Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday met Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the Fourth Druk Gyalpo of Bhutan, in Thimphu, as part of his two-day visit to the Himalayan kingdom aimed at deepening bilateral relations and reaffirming India’s commitment to its Neighbourhood First Policy.

Following the meeting, Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to attend the Kalachakra ‘Wheel of Time’ ceremony, a significant Buddhist ritual presided over by Bhutan’s Chief Abbot, Je Khenpo. The Prime Minister will later depart for New Delhi, concluding his visit that underscored India’s cultural, spiritual, and developmental partnership with Bhutan.

On Tuesday, PM Modi joined the celebrations marking the 70th birth anniversary of Bhutan’s Fourth King, reaffirming the shared values of friendship, spirituality, and peace that bind the two nations. Born on November 11, 1955, Jigme Singye Wangchuck ruled Bhutan from 1972 to 2006 and is widely revered for steering the country toward modernisation while preserving its unique cultural identity. His philosophy of Gross National Happiness (GNH) earned Bhutan international acclaim as a model of holistic development.

During the visit, PM Modi also held extensive talks with Bhutan’s current monarch, King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, covering a wide spectrum of cooperation including energy, capacity building, connectivity, technology, defence, and security.

The two leaders jointly inaugurated the 1020 MW Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project, a major India–Bhutan collaboration symbolising the growing clean energy partnership between the neighbours. “Had a very good meeting with His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the King of Bhutan. We covered the full range of India–Bhutan relations,” PM Modi posted on X.

He added, “We discussed cooperation in sectors like energy, capacity building, connectivity, technology, defence and security. India is proud to be a key partner in Bhutan’s development journey.”

Highlighting the deep-rooted spiritual and cultural connections, PM Modi and King Jigme Khesar visited Thimphu’s Tashichhodzong on Tuesday to seek blessings from the Holy Relics of Lord Buddha, brought from India as a gesture of goodwill to commemorate the Fourth King’s 70th birthday and the ongoing Global Peace Prayer Festival.

The Prime Minister’s visit reinforced India’s steadfast support for Bhutan’s progress and reaffirmed that the two nations continue to walk together on a shared path of peace, prosperity, and mutual respect.