Ludrong Memorial Garden: An Oasis in Thimphu

by sjsonnenbergmd

His majesty, the Fourth Druk Gyalpo inaugurated the Ludrong Memorial Garden in 2015, a gift to the people of Bhutan from Her Majesty the Royal Grandmother Kesang Choeden Wangchuck, on her 85th birth anniversary, at Langjophakha, Thimphu. Once a scattering of traditional homes and later the site of the first hospital in Bhutan, this 8.35 acre parcel of land opposite Tashichho Dzong was the site where Ashi Wangmo, the daughter of the first king, was cremated. It was also the site of the first hospital in Bhutan. It is now a park for the people of Thimphu to enjoy. We had the pleasure of our second visit today.

Ashi Kesang Choeden Wangchuck with the fifth Druk Gyalpo,Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the Druk Gyaltsuen, Jetsun Pema, and the Gyalsey, heir to the Dragon Throne, Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck.
The Memorial Garden stands between the 15th century Tashichho Dzong and the Parliament House. Built in 1772, Tashichho Dzong is both a monastery and the seat of Bhutan’s civil government. The dzong is seen here from the garden, situated on the eastern bank of the Wangchu.
The garden is reached by crossing the Wangchu on a traditional cantilevered wooden bridge.
Entering the bridge. No opportunity for spiritual inspiration is missed in Bhutan
The Wangchhu or Thimphu Chhu as seen from the cantilever bridge. Known in India as the Raidak, the Wangchhu arises in the Himalayas and flows south through India and Bangladesh as a tributary of the Brahmaputra.

The garden is home to 560 varieties of trees, 385 bush species, 1725 flower species and 75 fruit bearing trees. This is a photo from our April 2023 visit, as is the following.

Work first began on the garden in 2015. On it’s inauguration, an article in the national newspaper, Kuensel noted: “With its ponds and varied species of plants, as well as the spiritual sounds resounding from Tashichhodzong, along with the Himalayan wind fluttering through the prayer flags, coupled with the tranquil sounds of the Wangchu that flows beyond, it provides the perfect opportunity for all visitors to generate a greater sense of love and appreciation of Bhutan’s unique natural and spiritual beauty.”
The area is home to at least 15 common bird species as well as 30 seasonal birds, including the ibis bill and black-tailed crake.
The ponds were filled with brown trout, snow trout and carp species originally brought from Kashmir by Bhutan’s First Druk Gyalpo.
“With two prayer wheels, the garden not only provides recreational benefits, but also enhances the spiritual sanctity for all walks of life, serving as a center for environmental education for schools and institutions, as well as providing tourists an attractive visiting site.”

Information and quotes from Kuensel, May 22, 2015

3 Comments

  1. What a beautiful garden! Thank you for sharing. It will be a while until we have blooms here in the Adirondacks! Pat Wiley

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  3. Thank you for this story. What a lovely peaceful spot to have in the middle of a city. Great photos. Hope you all ae doing well, Caper

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