Fire-Ravaged Site in Bhutan to Be Rebuilt
Bhutan’s most revered monastery will be rebuilt after sacred relics and icons are removed from the burned ruins on the side of a cliff, officials said Tuesday.
King Jigme Singye Wangchuck ordered the reconstruction of the Taktsang Monastery, where an April 19 fire consumed much of the wood and stone structure built in the 17th century. The original site dates back 1,200 years.
Searchers have found no trace of the lone monk who cared for the site, about 2,600 feet above a valley floor and accessible only by foot up a steep dirt track. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
“It will take a long time to rebuild,” said Daw Penjo, counselor of Bhutan’s embassy in neighboring India. “Only a few people can work there at a time.”
The monastery is near the city of Paro and about 25 miles from Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan.
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