Bhutan’s Royal Family attended the consecration of the restored Pelri Dorjidhen Tsulakhang in Nobgang, Punakha, on September 16, as part of ongoing efforts to preserve the village’s historic and cultural heritage.
His Majesty King Jigme Khesar, the Fourth King, the Queen, the Queen Mothers and other members of the Royal Family attended the ceremony, which was presided over by the Chief Abbot of Bhutan. Senior officials and residents from Nobgang, Talo and surrounding communities were also present.
The historic temple was established by Sakya Rinchen, the ninth Chief Abbot of Bhutan, in the 18th century. The settlement of Nobgang is believed to have developed around the temple as monks and practitioners built hermitages in the area.
The recent renovation covered the Tsulakhang and Zimchung Gom and forms part of the wider Nobgang Cultural Site Stewardship Plan led by the Department of Culture and Dzongkha Development.
The initiative aims to conserve Nobgang’s traditional architecture, religious sites and cultural landscape while creating economic opportunities for the local community. The Gyalyum Charitable Trust also supported the conservation of thangkas and textiles at the site.
Nobgang is known for its distinctive Kabu-Dharcham traditional houses and its links to Bhutan’s religious and cultural history. The stewardship programme seeks to preserve these traditions while ensuring that Nobgang continues to develop as a vibrant, community-led living heritage site.
