgyal Yakzee and Stanzin Chosphel, Hon’ble Councillors of LAHDC Leh, DGP Ladakh Dr. S.D. Singh Jamwal, ADC Leh Ghulam Mohd, CPO Leh Tsewang Gyalson, Addl. SP Rigzin Spalbar, President of Ladakh Buddhist Association Tsering Dorjey Lakrook, President of LBA Youth Wing Jigmet Raftan, State President of BJP Ladakh Tashi Gyaltson Kachu, Dr. Abdul Qayoom, President of Anjuman Moin-ul-Islam, President of Anjuman Imamia Ashraf Ali Barcha, President of LBA Women Wing Kunzes Dolma Jawo, Nasreen Maryam, President of Anjuman Imamia Women Wing, Aisha Malo, President of Women Wing of Anjuman Moin-ul-Islam, Sumita Dhana, President of Women Wing of Christian Association, former CEC Gyal P. Wangyal, former CEC Rigzin Spalbar,Former MLA Tsering Samphel along with other distinguished dignitaries and guests.
