The restoration works of the 600-year old Dumgtseg Lhakhang in Paro is expected to complete by August this year. The Royal Dumgtseg Lhakhang Restoration Project under Her Majesty’s the Royal Grandmother’s patronage to reinstate the historic temple to its former glory was started in 2017.
Her Majesty the Royal Grandmother Ashi Kesang Choeden Wangchuck commenced the restoration work to preserve the sacred statue, wall frescoes and murals, and the temple from getting damaged.
The Lhakhang located a couple of minutes drive from Paro town towards Dopshar-ri is one of the oldest temples and a popular tourist’s destination.
The paddy field surrounding the Lhakhang is now replaced by a courtyard and most of the cypress trees are cleared.
“Every year, during paddy cultivation, they have channelled water through drains and water has seeped underground damaging the foundation. Then there were cypress trees surrounding the temple, their roots had reached the walls and has cracked the walls,” Dasho Rinzin Gyaltshen, the Chairman of the Royal Dumgtseg Lhakhang Restoration Project, said.
Works are being carried out to strengthen the foundation and to avoid water from damaging the walls. Every stone on the sidewalk was numbered to put it back in it is the original place.
“We invited experts from Japan about three times and they only changed the rotten and damaged components. Rest they have kept as it is. We have covered the scarred walls with mud. There are four to five monks fixing the painting as it is. They will not use any new paints or make it more appealing. We are going to keep everything as it was,” the chairman added.
While shifting an altar inside, the team found a fresco painting of Sangay Nampar Nangzey (Mahavairicana), which they say could be as old as the Lhakhang itself. It was painted directly on the wall and has not been damaged.
Despite not having histories recorded, many elderly in villages share that Thangtong Gyalpo built a chorten at the confluence of Pa-Chu and Dop-chu, to tame an evil snake that was causing turmoil in a village nearby in 1421.
“It is said that 5 vultures surrounded the chorten during the consecration and then the Ser-tog started shaking. It is believed that Ser-tog wanted to go to Tibet, the birthplace of Dupthob, however, upon requesting and claiming that it is built to tame the evil snake here, they tied the Ser-tog with iron chains from four sides and was kept here,” Dasho Rinzin Gyaltshen said.
About Nu 8 M has been invested so far in the project.
The major restoration is being carried out after about 176 years, since the restoration in 1841 by the 25th Je Khenpo Sherab Gyeltshen, according to the village elderly.
In 1841, Je Khenpo Sherab Gyaltshen as a part of restoration extended the Chorten to a 12 sided temple with sidewalk to circumambulate. It is said that the Je Khenpo has asked people of 12 villages to bring pillars as a contribution and upon which the Lhakhang was constructed. Hence, it was named Dumg- Tseg Lhakhang. Today we can see pillars with the name of the villages engraved inside the temple.
Once the works are complete, the Lhakhang will be handed to the 15 rightful owners from the villages nearby.
