Historic Doksum Iron Bridge

Doksum Iron Bridge

Doksum is one of the small towns under Trashi Yangtse Dzongkhag. The town consists of numerous shops lined up below District Highway. The people from five or six gewogs visit the town to sell their products and then buy some necessary items for their family. This is how the people of Khamdang, Toetsho, Yalang, Ramjar, Jamkhar, Tongzhang and other parts of Trashi Yangtse engage in buying and selling process. Tens and Hundreds visit the town for various reasons; to buy and sell, to obtain basic services such as internet facilities, postal services and many more.

Doksum is famous for Green chilies. Nearby Doksum, place called Wangringmu is located. Its 15 to 20 minutes walk from town. The people from Ramjar own the land there, where they plants chilies. The chilies are produced in month of May and June. Though, the people describe green chilies as ‘Yangtsep Ema’ but it comes from Doksum.

Once, Doksum town was damaged by falling rocks from above the Road. It damaged number of houses, but luckily the people did not ruin their life. Before more than decades ago, the flood in Bumdeling Gewog gave tension to the people of Doksum. It was truly disheartening situation for the people settled there. After rocks damaged few houses, the shopkeepers and the people shifted their shops and residences to the Khitshang which is located 10 minutes away from town.

The new town plans for Doksum is implemented by District headquarter and the shopkeepers are allotted land in Khitshang to build houses.

Doksum was famous in the history of Bhutan even before. Just behind the town over the Kholong Chu River, there was a bridge adjoins Khamdang and Tongzhang Gewog that plays an important role for the commuters. The commuters use that Bridge for various purposes but it was removed from there by Dzongkhag Administration. The Bridge has got great significant in the history of Bhutan as it was Iron Bridge built by Dupthop Thangthong Gyalpo. When I was young, I saw numbers of Tourists visit Doksum to see Iron Bridge. But now no tourists visit that place.

Why does that Bridge removed? Where do the Iron chains kept? These are the questions that generated within the people of Trashi Yangtse. This issue was raised in Parliament by Khamdang-Ramjar’s Member of Parliament, Sonam D. Dorji. But prior to his concern, no one raised the questions or concern in anyways. Therefore, that Bridge should be re-installed or constructed for the benefit of the people and tourists attractions.

We the people of Trashi Yangtse have deep concern on the Bridge as it was promised by District to reconstruct it, but after decades too, we can't see it again. So, therefore, we expect that bridge should come back to the place where it was before.