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Bhutan's
Tourist Destinations |
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Bhutan Information |
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Trashiyangtse:
Town Development
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Town
development in Yangtse ready to take off
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A
few kilometers north of Tashigang, Tashiyangtse Dzong is half-hour walk
from the main road. Established in 1656, the Dzong was completely
renovated in 1976. Tashiyangtse is a small village with a garden aspect
and a lovely place from where to launch a couple of hour's stroll into
surrounding countryside. Nearby, Chorten Kora is one of only two temples
in Bhutan, built in Nepalese style and is host to a great festival celebrated
every year.
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Chorten
Kora : It is based on stupa of Boudhanath in Nepal, and constructed
in 1740 by Lama Ngwang Loday. During the second month of lunar calendar
there is interesting clebration here, known as "Kora".
Bomdelling:
About one hour walk from Chorten Kora, Bomdeling is the roosting place
of a flock of black-necked cranes.
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| Trashigang is used as the market place for the hill people from Merak and Sakteng
who are known for their exceptional features and for their costume which
is brightly coloured and different from customary Bhutanese clothing. The
17th century dzong is built on top of a cliff on the edge of town. The
views from the courtyard of the dzong stretch across Trashigang's valley.
Until the opening of an administrative centre at Yangtse Dzong, Trashigang
was the centre of all religious and secular activity for the 2 districts.
The town remains the capital of the East and a growing commercial centre. |
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| The
residents of Yangtse are finally receiving the green signal from the dzongkhag
authorities to start constructing houses. Two years after the Council of
Ministers approved the development of a planned town in Trashiyangtse,
about 10 acres of land has been demarcated for the new town. |
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The new town
will include a government housing colony and a residential and a commercial
area. Some 26 houses are to be built in the first phase. Funded under the
World Bank loan the Yangtse town will be developed in a "unique" way, using
just stones and wood. Unlike the concrete buildings in other towns, the
houses in Yangtse town will only be double-storied and carry strict traditional
architectural designs.
Modern
designs will be incorporated only in the bathrooms. The new design is said
to be appropriate to the remote town. The houses will not only serve as
shops but will also cater to visitors, especially tourists.
The
houses will be designed to cater "bed and breakfast" services to visitors
during the tourist season and for their own use at other times. Since Trashiyangtse
is a dead-end or road-end town, there is hardly any potential for industry.
But designed with rich architectural elements, the small town will attract
tourists who will play an important role in the local economy."
Trashiyangtse
has a good potential for tourism. The dzongkhag which already has a
black-necked crane reserve in Bumdeling will soon open a trekking route
from Yangtse to Kurtoe in Lhuentse via Bumdeling.
Trashiyangtse is also
ideal for river rafting and bird watching besides having attractive traditional
cottage industries and a rich variety of plant and animal species for eco-tourism.
The
new town, to be developed after settling the allocation procedures, will
have a road network, drainage, water and power supplies, vehicle park,
oil station, Sunday market sheds and other service facilities.
Meanwhile,
a similar but smaller town will be developed in Doksum, also under the
World Bank loan. Plans to develop a new town for Trashiyangtse started
as early as 1990. The plan was revised in 1993 after Trashiyangtse became
an independent dzongkhag.
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| Contributed
by KUENSEL, Bhutan's National Newspaper |
| Information on Bhutan |
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