Menchhu or medicinal spring has healing powers. It is believed that drinking or soaking in a menchhu cures various diseases. One such Menchhu is the sacred Dungchen Menchhu in Dagana. However, lack of proper facilities has been restricting people from harnessing the full benefits of the Menchhu.
The Dungchen Menchhu flows through a tunnel in the middle of a cliff behind the Dagana Dzong. In the past, people used to spend nights, soaking themselves in the Menchhu heated with roasted stones. It is believed to cure headaches, stomach pains, joint pains and many other diseases.
But now, only a few go there. This is because the poor facilities at the menchhu do not attract people anymore.
Bagodrup, a resident said, “People don’t go there as much as it used to in the past. The facilities there are not good. There is neither a guest house nor even a road. The tubs we built are all destroyed.”
“If you drink the menchhu or wash or bathe in it with belief, it helps you. Look at me. I used to suffer from headaches and I came here occasionally. So it depends on your belief,” said Kinley Dorji, a visitor from Dagana rabdey.
The Dagana dzongkhag administration has plans to restore the facilities at the menchhu. The office says it will start with the construction of roads and guest houses in this financial year.
Tshering Nidup, the district’s economic development officer said, “This year, we have identified around 30 decimal of state land to construct five more tubs. And we are going to renovate the existing facilities at the menchhu. We need to construct a road and we might need around Nu 7 M for the road construction.”
It is believed that Guru Rinpoche hid a long trumpet or Dungchen as a treasure inside the cliff. The Dungchen later flew away creating a hollow tunnel through which a menchhu started flowing out.
The Dungchen is presently housed at the Chizhi Goenpa in Thimphu.
Karma Wangdi, Dagana
Edited by Sangay Chezom
