དྭངས་ཆུ།

Gewog Profile (Description):

The name of the place (Dangchu) holds miraculous historic and symbolic meaning from the time immemorial. The historic place is sacredly blessed by many divine personalities in the past. It was first visited and blessed by our 8th century Buddhist master, Guru Rinphoche. Guru mediated for three long months and blessed all the elements (earth, water and environment). It was then visited by our revered Buddhist Masters; Longchen Rabjam, Terton Ugyen Dorji Lingpa, Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel, Khenchen Sonam Yoedzer with crystal clear (Dang) devotion and blessed the running river (Chu) which undulates across the valley. Later during the 17th century, Zhabdrung officially approved the name the as Dangchupa (Dang- crystal clear, Chu-river, Pa- People) after having completed the construction of Wangdue Phodrang Dzong (Tshering, 2016, p. 78). Danghu Gewog presently houses 16 villages, 5 chiwogs, and 266 households with the total population of 1299 people.

The Gewog Center of Dangchu sited at the center of Danghu, which is 18.5 km away from the Wangue-Trongsa Highway. People of Dangchu are well-off for having access to cordyceps collection as their major source of income. Cash crops such as potatoes, chili, garlic, wheat and barley are grown to supplement their income for living. All the villages are connected with farm roads which immensely assist in improving the living standard of the people. Almost all the households have access to mobile services which has increased the pace disseminating the information. The sanitation facilities such as access to clean drinking water and flush toilets are still underway. There are two schools; Dangchu Primary school and Norbding Lower secondary school, one ECR and one Grade II BHU under Dangchu Gewog.

The Gewog abodes 16 Lhakhangs and many scared places (Nye) across the Gewog. Dangchu is popular for housing two holy rivers (Phochu and Mochu) to its neighboring districts; Bumthang, Trongsa, Punakha and Thimphu. Phochu/Wangchu has the spiritual power to heal eye sore and other diseases and it is believed to be the holy water of Guru Rinphoche. Mochu is said to be blessed by Guru Rinphoche and was further blessed by the Buddhist master Khenchen Sonam Yoedzer based on the prophecy. History reveals that having completed the renovation work of Chubar Stupa (which is located next to Gewog Center), an earthen pot filled with Mochu was placed as a brim inside the Stupa by the Khenchen. Surprisingly, the earthen pot filled with Mochu was discovered during the renovation work carried out by Agay Goleg sometimes in 1978. The divine river has the power to purify the internal and external defilements (Tshering, 2016, p. 78). So, we welcome everyone here to explore, discover and experience the quintessence of the heavenly abode and the GNH valley of Dangchu!

Civil Infrastructure

Cultural monuments

 Bridge