Lhuentse Dzong
Encyclopedia
Lhuentse Dzong is a dzong and Buddhist monastery in Lhuentse District in eastern Bhutan
. It lies on the eastern side of the Kuri Chhu
river and is perched on a spur at the end of a narrow valley.
The Dzong was initially known as Kurtoe, in the then isolated Lheuntse district. It is the ancestral home of the royal family. While its geographic coordinates are set in eastern Bhutan, its cultural roots are, however, part of Central Bhutan. This was because before road traffic connected to Mongar
, the approach to the place was through a trade route crossing the Rodang La pass.
is the major river that has formed the scenic valley with high peaks and steep hills. Kuri Chhu is a tributary of the Manas River
system, which is the largest river of Bhutan and a major tributary of the Brahmaputra River
that drains most of Eastern Bhutan.
The road from Mongar to Lheuntse Dzong is a 3 hours drive over a distance of 77 kilometres (47.8 mi) and 63 kilometres (39.1 mi) from its junction at Gangola. The approach to this Dzong is over a flag-stone-paved path over the steep cliffs.
The monastery was originally established by Pema Lingpa
's son Kunga Wanpo in 1543, although it wasn't until 1654 that the Trongsa
penlop
(governor), Minjur Tenpa, built a formal dzong here after winning a battle and named it Lhuentse Rinchentse. The dzong was later restored in 1962 and again between 1972 and 1974. The historic importance of Lhuntse Dzongkhag is on account of its established link as the ancestral home of the Wangchuck Dynasty. Lhuentse town is the administrative capital of Lhuentse District, besides the Lhuentse Dzong. At present 100 monks reside here.
and a temple dedicated to Amitayus, the Buddha of Infinite Life. The ground floor also has a temple dedicated to Avalokiteshvara. The Kunre, the assembly hall for the monks, is located on the upper floor.
2009 Earthquake damage
The Dzong has suffered serious damage during an earthquake measuring 6.1
on the Richter scale that hit eastern Bhutan on Monday, 21 September 2009. Many other monasteries in the region also suffered serious damages.
, the Baeyul Khenpajong and the Phunying La. Singye Dzong was founded by Yeshi Tsogyal and visited by Guru Rinpoche on his second visit to Bhutan, which is a three day trek from Khoma.
Weaving
The weaving handicraft looms loom large in households here and the handlooms produced are very famous. This household industry is dominated by women folks who weave different types of textiles with intricate designs. The unique weaving activities involve embroidery, basket-making and Kushutara (brocade dress). Textiles products of Lhuentse are stated to be the best in the country.
Bhutan
Bhutan , officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China...
. It lies on the eastern side of the Kuri Chhu
Kuri Chhu
The Kuri Chhu, also known as the Lhobrak, is a major river of eastern Bhutan, that has formed a scenic valley with high peaks and steep hills...
river and is perched on a spur at the end of a narrow valley.
The Dzong was initially known as Kurtoe, in the then isolated Lheuntse district. It is the ancestral home of the royal family. While its geographic coordinates are set in eastern Bhutan, its cultural roots are, however, part of Central Bhutan. This was because before road traffic connected to Mongar
Mongar
Mongar is a town and seat of Mongar District in Bhutan. As of 2005 it has a population of 3502....
, the approach to the place was through a trade route crossing the Rodang La pass.
Topography
The Dzong is located in the Kuri Chhu valley, which is part of the Lhuntse district. The Kuri ChhuKuri Chhu
The Kuri Chhu, also known as the Lhobrak, is a major river of eastern Bhutan, that has formed a scenic valley with high peaks and steep hills...
is the major river that has formed the scenic valley with high peaks and steep hills. Kuri Chhu is a tributary of the Manas River
Manas River
The Manas River is a transboundary river in the Himalayan foothills between southern Bhutan and India.It is named after Manasa, the serpent god in Hindu mythology.It is the largest river system of Bhutan, among its four major river systems; the other three are Amo Chu or Torsa, Wong Chu or Raidak,...
system, which is the largest river of Bhutan and a major tributary of the Brahmaputra River
Brahmaputra River
The Brahmaputra , also called Tsangpo-Brahmaputra, is a trans-boundary river and one of the major rivers of Asia. It is the only Indian river that is attributed the masculine gender and thus referred to as a in Indo-Aryan languages and languages with Indo-Aryan influence...
that drains most of Eastern Bhutan.
The road from Mongar to Lheuntse Dzong is a 3 hours drive over a distance of 77 kilometres (47.8 mi) and 63 kilometres (39.1 mi) from its junction at Gangola. The approach to this Dzong is over a flag-stone-paved path over the steep cliffs.
History
According to one legend, Khedrup Kuenga Wangpo, son of Tertoen Pema Lingpa was assigned to find a ridge resembling the trunk of an elephant. He found one opposite Baeyul Khenpajong and mediated there. This location came to be known as Kurtoe Lhuentse Phodrang.The monastery was originally established by Pema Lingpa
Pema Lingpa
Pema Lingpa or Padma Lingpa was a famous saint and siddha of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism. He was a preeminent terton , and is considered to be foremost of the Five Terton Kings...
's son Kunga Wanpo in 1543, although it wasn't until 1654 that the Trongsa
Trongsa
Trongsa, previously Tongsa , is a town and capital of Trongsa District in central Bhutan. The name means "new village" in Dzongkha. The first temple was built in 1543 by the Drukpa Kagyu lama, Ngagi Wangchuk, who was the great-grandfather of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel, the person who unified...
penlop
Penlop
Penlop is a Dzongkha term roughly translated as governor. Bhutanese penlops, prior to unification, controlled certain districts of the country, but now hold no administrative office...
(governor), Minjur Tenpa, built a formal dzong here after winning a battle and named it Lhuentse Rinchentse. The dzong was later restored in 1962 and again between 1972 and 1974. The historic importance of Lhuntse Dzongkhag is on account of its established link as the ancestral home of the Wangchuck Dynasty. Lhuentse town is the administrative capital of Lhuentse District, besides the Lhuentse Dzong. At present 100 monks reside here.
Architecture
The dzong contains five temples, three of which are in the central tower and are dedicated to Guru Rinpoche. The dzong also contains a Gonkhang, which is dedicated to MahakalaMahakala
Mahākāla is a Dharmapala in Vajrayana Buddhism, and a deity in Chinese and Japanese Buddhism, particularly in the Vajrayana school. He is known as Daheitian in Chinese and Daikokuten in Japanese...
and a temple dedicated to Amitayus, the Buddha of Infinite Life. The ground floor also has a temple dedicated to Avalokiteshvara. The Kunre, the assembly hall for the monks, is located on the upper floor.
2009 Earthquake damage
The Dzong has suffered serious damage during an earthquake measuring 6.1
2009 Bhutan earthquake
The 2009 Bhutan earthquake was a 6.1 magnitude earthquake that occurred at 14:53 local time, 08:53 UTC, on September 21, 2009 in the eastern region of Bhutan. The epicenter was situated at east of the capital Thimphu, in Mongar District. However, Bangladesh and India also felt it, with buildings...
on the Richter scale that hit eastern Bhutan on Monday, 21 September 2009. Many other monasteries in the region also suffered serious damages.
Other attractions
Khoma village, which is an hour walk from the main road to Lhuentse Dzong is famous for its intricate woven cloth made of silk called Kishu Thara. Other well known pilgrimage sites of Ugyen Guru Rimpoche are the Singye DzongSingye Dzong
Singye Dzong is a town in Trashigang District in eastern Bhutan.-External links:*...
, the Baeyul Khenpajong and the Phunying La. Singye Dzong was founded by Yeshi Tsogyal and visited by Guru Rinpoche on his second visit to Bhutan, which is a three day trek from Khoma.
Weaving
The weaving handicraft looms loom large in households here and the handlooms produced are very famous. This household industry is dominated by women folks who weave different types of textiles with intricate designs. The unique weaving activities involve embroidery, basket-making and Kushutara (brocade dress). Textiles products of Lhuentse are stated to be the best in the country.