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Yongla Pelri Gonpa |
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One of the most well known monasteries under Pemagatshel district in eastern Bhutan is the Pelri Gonpa, built in 1736, widely known today as Yongla Gonpa. It is located on top of a mountain and as one travels over the national highway linking Samdrup Jongkhar to Trashigang, one can catch a glimpse of the temple at the junction known as Tshelingkhor where the road diverts and leads to Pema Gatshel. From this junction it is a half an hour drive to the monastery.
The founder of the monastery Kheydrup Jigme Kundel was from Darlung Kha in Wang, Thimphu in the 18th century. In a dream Khandro Dechen Gyalmo appeared to him on one fateful night and informed him that this was not the destined place. Guided by this vision he finally reached Yongla in Pemagatshel. On reaching Yongla he found the landscape very similar to that of Tsari in Tibet and he asked the spirit to confirm him in his beliefs that this was indeed the correct site foretold by his master. The spirit replied yes, yes (yong, yong) and thereby the area came to be known as Yongla. Now positive that he was in the right place, Jigme Kundel meditated immediately. As time passed people from the nearby villages approached him for blessings and teachings. Jigme Kundel graciously gave them blessings and teachings and over time built a meditation centre. He soon attracted many disciples and centres flourished around Yongla. A nunnery was also established close by, and was looked after by Kudung, a disciplinarian. Exactly a year to the day after the death of Lama Jigme Kundel at the request of Lama Dorji Jamtsho construction of a monastery was initiated.
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Khothagpa gypsum mine |
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The gypsum mine is located at Khothagpa village, some 13 kilometers below Pemagatshel town. It has a total mine area of 26.67 hectares. Mining first began in the early 1980s and was managed by the department of Geology and Mines. Subsequently for a brief period of time, it was managed by the Penden Cement Authroity. In 1993, government leased out the mine to Druk Satair Corporation for a period of 10 years. The corporation won the bid to operate the mine for another 10 years in 2004. Using semi-mechanized open cast method, the corporation mines gypsum which is mostly exported to India. A small proportion is exported to Bangladesh and Nepal, and a small amount sold to Bhutanese buyers. In 2002, the corporation, along with some other promoters set up Druk Plaster and Chemicals Limited. As it is a spin-off company, it is managed by the same team of managers.
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