Gasa Dzong

Gasa Dzong
Gasa Dzong
	Gasa Dzong
	Gasa Dzong Location in Bhutan
	Coordinates: 27°54′14″N 89°43′39″E / 27.90389°N 89.72750°E
Country	Bhutan
Elevation	9,350 ft (2,850 m)
Time zone	UTC+6 (BTT)

Gasa Dzong༼མགར་ས།༽ or Gasa Tashi Tongmön Dzong near Gasa is the administrative center of Gasa Dzongkhag (district) in the northwestern region of Bhutan. The Dzong was built in the 17th century by Tenzin Drukdra the second Druk Desi over the site of a meditation place established by Drubthob Terkungpa in the 13th century. The Dzong was constructed as a bulwark against attacks from the north and named Tashi Tongmön Dzong. It was later expanded by the fourth Desi, Gyalse Tenzin Rabgye.^[1] Inside the Guardian's Temple (Mgon Khang) he placed ritual object and performed the consecration ceremony.^[2]

In January 2008 Gasa Dzong was badly damaged by fire.^[3]

History

Legend has it that when Zhabdrung was making his way to Bhutan, the deity of Gasa traveled to Tsari Kibuthang in Tibet to greet him. The Zhabdrung blessed the deity with the new name of ''Trashi Thongmoen''. Thus, the Dzong was also given the same name in 1648, since the deity was its protector.^[4]་ The locals say that the entire landscape has the appearance of the image of Tsheringma (ཚེ་རིང་མ།), Goddess of long life, and the dzong, named Trashi Thongmon, is built on the chest of the image, which happens to be the local deity of Gasa.

27°55′N 89°41′E / 27.917°N 89.683°E / 27.917; 89.683

Sources

Lopen Kunzang Thinley; Khenpo Rigzin Wangchuck; Karma Wangdi; Sonam Tenzin (2008). Seeds of Faith: a comprehensive guide to the sacred places of Bhutan. Vol. 1. Thimphu: KMT Press. pp. 298–301. ISBN 978-99936-22-42-0.

References

^ Lopen Kunzang Thinley: 2008, p.300
^ Seeds of faith. 1. Thimphu: KMT Publ. 2008. ISBN 978-99936-22-42-0.
^ Needrup Zangpo (25 January 2008). "History ablaze in Gasa". Bhutan Observer. Thimphu. Archived from the original on 11 August 2010. Retrieved 2009-10-30.
^ Bstan-vdzin-rnam-rgyal, ed. (2008). Dzongs of Bhutan: fortresses of the Dragon kingdom (2nd. ed.). Thimphu: Bhutan Times. ISBN 978-99936-705-2-0.