DRANGZE PHUG

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

According to the –>Phugtal legend, one of the mythical Tang-srong saints retired to meditate in a cave at Drangze, a small village (10 houses, school) above the right (north-east) bank of the Lungnak Valley, a tributary from the south-east to the stream Tsarap Lingti Chu (note 1). Today, only a chotkhang (prayer room) above the houses is shown to the visitors. SITUATION: HIRSCHBERG (1977, 1980, 1987: 232) places Drangze at a travelling distance of 6 hours on foot (about 12 km in a direct line south) from –>Phugtal / Phuktal Gompa (N33°16': E077°11'). Having left Phugtal and crossed the stream Niri (Tsarap) Chu, the first settlement (4 houses) is Yuar or Yuwur (note 2). Proceeding along the Niri Chu downstream (south-southwest), the next two houses belong to Purney (note 3). Having crossed the Tsarap Lingti Chu, the trail south-east follows the Lungnak or Anakh valley (note 4) and passes the two houses of Yal (note 5) and the small village (21 houses, school) of Stesta or Tetha, Tesur (note 6). A short distance beyond the eight houses of Kuru (note 7) the river is crossed to the left (north-east) bank. The first place encountered (10 houses, school) is Drangze (note 8).According to the –>Phugtal legend, one of the mythical Tang-srong saints retired to meditate in a cave at Drangze, a small village (10 houses, school) above the right (north-east) bank of the Lungnak Valley, a tributary from the south-east to the stream Tsarap Lingti Chu (note 1). Today, only a chotkhang (prayer room) above the houses is shown to the visitors. SITUATION: HIRSCHBERG (1977, 1980, 1987: 232) places Drangze at a travelling distance of 6 hours on foot (about 12 km in a direct line south) from –>Phugtal / Phuktal Gompa (N33°16': E077°11'). Having left Phugtal and crossed the stream Niri (Tsarap) Chu, the first settlement (4 houses) is Yuar or Yuwur (note 2). Proceeding along the Niri Chu downstream (south-southwest), the next two houses belong to Purney (note 3). Having crossed the Tsarap Lingti Chu, the trail south-east follows the Lungnak or Anakh valley (note 4) and passes the two houses of Yal (note 5) and the small village (21 houses, school) of Stesta or Tetha, Tesur (note 6). A short distance beyond the eight houses of Kuru (note 7) the river is crossed to the left (north-east) bank. The first place encountered (10 houses, school) is Drangze (note 8).