Pemagatshel District
27°0′N 91°15′E / 27.000°N 91.250°E
Pemagatshel District
པད་མ་དགའ་ཚལ་རྫོང་ཁག | |
|---|---|
District | |
 Map of Pemagatshel District in Bhutan | |
| Country | Bhutan |
| Headquarters | Pemagatsel |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,030 km2 (400 sq mi) |
| Population (2017) | |
| • Total | 23,632 |
| • Density | 23/km2 (59/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+6 (BTT) |
| HDI (2019) | 0.608[1] medium · 12th |
| Website | www |
Pemagatshel District (Dzongkha: པདྨ་དགའ་ཚལ་་རྫོང་ཁག་; Wylie: Pema-gatshel rdzong-khag) is one of the 20 Dzongkhags (districts) in Bhutan.
Dzongkhag Profile
[edit]Pemagatshel is located in the south east of Bhutan with an area of 517.8 km2 and has a total of 2,547 households. The dzongkhag is characterized by highly dissected mountain ranges, steep slopes and narrow valleys with little flat land. The elevation in the dzongkhag ranges from 1,000 meters to 3,500 meters above the sea level. The dzongkhag experiences an average annual rainfall of 1500 mm to 3000 mm.
The dzongkhag is administratively divided into eleven gewogs. Rugged terrain and scattered settlements make the delivery of services in the dzongkhag both difficult as well as expensive.
About 53% of the total area is under forest cover, mainly coniferous and broadleaf species. With about 45% of the total land area under cultivation, the dzongkhag has a good percentage of arable land. Land holdings are, however, dominated by Tseri cultivation with only negligible wetland farming activities. Dry land cultivation is also a dominant agricultural practice with maize grown as the main cereal crop.
The potential for the development of horticulture crops like cardamom, ginger and oranges exist in some gewogs like Khar, Dungme and Chongshing Borang but is constrained by the lack of access to roads and markets. Other problems faced by most farmers include the lack of water sources for irrigation and extensive wildlife crop depredation.
In 2001, education was provided to 3740 students by a total of 16 schools ranging from primary to middle secondary schools while health services were delivered by a dzongkhag general hospital, four basic health units and 22 outreach clinics. A total of 88 rural water supply schemes provide piped drinking water facility. Agriculture and livestock extension services are provided by six RNR extension centers, two agriculture extension centers, two Livestock Extension center and a one fodder seed production center.
Inadequate power supply, limited road accessibility and market outlets constitute major challenges to development in the dzongkhag. Off-farm employment in gypsum mines; roads and other construction works constitute an important source of income for the people. The production of cultural and religious items such as jalings, dhungs, Thonphupoe, ngazhing jurmo tea leaves, and Yurung bura (textile) also generate cash income. The commissioning of Kurichu Power Project and the provision of adequate electricity supply can go a long way in accelerating economic and social development activities in the dzongkhag.
Language
[edit]Native speak Tshangla (Sharchopkha), an East Bodish language that is the lingua franca of eastern Bhutan.[2]
Population
[edit]The Pemagatshel district, as of 2005, had a population of 13,864.[3] In February 2011, some 42 households in remote areas of Pemagatshel were slated for relocation closer to population centers in order to provide better access to resources, both natural and governmental. Proponents for this move cited Gross National Happiness as a reason to improve living standards through relocation. This model, if successful, would be replicated in Haa and Lhuentse Districts.[4]
Vision
[edit]"A progressive Dzongkhag built on the foundation of economic prosperity, social cohesion and efficient services."
Mission
[edit]“Economic Prosperity, Social Cohesion and Efficient Services”
Administrative divisions
[edit]Pemagatshel District is divided into eleven village blocks (or gewogs):[5]
Geography
[edit]Southwestern Pemagatshel (the gewog of Norbugang) contains part of Royal Manas National Park.[6]
Tourism
[edit]Yongla Riwo Pelbar Dargeychhoeling Gonpa
Yongla Riwo Pelbar Dargeychhoeling Gonpa or the Pelri Gonpa, widely known today as Yongla Gonpa is one of the most well known monasteries under Pemagatshel Dzongkhag in eastern Bhutan. It is located on top of a mountaintop that resembles Phurba or Ritual dagger. The monastery was founded by Kheydrup Jigme Kundel from Darlung Kha in Wang, Thimphu in the 18th century.[7]
Jashar Gonpa
Ja Shar Woong Drubdey was built by Anim Woesel Choden in 1958. She was the most learned desciple of Togden Shakya Shri. She had dedicated her life to lifelong meditation. She had about 15 to 25 disciples.
After her death in 1982, the house that Anim Woesel Choden and her disciples lived was not maintained and it had dilapidated. H.E. Gyeltshen Trulku on a request from the local community took over the management and built a monastery, which comprised a common place for meditation, a guest house and other facilities.
Kheri Gonpa
The 15th century Goenpa was established by Kuenga Wangpo, son of the great treasure revealer, Pema Lingpa. The structure is said to be built over a lake at which he meditated for several days. The temple’s main relics are some sacred statues of the Buddha, Guru rinpoche, Chenrizig and Chuchizhey. The Tsechu is performed on the 10th day of the fourth month of the lunar calendar.
Ngangshing Goenpa
The Lhakhang was constructed over 400 years back by Drubthob Kuenzang Lhuendup. The Lhakhang was constructed mainly to have their village and people blessed and also for the well-being of all the sentient beings. Due to some urgent maintenance, the Lhakhang has undergone a renovation in the year 2013 through labour contribution by the public. It is currently owned by the community.
Dungkhar Gonpa
Dungkhar Lhakhang, located to the south of the Dzongkhag, is believed to have been constructed by Yab Mipham Tenpey Nyima (1567-1619), father of Zhadrung Ngawang Namgyel, in the 16th century when he visited Bhutan. Yab Tenpey Nyima was said to have fathered a son from a woman who later played an important role under Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel.
The Lhakhang is said to have been constructed on a ridge that resembles a conch. Hence it got the name Dungkhar. It is currently owned by the community. They perform the religious ritual, Annual Tshechu where people from the neighboring villages gather at the Goenpa in pitch tents for many days. Considered very sacred, people seek spiritual blessings from this Lhakhang and it’s believed to be unfailing in its blessing and protection.
Thonphu Goenpa
Thonphu Zangdopelri Goenpa, like all the Goenpas, was built to benefit sentient beings, particularly to the people in the locality. There was no Lhakhang or a religious institution before the construction of the Lhakhang to receive blessings of Buddha dharma in the locality. The Lhakhang was constructed with the pure labour contribution by the public under the spiritual guidance and direction of late Lam Sangay Dorji. The Goenpa, with more than 50 monks, perform religious ritual known as Annual Drupchen.
Pemagatshel is also famous for its artisans and weavers, and for numerous local festivals and folk songs. We will bring you more stories from Pemagatshel in the following weeks.[8]
Tsebar Ngangrey (Jarung Kashor) Choeten
Dongdongma Lhakhang
Khangma Khandom Choeten
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 2018-09-13.
- ^ van Driem, George L. (1993). "Language Policy in Bhutan". London: SOAS. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-11-01. Retrieved 2011-01-18.
- ^ "The Kingdom of Bhutan - Pemagatshel". GeoHive online. Retrieved 2011-07-14.
- ^ Namgay, Gyembo (2011-02-11). "Far-Flung Pemagatshel Villages to be Resettled". Bhutan Observer online. Archived from the original on 2012-04-03. Retrieved 2011-07-14.
- ^ "Chiwogs in Pema Gatshel" (PDF). Election Commission, Government of Bhutan. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-10-02. Retrieved 2011-07-28.
- ^ "Parks of Bhutan". Bhutan Trust Fund for Environmental Conservation online. Bhutan Trust Fund. Archived from the original on 2011-07-02. Retrieved 2011-03-26.
- ^ "Tourism". www.pemagatshel.gov.bt. Retrieved 2024-10-25.
- ^ "Pemagatshel: The blissful land of lotus in the far east of Bhutan". www.kuenselonline.com. 2022-09-17. Retrieved 2024-11-11.