HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Trashigang Dzong was built in 1659 by Trongsa Penlop, Chogyel Minjur Tempa (1659-1676 AD, the 3rd Deb of Bhutan). The Dzong was then named as Trashigang, “the Fortress of the Auspicious Mountain”. The Dzong was expended by Tenzin Rabgye, 4th Desi of Bhutan (1680-1694) and restored it around 1950 by Dasho Dopola, Trashigang Dzongpon. During 1960s and 1970s late Lyonpo Tamji Jagar (then the Nyerchen of Trashigang) and Dasho Kuenzang Tangbi carried out some repairs and changed the shingle roofing with asbestos sheet.
The Dzong has 8 different Lhakhang and these are Lam Lhakhang in the central tower which is dedicated to Shabdrung Rimpochhe, the Tshechu Lhakhang with Guru Tshengye, the Goenkhang dedicated to deities Mahakala and Mahakali, the Dupthob Lhakhang for Dupthob Thangthong Gyalpo and other great Buddhist saints, the Kuenray Lhakhang, the Tshokshing Lhakhang which has the lineage of Drukpa, Karamapa, Nyingmapa and Zogchen displayed and the Dema Lhakhang with 21 kinds of Demas.
AREA AND LOCATION
Trashigang Dzongkhag has borders with Mongar Dzongkhag in the west, Samdrup Jongkhar and Pemagatshel Dzongkhag in the South, Trashi Yangtse Dzongkhag in the north and Indian state of Aranachal Pradesh in the east. Trashigang is 555 km away from Thimphu, the capital city and is one of the largest Dzongkhag in the Kingdom with total area about 3066.90 square kilometers. Dangme chu, one of the largest river in the country passes through the Dzongkhag. The elevation ranges from 600 m to over 4500 m above sea level. The climate is mainly temperate with an annual rainfall between 1000 mm and 2000 mm. The lowest human settlement is found at an altitude of 550 m above sea level at Deno of Lumang Geog and the highest at Merak at an altitude of 4600 m above sea level.
ADMINISTRATION
Dungkhags (sub-districts) 3
Geogs (blocks) 15
Gups (block headman) 15
Mangmi (block representative) 15
Total DYT members 31
Total GYT members 163
Staff Strengths 1056*
Note: * - indicates that ESP and GSP not included.
Trashigang Dzongkhag has 3 Dungkhags namely Sakten, Wamrong and Thrimshing, 15 Gewogs namely Bartsham, Bidung, Kanglung, Kangpara, Khaling, Lumang, Merak, Phongmey, Radhi, Sakten, Samkhar, Shongphu, Thrimshing, Uzorong and Yangneer, with the total households of 10,271 and population more than 48,783 as per the recent population and housing census.
The Dzong is being used as the Spiritual, Judicial and Administrative Centre of Trashigang Dzongkhag.
The following officials served as the Dzongdag of this Dzongkhag:
Dasho Tenzin Dorji
Dasho Kunzang Tangbi (1971-1986)
Dasho Tsheten Dorji (1986-1988)
Dasho Dorji Namgyel (1988-1992)
Dasho Rinzin Gyeltshen (1992-1997)
Dasho Dr. Sonam Tenzin (1997-2000)
Dasho Sherub Tenzin (2001-2003)
Dasho Namgay Wangchuk (2003-2006)
Dasho Minjur Dorji (2006-2007)
Dasho Dorji Norbu (2007-2009)
Dasho Lungten Dorji (2009- )
|
