Gangtey boasts about its important religious sites like Gangtey Goemba Monastery which is a must visit place while you head towards Phobjikha valley.
Gangtey monastery: the divine monastery of Phobjikha valley
Gangtey monastery is also known as Gangtey Gompa monastery. It is an important monastery of Nyingmapa school of Buddhism which is located in the Wangdue Phodrang of the central district of Bhutan. The monastery is surrounded by the Gangtey village as it is known as is situated in the Phobjikha valley where the winter birds like Black Necked cranes which circle the monastery three times and repeat the same thing again while returning to Tibet.
History of Gangtey Monastery:
Monks carrying out maintenance work at Gangtey Goempa Monastery, Bhutan. The monastery is in the Phobjikha Valley where the black-necked cranes visit Bhutan to roost, circling the monastery three times on arrival and repeating this circling when returning to Tibet. #Bhutan #Asia pic.twitter.com/jOgFq4txXa
— James Morgan (@jamesmorganfoto) September 6, 2018
When the 15th-century treasure finder, Pema Lingpa visited Phobjikha valley had announced or predicted that a Goemba named gang-teng must be built in this valley to start his teachings from here.
This prediction got fulfilled when his grandson Gyalse Pema Thinley built a monastery in 1613 and the hilltop was given a name. He became the first spiritual head of the monastery. Previously it was a small village monastery and later it got expanded by his son Tenzing Legpai Dhendup who became the second head. It was built like a Dzong and the present king of Bhutan is said to be the descendants of Pema Lingpa.
The creation of Gangtey Monastery:
The structure of the monastery was built with full community support. The prayer hall is built in the Tibetan style with 18 great pillars surrounding with the three-story inner chamber and is one of the largest in Bhutan.
The inner entrance of the monastery houses the funeral Chorten of the founder of Tenzing Legpai Dhendup. The monastery is also surrounded by five temples in the main central tower. Moving to the upstairs is the central funeral Chorten of the sixth Gangtey spiritual head of the monastery. The tall white building on the top of the hill to the North of the Goemba is the famous Buddhist College Kuenzang Choling which has 300 Buddhist monks studying there.
It is a beautiful piece of architecture in Bhutan and to explore it the most trusted travel agency like AV Tours will let you have the opportunity of tourist cab booking in Bhutan to refresh your soul with the view of this monastery.
Festivals of Gangtey Monastery:
The popular Bhutanese festival, Tshechu, which is held all over the monasteries and temples in Bhutan, is also celebrated here from the 5th to 10th days of the eighth lunar month according to the Bhutanese calendar which attracts many tourists from all over the world.
In addition to this, the Crane festival which is mainly marked for the arrival of the Black Necked cranes from the Tibetan Plateau during the month of winter is held as a blessing for the people. It is also a big event not only in the Phobjikha valley but also in this monastery. It is held during the month of 12 November, every year, which is just after the day of king’s birthday celebration.
Religious institutions in and around Gangtey monastery:
Gangtey monastery is a famous monastery in this lonely planet of Bhutan and it has many religious institutions built by the kings of Bhutan. On the command of the fourth king, Jigme Singye Wangchuk, a Buddhist college, and a meditation center were established at Gangtey Goemba to spread the Buddhist Dharma.
At the same time, Gyal Yum Phuntso Choden supported this initiative and constructed three large statues of Lord Buddha, Guru Rinpoche, and Rigdzin Pema Lingpa. Along with this, there were 35 new and old subsidiary meditation and learning centers of Gangtey Goemba were also established.
Trekking activity in Gangtey Monastery:
Trekking in Gangtey is one of the most popular attractions of Phobjikha valley which surrounds the Gangtey Goemba. It starts from Gangtey Goemba in the Phobjikha valley, passes through the Kumbu village, goes through the Gedachen and Khebayathang villages, leads to the Kilhorthang village and ends in Kungathang Lhakhang. It is a short trek of about 90 miles known as the Gangtey Nature Trail by tourists in Bhutan.
Why visit Gangtey Monastery?
The Phobjikha valley is one of the famous destinations in Bhutan surrounded with the Gangtey valley and Gangtey Monastery is an important part of this valley. It is situated at the head of the valley from where we can take exceptional views. So, plan your tailor-made tour with the avail of tourist cab in Bhutan to Gangtey Monastery while your trip to the beautiful country of Bhutan.