For years, the three-storey Zangdopelri in Samdrup Jongkhar has stood waiting to be restored. Its broken windows, cracked walls, and damaged prayer wheels now tell the story of a religious structure long in need of attention. The delay, however, goes back years.
A legal dispute over the ownership of the land had delayed plans to develop the site. In 2021, the Supreme Court ordered the land to be handed over to the Thromde and directed it to pay Nu 27 M in compensation.
The compensation was finally paid last year. With the land issue resolved, the Thromde planned to begin renovation in the last financial year. But the work did not start.
“We were unable to start the renovation work due to some requirements and approvals from culture officials for the construction and renovation of religious structures. These approvals had to be obtained before starting the work. We also faced a shortage of manpower, which further delayed the work,” said Thinley Namgay, Samdrup Jongkhar Thrompon.
For some elderly residents who visit the Zangdopelri daily, the need for renovation is becoming more urgent. They say the ageing structure, old paintings and damaged prayer wheels need attention from the concerned authority as soon as possible.
“The Zangdopelri has become very old now, and renovation is a must. The paintings are disappearing and severely deteriorated. So, we would be very grateful if the renovation could be carried out at the earliest,” said Jigme Wangchuk, a resident of Samdrup Jongkhar.
“If it is repaired, we would be very grateful. Some of the prayer wheels have already fallen, and it is risky for people,” said Dorji Lhamo, another resident of Samdrup Jongkhar.
There is now a plan to finally get the work underway. The Thromde plans to repair the roof and windows, install new prayer wheels, construct public toilets with inclusive access, and improve the surrounding landscaping and parking area.
“Now, we have a budget of Nu 25 M for the renovation. The work will be awarded to two contractors. One for the Zangdopelri renovation and the other for the site development. The contracts are expected to be awarded soon, and we expect the work to be completed within this financial year,” said Thinley Namgay, Samdrup Jongkhar Thrompon.
After years of legal disputes and delays, the Zangdopelri is now waiting for one final step: the renovation to begin.
Once restored, it is expected to offer a safer and more welcoming place for people to pray and carry out religious activities for years to come.
Kinley Wangchuk, Samdrup Jongkhar
Edited by Passang
