Phub Dem | Sombaykha

Rangtse Nye in Haa, believed to be secret abode of Guru Rinpoche and Khandro Yeshey Tshogyel, is about four-hour drive from the Haa-Chuzom highway.

After crossing Tergo-La (Tergo means door to treasures or treasure door), one gets a sense of entering a valley of hidden spiritual treasures.

It is a pleasant drive along with the Amochhu. But the roads are bumpy and difficult for light vehicles.

Upon reaching the Haa-Samtse national highway, the nye is just a few minutes away if not for the streams.

One has to cross the Nyachhu (stream) three times to reach the base of the nye.

Gakiling Gup Gashay said that it was difficult for the people to visit the nye in summer because of swollen Nyachhu.

Rangtse Nye remained hidden until His Majesty the King’s visit on December 23, 2017.

Today, the nye gets visitors from places as far as Thimphu, Paro and Samten. There is a huge tourism potential providing facilities are established.

Officials from dzongkhag administration and Tourism Council of Bhutan visited the sites yesterday to develop the area for tourists.

The dzongkhag administration proposed Nu 10 million for the development of campsites, hot stone bath, electrification of nye, construction of footsteps, walking trails, signages and other tourism infrastructures under the tourism flagship programme. However, only Nu 6.5M was approved.

Officiating planning officer of Haa, Pema Thinley, said that the team studied the cost of constructing about 160 metres of walking trail and two suspension bridges.

He said that the dzongkhag administration was planning to construct altar room, development of celebration ground for mask dancers and cultural dancers, kitchen and toilets.

This infrastructure are essential for crowds gathering for Rangtse Tshechu which is celebrated every year coinciding with the inauguration of the nye.

Economic development officer of Haa, Tshering Peldon, said that the nye was an important attraction for the two remote southern gewogs of Sangbaykha and Gakiling.

Starting from the entrance of the lime cave, one has to sneak through a long, dark tunnel. It is believed that there are seven doors inside the cave.

The further into the cave, the tunnel becomes narrower. For the faithful and visitors to take in, there is mesh rock resembling mandrel offering, footprint of Guru Rinpoche and the holy pudenda of Khandro Yeshey Tshogyel, among others.

There are numerous underpasses inside the dark cave.

Elderlies of the gewog believe that there are more treasures concealed by Guru Rinpoche.