The Wellness Medicinal Park in Chhoekhorling in Sarpang’s Samtenling Gewog fails to attract the public despite its scenic beauty and peaceful atmosphere. The main reasons are the poor road conditions and its distance from the Gelephu Thromde. However, during its third Thromde Tshogde, the Gelephu Thromde decided to improve the road by filling up the potholes and making it passable.
The Wellness Park in Chhoekhorling village, nestled in the serene surroundings of Samtenling Gewog, was established as a peaceful retreat for residents of Gelephu and nearby areas.
However, despite its picturesque location, the park has not attracted the expected number of visitors, likely due to its distance of nearly five kilometres from Gelephu town.
“People come to Wellness Park during winter with packed lunches and festivals. Right now, people do not come due to bad road conditions. People claimed even taxis refused to come to the Wellness Park. Currently, not many people come to park due to bad road conditions,” said Sangay Wangmo, a resident of Chhoekhorling Village.
However, this may soon change, as the Gelephu Thromde has decided to maintain the road leading to the Wellness Park by filling up the potholes.
“The government spent around 10 million with required amenities but no people are availing the services. It is disheartening to see the facilities underutilized despite spending huge expenditures. I feel there is no one visiting the facilities due to far distance. Thromde would immediately maintain this road starting from Kulu which would be almost two to three kilometres. Thromde Tshogde endorsed to maintain this road,” said Tshering Norbu, Gelephu Thrompon.
According to the Gelephu Thrompon, the Wellness Park is home to various medicinal plants used in traditional Bhutanese medicine.
The park was constructed at a cost of around Nu 16 M by the government, with Gelephu Thromde developing it in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock.
The park features canopies, restrooms, streetlights, and walking trails throughout.
An elderly couple from Trongsa offered five acres of land to His Holiness the Je Khenpo, where the Wellness Park was initiated. His Holiness the Je Khenpo handed over the Wellness Park to the Gelephu Thromde in 2023.
Karma Wangdi, Sarpang
Edited by Sherub Dorji
