To pay tribute to the Wangchuck dynasty and promote regional tourism in the country, Lhuentse Dzongkhag has started the execution works to establish Wangchuck Heritage Centre in Dungkar Nagtshang. The planning works started in 2016. The Centre is expected to showcase clothes and other artefacts of Jigme Namgyal and his forefathers.
Over the span of five years, the Dzongkhag Administration has completed a major facelift of the Dungkar Nagtshang.
Currently, the Dzongkhag Administration is collecting artefacts from the gewogs, which were used during the time of Jigme Namgyal and his forefathers.
So far, the Dzongkhag has collected artefacts from 21 households, from five gewogs in Lhuentse. Conservation of artefacts and debri painting has been prioritised in this financial year.
“We did a lot of renovation in the Nagtshang. There were a lot of leakages in the ceiling and we had renovated the ceiling. Then we have painted the walls and we have done a lot of patchworks. We have also electrified the whole building and procured the cases to display the items,” said Jambay Wangchuk, the Lhuentse Dzongdag.
The Dzongdag also added that the establishment of the Heritage Centre is expected to boost the local economy through regional tourism.
“This is the only kind of museum in the country that we will be dedicated to the Wangchuck dynasty. With this centre, it will also give a lot of employment opportunity to the people. And also farmers can sell their products. This will boost the economy,” said the Dzongdag.
“Every year many pilgrims come to visit Dungkar. Moreover, this year due to the pandemic, thousands of people visited the place,” said Ugyen Tshering, the Gup of Kurtoed Gewog.
The Dzongkhag Administration proposed Nu 3 M in the fiscal year, 2016-17 for the procurement of artefacts and to initiate the project implementation.
“Now we have to really get these artefacts and then display, label and other works that we need to do in collaboration with the National Textile Museum. They have been supportive. Once we are finished with that, then we are also looking for an appropriate date and time to inaugurate it,” added the Dzongdag.
The house of Dungkar, one of the noble lineages from Kurtoed was home to Trongsa Penlop Jigme Namgyal, the father of the Wangchuck dynasty.
Dungkar under Kurtoed Gewog is almost two hours drive from Lhuentse town. And due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the place has become a tourist destination for domestic tourist this year.
Sonam Tshering, Lhuentse
