CHUZOM CHORTEN
(Tourism Trivia, Chilipai Chamcha)
Many must be knowing, many travel guide-books on Bhutan say, there are 3 Chorten at Chuzom (Confluence of Thimphu-Paro/Paa-chhu Wang-chhu river). It also says, the Chortens are: 1 Bhutanese, 1 Tibetan & 1 Nepali Architecture la. That's a mistake!
In reality, there are 4 Chortens/Stupas: 1st was the Rigsum Gonpo Chorten, Bhutanese architecture, in honor of the 3 Bodhisattvas of Wisdom, Compassion and Power. It was built from time immemorial, to grant safe passage to travellers. 2nd was the stone Jangchub Chorten, Tibetan style, built during construction of a bailey bridge at Chuzom (1968 side). 3rd was the concrete/cement Jangchub Chorten, built around the year 1982. 4th was the Bhutanese style cube Chorten built in the 1990s, when the Chuzom bailey bridge was replaced by concrete.
So how did the confusion start?
In 2006/7 side, Department of Tourism, under Ministry of Trade and Industry, wanted to enact Sustainable Tourism Development Strategy (passed in 2005).
For that, they brought a Chilip expert to catalogue tourism hotspots.
And a Tourism Official went as Chamcha of the Chilip expert (instead of a professional Tour Guide). Thus, the Mistake!
When a licensed professional guide goes around with Chilips, it's as their Tour Guide.
When a (Tourism) Official goes around with Chilips, what is it called? Chamchagiri?!
Department of Tourism, Bhutan
