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Gasa Tshachu sees record number of visitors

8 February 2008

gasa-tsachu.JPGGasa: Gasa Tsachu, the most popular tshachu amongst Bhutanese, had a record number of visitors in January this year.

Some 1,650 people visited the tsachu, according to Dago, the caretaker of the tsachu. He said it was the first time that such a huge crowd came to the tshachu after he became the caretaker eight years ago.

“A pond can accommodate about 20 to 25 people, but this time, more than 60 people crammed in a pond,” he said. There are four ponds at the tshachu.

In order to give chance to all the people, Dago made a schedule, but since all the people had different diseases wanting to get in different ponds, the plan did not work.

Chundu, 58, from Paro said he had been at the tshachu for one week, but dipped in the pond for only an hour everyday.

“Ponds are congested which makes it difficult to get in and stay there for long,” he said. Penjor from Shengana, Punakha, said he came to the tshachu every year. “This year, it is different. There are a lot of people and it is difficult to get space in the pond,” he said.

Not only are the ponds crammed, the space to pitch tents is limited. According to Dago, most people prefer to pitch their own tents rather than stay in the guest house. “But this time, even the guest house is full.”

He charged Nu 50 a person for a separate room and Nu 10 a person for the common room. He added that due to a huge crowd, it was difficult to maintain cleanliness. “Since last year, I began a cleaning campaign every week and it helps a bit,” he said. The caretaker told Observer that during the peak season, 7 to 13 groups including some foreigners come every day to the tshachu.

A group consists of 3 to 16 people. Dago said that most of the people come from Paro and Chapcha, and some from other dzongkhags.

Yangley, 54, from Tashiyangtse told Observer it was the third time that he visited the tshachu with his wife and two children.

“My wife is an ulcer patient. She underwent medical treatment, but, since that did not help, we came here and now she is better,” he said. Pemala, 45, from Bumthang Chumey said he was a sinuses patient and came there every winter.

Many people Observer spoke to said they came to the tshachu in winter. Gasa Tsachu is known to cure sinuses, piles, ulcer, heart diseases, gal stone, TB, gastric, leprosy, and blood pressure. There are 14 different kinds of menchu excluding the four different tshachu.

By TSHERING DAWA

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