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Gelephu
Tshachu - Hot springs |
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A
Bhutanese way of healing |
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Bhutan's
People |
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Bhutan's
People |
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| Gelephu Tsachhu |
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| In the well of a tsachhu
A
lot of people from all parts of Bhutan are travelling all the way to the
Gelephu tshachu (hot springs) to soak away joint pains, stomach aches and
skin diseases. But on reaching the tshachu, 15 kilometres from Gelephu,
they were disgusted; the spring water in the four bathwells looked like
stagnant soapy water with body dirt floating on the top. |
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"Instead
of curing ailments it looked like we might get more," said the couple as
they rushed back to Gelephu. Khandu, another visitor from Thimphu, said
that he took a quick dip in the tshachu by closing his nose after he was
forced by his colleagues. "The tshachu needs to be improved, it needs proper
drainage so that the water in the wells can circulate more easily."
The
Gelephu dungkhag administration plans the first major renovation since
the hot springs were opened to public in 1962. All the four wells will
be replaced with proper ponds and an improved drainage system. The bathwells
will be like the Gasa Tshachu.
The
surrounding area will also be improved with proper retaining walls as the
tshachu is located in the foothills and faces the risk of falling boulders
during the monsoon.
The
tshachu gets crowded from December to February every year. People from
Bumthang, Trongsa, Zhemgang and also from eastern and western dzongkhags
come to soak in the tshachu. Most of them are rural folk who bring a stock
of rations and bedding and stay for about a week. The early birds stay
in the three dilapidated guest houses which can house about 40 people.
People say that the hot spring relieve their backache and joint pains.
| Contributed
by KUENSEL, Bhutan's National Newspaper |
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