Life would become much easier for the residents and pilgrims of the much-revered Thowadra pilgrimage site in Bumthang if the current road is extended. The place which is among the four major meditation sites of Guru Rinpoche in Bumthang is the furthest from a road point. It is a two-hour hike uphill from the nearest road which becomes hardly usable during summer.
If you’re visiting Thowadra in summer, you must come with a four-wheel drive or else be ready to toil through the muddy road. The road which ends at Murti Zam is partially laid with stone soling but several stretches of it are filled with impenetrable mud. The Thowadra Goendey built the 3-kilometre road from Chhutoed village some 15 years ago. Most vehicles hardly make it to the bridge except tractors and four-wheel drives. People of Chhutoed who have to take part in annual rituals at the monastery also face difficulties.
Pema Namgay, a resident of Chhutoed said, “The road is rough and is in very bad condition. In winter it’s very dusty and in summer the road becomes very muddy because of the rain. People can hardly use it.”
Another Resident Dorji Pelden, “We can see a lot of vehicles left stranded in the mud. And the villagers here have to transport goods on horses from the bridge during the yearly prayer ceremonies and rituals at the Thowadra Lhakhang.”
“The road has become even worse now. My passengers had to pull the car out of the mud using ropes,” added Kezang, a Taxi Driver.
The Goendey built a new cantilever bridge this January after the old bridge became too risky to use. A foreign donor sponsored the construction. From the bridge, the arduous hike dotted with holy sites along the mule tracks begins. With monks and Thowadra Lam’s family, at least 15 people are living all year round at the site.
Thowadrak Lam Pema Sherab Dorji said, “It would benefit the monastery and all the devotees so much if a motorable bridge is built and the road is extended by about 3 kilometres till the Chhukhor Mani. As of today, for every trip, we have to pay Nu 700 per person and Nu 500 per horse to transport goods here. The expenses are huge.”
During the 2020 National Assembly bye-election, the Chhoekhor_Tang MP Dawa pledged to construct a road to the Lhakhang. He also promised to build a bridge along the Murti River. In a call interview, he said he is working with agencies concerned to fulfil his pledge.
Thowadra is among the most sacred pilgrimage sites in Bumthang. Besides Guru Rinpoche, it was blessed by many Buddhist masters and scholars, most notably Gelongma Pelmo, Kuenkhen Longchen Rabjam, Gyalwa Lorepa and Tertoen Dorji Lingpa among others. Due to its sacredness, it attracts a lot of visitors throughout the year.
Kipchu, Bumthang
Edited by Sangay Chezom
