Pemagatshel District – The "Blissful Land of the Lotus" since 1970
Until 1970 this district in eastern Bhutan was known as Khoi Dung. It was then renamed by the revered teacher Dudjom Rinpoche, who gave it the name Pemagatshel – "Blissful Land of the Lotus", from pema (lotus) and gatshel (blissful land).
A lovely local tradition explains the name: anyone who stands at the site of the old Pemagatshel dzong and looks around is said to see the surrounding hills unfold like a lotus in full bloom. Today Pemagatshel is one of Bhutan's 20 dzongkhags, a rural region with strong spiritual roots. Do you know more stories about the lotus land and its villages? Share them with the community!