Lhuentse-Dzong

2012-10-31T16:29:36Z

Cfynn: Moved Gallery section to Lhuntse District as most photos not of Dzong

{{Infobox Tibetan Buddhist monastery
|name =Lhuentse Dzong
|image =Lhuentse Dzong.jpg|
|image size = 250px
|alt =
|caption =Panoramic view of Lhuentse Dzong
|pushpin_map = Bhutan
|latd =27 |latm = 39|lats =00 |latNS = N
|longd= 91| longm=09|longs =00|longEW = E
|map_caption = Location within Bhutan
|mapsize = 250
|location_country = Bhutan
|coordinates_display =
|location= [[Lhuentse District]], [[Bhutan]]
|founded_by = [[Kunga Wanpo]] (1543). Built by [[Minjur Tenpa]] (1654)
|founded =1543
|date_renovated = 1962, 1972–1974
|sect = Nyingmapa
|lineage=
|dedicated_to =[[Guru Rinpoche]]
|head_lama =
|no._of_monks = 100
|architecture = Bhutanese [[Dzong]]
|festivals=
|footnotes =
}}
'''Lhuentse Dzong''' is a [[dzong]] and [[Buddhist]] monastery in [[Lhuentse District]] in eastern [[Bhutan]]. It lies on the eastern side of the [[Kuri Chhu]] river and is perched on a spur at the end of a narrow valley.<ref name="Pommaret">{{cite book|author=Pommaret, Francoise|title=Bhutan Himlayan Mountains Kingdom (5th edition)|publisher=Odyssey Books and Guides|year=2006|pages=257–58}}</ref>

The Dzong was initially known as ''Kurtoe'', in the then isolated [[Lheuntse]] district. It is the ancestral home of the royal family. While its geographic coordinates are set in eastern Bhutan, its cultural roots are, however, part of Central Bhutan. This was because before road traffic connected to [[Mongar]], the approach to the place was through a trade route crossing the Rodang La pass.<ref name=Brown>{{Cite book|last=Brown|first=Lindsay|coauthors=Bradley Mayhew, Stan Armington and Richard Whitecross|title= Bhutan|page=186|accessdate=2010-05-09|url=http://books.google.co.in/books?id=s-L8NUlW_QgC&pg=PA187&lpg=PA187&dq=Lhuentse+Dzong&source=bl&ots=is1kdIb9Dh&sig=j65ifh7veikzoEj98aUYwEtFFuo&hl=en&ei=vPjlS___O8SzrAes6N3tAg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CAUQ6AEwADgK#v=onepage&q=Lhuentse%20Dzong&f=false|publisher= Lonely Planet|year=2007|isbn=1-74059-529-7}}</ref><ref name=weave>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bhutantouroperator.com/bhutan-textile-tour.php|title=17 Nights & 18 Days Bhutan Textile Tour|accessdate=2010-05-09|publisher=Bhutan All Seasons Tours}}</ref>

==Topography==
[[File:Suspension bridge across the river.jpg|thumb|left|Suspension bridge across the [[Kuri Chhu]] river on the way to Chortens and the Dzong]]
The Dzong is located in the Kuri Chhu valley, which is part of the Lhuntse district.<ref name=Dzongkhag>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lhuentse.gov.bt/profile.php|title= General Information|work= Lhuentse Dzongkhags|accessdate=2010-05-09|publisher= Lhuentse Dzongkhags}}</ref> The [[Kuri Chhu]] is the major river that has formed the scenic valley with high peaks and steep hills.<ref name=Brown/> Kuri Chhu is a tributary of the [[Manas River]] system, which is the largest river of Bhutan and a major tributary of the [[Brahmaputra River]] that drains most of Eastern Bhutan.<ref name=weave/><ref name=Eastern>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lonelyplanet.com/shop_pickandmix/previews/bhutan-3-eastern-bhutan-preview.pdf|format=pdf|title= Eastern Bhutan|accessdate=2010-05-09|publisher=Lonely Planet}}</ref>

The road from Mongar to Lheuntse Dzong is a 3 hours drive over a distance of {{convert|77|km|mi}} and {{convert|63|km|mi}} from its junction at Gangola. The approach to this Dzong is over a flag-stone-paved path over the steep cliffs.<ref name=Brown/><ref name=Him/>

==History==
According to one legend, Khedrup Kuenga Wangpo, son of Tertoen Pema Lingpa was assigned to find a ridge resembling the trunk of an elephant.<ref name=ally>{{Cite web|url=http://allybhutan.com/Eastern%20Region.html|title=Eastern Region (Eastern Bhutan)|work= Lhuentse|accessdate=2010-05-09|publisher=Ally Bhutan}}</ref> He found one opposite Baeyul Khenpajong and mediated there. This location came to be known as Kurtoe Lhuentse Phodrang.
[[File:Student monks.jpg|right|thumb|An assembly of student monks]]
The monastery was originally established by [[Pema Lingpa]]'s son [[Kunga Wanpo]] in 1543, although it wasn't until 1654 that the [[Trongsa]] [[penlop]] (governor), [[Minjur Tenpa]], built a formal dzong here after winning a battle and named it Lhuentse Rinchentse.<ref name="Pommaret"/> The dzong was later restored in 1962 and again between 1972 and 1974.<ref name="Pommaret"/> The historic importance of Lhuntse Dzongkhag is on account of its established link as the ancestral home of the [[Wangchuck Dynasty]]. Lhuentse town is the administrative capital of Lhuentse District, besides the Lhuentse Dzong.<ref name= Kuzu >{{Cite web|url=http://www.lhuentse.gov.bt/|title=Kuzu-Zangpo and Welcome to all Surfers!|accessdate=2010-05-09|publisher= Lhuentse Dzongkhags}}</ref> At present 100 monks reside here.<ref name=weave/>

==Architecture==
[[File:Entrance gate to Lhuentse Dzong.jpg|thumb|left|Entrance gate to the Dzong]]
The dzong contains five temples, three of which are in the central tower and are dedicated to [[Guru Rinpoche]].<ref name="Pommaret"/> The dzong also contains a Gonkhang, which is dedicated to [[Mahakala]] and a temple dedicated to [[Amitayus]], the Buddha of Infinite Life.<ref name="Pommaret"/> The ground floor also has a temple dedicated to [[Avalokiteshvara]].<ref name="Pommaret"/> The ''Kunre'', the assembly hall for the monks, is located on the upper floor.<ref name="Pommaret"/>

;2009 Earthquake damage
The Dzong has suffered serious damage during [[2009 Bhutan earthquake|an earthquake measuring 6.1]] on the [[Richter scale]] that hit eastern Bhutan on Monday, 21 September 2009. Many other monasteries in the region also suffered serious damages.<ref name=earthqauake>{{Cite web|url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWFiles2009.nsf/FilesByRWDocUnidFilename/SKEA-7W5J94-full_report.pdf/$File/full_report.pdf|format=pdf|title= Situation Report Earthquakes in Bhutan, India and Myanmar|accessdate=2010-05-09|publisher=UNDP Disaster Management Team}}</ref>

==Other attractions==
Khoma village, which is an hour walk from the main road to Lhuentse Dzong is famous for its intricate woven cloth made of silk called ''Kishu Thara''. Other well known pilgrimage sites of Ugyen Guru Rimpoche are the [[Singye Dzong]], the Baeyul Khenpajong and the Phunying La. Singye Dzong was founded by Yeshi Tsogyal and visited by Guru Rinpoche on his second visit to Bhutan, which is a three day trek from Khoma.<ref name=weave/><ref name= Kuzu/>

;Weaving
The weaving handicraft looms loom large in households here and the handlooms produced are very famous. This household industry is dominated by women folks who weave different types of textiles with intricate designs. The unique weaving activities involve embroidery, basket-making and ''Kushutara'' (brocade dress). Textiles products of Lhuentse are stated to be the best in the country.<ref name=weave/><ref name=Him>{{Cite web|url=http://www.himalayan-adventure.com/bhutan/lhuentse.htm|title=Lhuentse|accessdate=2010-05-09|publisher= Nature Beyond}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
*[http://www.maplandia.com/bhutan/lhuntshi/lhuntshi/ coordinates of Lhunshi now known as Lhuentse]

{{Buddhist monasteries in Bhutan}}
{{Commonscat|Lhuentse Dzong}}

[[Category:Dzongs of Bhutan]]
[[Category:Buddhist monasteries in Bhutan]]
[[Category:Tibetan Buddhist monasteries]]
[[Category:1543 establishments]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1654]]

Wikipedia - Benutzerbeiträge [de]

Lhuentse-Dzong