𝑺𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒌𝒉𝒂𝒓 𝑳𝒂𝒖𝒓𝒊
𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐤𝐡𝐚𝐫-𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐫𝐢 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐝𝐫𝐮𝐩 𝐉𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐤𝐡𝐚𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐠. 𝐃𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐝𝐞, 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐬 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐤𝐡𝐚𝐫-𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐫𝐢 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲.
Most of us think of Shingkhar Lauri as if it are one village, one community. In olden days when Samdrup Jongkhar was under Tashigang dzongkhang, the place was called Shingkhar-lauri.
Now, Shingkhar is under Merak Gewog, Tashigang whereas Lauri is under Lauri Gewog in Samdrup Jongkhar. Except for one hut, there is no settlement in Shingkhar. It is in fact a pasture for herders of Merak and Sakteng. There used to be a settlement once but people have moved back to Merak and Sakteng. The immediate village next to Shingkhar is Khashiteng. Almost two days away on foot from Merak, there are about 12 households. The first village in the picture is Khashiteng. The next village that you see is Phaju Gonpa. A stream separates these two villages. Phaju Gonpa is under Lauri Gewog. Lauri Gewog centre is located at a beautiful place called Jompa, but Lauri village is further below.
Lauri is corrupted form of Lawa ri, a pool of blue sheep (Lawa). A lama known as Lam Jarepa, who along with Aum Jomo is said to have led the people of Merak and Sakteng from Tshona in Tibet, once saw a blue sheep drinking from a pool of water. Hence the name Lawa ri.
Lauri Primary School is one of the first schools in the country.
Lauri is a very huge Gewog. A variety of cereals grow. The river is endowed with a unique species of fish. Various species of orchids grow all over. It is spiritually a very vibrant community with many temples, practitioners and monastic centers.
Ref: https://somkinga.wordpress.com/
