The Gangteng Monastery, also known as the Gangtey Gonpa or Gangtey Monastery, is an important monastery of Nyingmapa school of Buddhism. It is located in the Wangdue Phodrang District in central Bhutan. The monastery is situated on the west side by the Black Mountains, and is located amidst the Gangtey Village, overlooking the vast U-shaped glacial Phobjika Valley. Adorned with striking views of the Phubjika Valley below, the monastery was established in 1613 by the first Peling Gyals Rinpoche.
Structure and Architecture The structure of the monastery is a wonder in itself. Nearby forest trees were cut, shaped ad used for the construction of the pillars, beams and windows. A renowned artisan was specially brought from Tibet to guide the team of local craftsmen. Voluntary labour force was organized from among the devotees of the local village of Gangten.
The monastery underwent a major renovation from 2000. The refurbishing was planned in such a way as not to disturb “the original aura and grandeur of the monastery”. All the important measures were taken to preserve the old structures, carvings, and paintings. The monastery was painted with durable special mineral paints, locally called the dotshoen.
Major Festival celebrated in the monasteryTsechu is the popular Bhutanese festival that is celebrated all over Bhutan in all the major monasteries. The festival is held from the 5th to 10th days of the eighth lunar month, and attracts many foreign tourists.
In addition to this, the Crane Festival is also celebrated here. The festival marks the arrival of Black necked cranes from the Tibetan plateau during the winter months. The arrival of the birds is held as a religious blessing by the people. It is held on 12 November, every year, which is a day after the celebration of the King’s birthday.
Attraction aroundGangtey treks are popular among the tourists and are a huge crowd puller. It is a major attraction in the Phubjika Valley which covers the Gantey Gonpa. The trekking route starts from the Gangteng Gonpa in the Phobjika valley, and passes through the Kumbu village. A short trek of about 90 minutes, known as the Gangte Nature Trail, starts from the mani stone wall to the north of the Gangtey Gonpa and ends in Khewa Lhakhang.
Religious Institutions A Buddhist College and a meditation centre have been established at the monastery, at the command of the fourth King, Jigme Singye Wangchuck. The idea was to propagate the Buddhist Dharma with support from the Royal Government of Bhutan. Following this, 35 new and old subsidiary meditation and learning centres of the Gangteng Gonpa have been established in the country.
South Asia is home to solid one-third of the world’s population. The region is home to the highest and the second highest mountain peaks of the world Everest and K2. Housing marvels such as the Taj Mahal, Ajanta, Sigiriya, Timpu, and Taxila, the heritage and cultures of the region date back thousands of years.
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