Of Tsachu's

Introduction to Tsachu's

The reclusive Kingdom of Bhutan is well-known for it's pursuit of happiness, would this include taking time out for soaking in hot springs?
Kencho Wangdi in a thoroughly informative article states the following:

'Japanese love it [soaking in hot springs], if not for its medicinal value, for its warmth and therapeutic comfort. Visitors believe the thermal springs are great for relieving stress and tension too.
Traditional medicine doctors (Dungtshos) in Thimphu [Bhutan's capital], though, say that it is not good for people with high blood pressure, eye and dizziness disease, and with heart ailments.
Gasa tshachhu’s [tsachu or tshacchu are Bhutanese for hot spring] historical records are sketchy at best as it is for numerous other tshachhus in the country. Dungtsho Yeshey Dorji of the institute of traditional medicine services says that the country’s ancient traditional medicine doctors discovered the medicinal values of the tshachhus and spread the discovery. Because of their curative powers tshachhus were held sacred by the Bhutanese, many believing them to have been touched by divine hands. It is said that Bhutanese warriors wounded in battles sought tshachhus to soak in and applied the warm mud as salve for wounds. Sometimes they traveled for weeks to bathe their wounds in the water. Traditional medicine doctors have long since been prescribing the healing waters for their patients.
Observers also speculate if with modernisation tshachhus would retain their magic for long. In the west hot springs lost out to modern medications which held out the promise for rapid cures of many chronic diseases, which seemed more attractive than several weeks of bathing and other water-related treatments. Physicians were also not all convinced of their medicinal value mainly because no scientific proof existed.
But for elderly Bhutanese like Ap Lhap Tshering, 81, from Lhuentse, a regular visitor to Gasa tshachhu, the magic will never wane. "It's nature's way of healing people."

The looks like a comprehensive answer. Bhutanese must love soaking.

In the article entitled 'The Healing Springs of Bhutan' ugina adds:

'During the winter months, many people walk to these hot spring spots or "Tsachus" as they are called. People believe that soaking in this water will cure illnesses, such as stomach ailments, headache, skin problems and the list goes on and on'.

The significance of hot springs and their opportunity to attract tourists has made the government to present a very recent (December 2010) brief overview on their tourism web site. In all they mention 5 hot springs, this site will do better ...

Lhaden in the hot springs, Gasa by John Wehrheim.

No tsachu, take a dhotsho. Or a menchu
A less well-known tradition is that of dhotsho, a hot stone bath. Stones are heated and then put in a bath tub, i.e. a great Bhutanese alternative to a natural soak.digital shangrila describes it as follows:

'so amazing! there are probably some people who don't know what this is, so i will describe it..... a hole is cut in the ground and then the hole is cribbed with timbers. water from the stream is run into the bath which is by the fire, river rocks are put in the fire until they are glowing hot and then they are dropped in the wooden tub full of water until it is boiling hot. the minerals released from the rocks are incredibly healthy and the steam rising of the water is divine!'

'Muffy enjoying the hot stone bath at basecamp'.

Sourced from Muffydavis.com. Or alternatively Jeff's LP travel blog.

And when not able to do either there are menchu's. Translated as medicinal water (or possibly mineral water with high mineral content), these are spring waters with curative powers. These are found all over the country and are best appreciated heated with hot stones, so as to make them bearable.
The Bhutan Times has an article on menchu's near the capital Thimphu:

'The Menchu Karp smells pungent and is believed to mainly cure tuberculosis, nausea, rheumatism and boost appetite.
“The menchu is so effective that people even tried channeling it down to villages using pipes but failed,” said another visitor, adding that the Menchu Karp is believed to be under the guidance of the local deity, Changmey Phodhup'.

More insight on the significance of menchu's from this description of Aja Chhu:

'There is also a spring water (Menchu) near Aja Chhu believed to have medicinal values. People frequent the place to bathe in the pungent smelling spring for medical purposes. It is believed to have a curative effect on 18 diseases such as tuberculosis, bodyache, ulcer and whooping cough. Located in the same vicinity is another stream called Awa Chhu. Legend has it that the stream that falls from the rocky cliff came into existence after Guru's walking stick was implanted in the rock. The stream falls on a rock basin forming a pool, where it is believed the Guru had taken bath. The pool accommodates nine people and a bath in the pool is believed to purify a person. All visitors sincerely take a dip in the pool which is also believed to be warm in winter and cool in summer'.

Aja Chhu is probably the most sacred of menchu's and Kuensel has a long article on this place.
 

A photo which was once on picasa, link seems to have disappeared.
A dhotso? Left the men are heating the stones, right the women are bathing.

 

So where are the soak sites?
Dur Tsachu (Bhumthang) is the highlight of 10 day trek traversing the Bhutanese portions of the Himalaya without it being too strenuous. The trek is actually named after the hot spring.
Despite this though there is little info on the hot springs themselves ... that is with the exception of Wikitravel:

'A one day trek from road head. The trek is arduous, but stunningly beautiful. Blue sheep, musk deer and Himalayan bear are common in the Duer Hot Spring area'.

A short story on the keeper of Dur hot spring (my ambition) by crankygerman:

'he will show you with a wry smile how to disrobe and make proper use of them'.

Another hot spring (known as Gasa Tsachu) is likewise known as it is en route on the more worn out trekking trails of Bhutan. It is (or was) actually the main destination of a 11 day trek.

This year [2009] however saw a washout occur when a nearby stream managed to undercut the bathing facilities as reported by Kuensel (12 July 2009):

'The healing waters of the country’s most famous hot spring now flow under the Mochu river, which has taken a new course after the May 26 flood that completely washed away the five soaking ponds and the VIP bathhouse built around the spring'.

Reports since though have reported that renovations are underway. BBS (September 16, 2009):

'With the monsoon season almost over the restoration work of Gasa Tsachu will be carried out very soon'.

'This area used to be green, lush, and developed with many tubs before the flood in 2009. There is now one pool in the hut and an other outside, along with the bathing area to the lower right of the pool'. 

Photo by Craig Learned.

Kuensel only last month reported on the shortcomings. The gist:maybe by 2012 Gasa will be visitable. An update on Soaking in Southeast Asia refers to a bidding war by Japanese and Italians.... October 2012 mentions that the hot spring is open for business.

Though there is the reality of the conditions of the Gasa tsachu and development in general on tripadvisor:

'Gasa Tshachu trek is no more an attraction after the hot spring was washed away by the flood this year. Now there is dirt track just four hours walk from Gasa and two hours from the hot spring site'.

The former refers to the new road which now makes the trek just 2-3 hours away from the roadhead. Bhutan Observer (29 May 2009):

'Passang, 55, a horseman from Zomina, said before the arrival of the road, he used to get Nu 400 for a horse to carry a person and his luggage from the road end at Tashithang to the tshachhu [Gasa hot spring]. But now, he gets only Nu 300 for a horse. He said the coming of the road would directly affect the livelihood of about 100 horsemen'.

The road seems to be on. The Bhutanese reports (24 March 2012) on the road initiative. The locals seem to be intent on the road passing near or through the hot springs area, whereas officials are arguing that they will never get the environmental clearance. In that case the road would by-pass the hot springs by 3-4 km.

On yanatravel.com a first hand account to the old site as reported by Phintsho Dorji:

'The hot springs have five ponds. Each is fed from the different springs and each treats a different ailment. Though there are bathrooms and shower rooms and a notice instructing the visitors, ‘Do not enter the pond before taking shower from this bath house’, people enter the ponds without taking bath and that too with their dirty clothes on'.

Some things never change or do they?

'In the past, visitors relieved themselves in the open and farmers brought domestic animals - pigs, horses and cows to the tshachhu for broken joints and other ailments. Animals are now banned from the tshachhu'.

That positive note from Kencho Wangdi in the Kuensel (14 January 2009). Overall Mr. Wangdi has a very informative article not only on Gasa but on hot springs in Bhutan in general (see also above fragment in the introduction). He also mentions:

'... Nye [hot spring] in Kurtoe, Chuphu in Punakha and Dunbang in Zhemgang. They are all difficult to reach and entail more than a day’s walk through the rugged terrain'.

Other than Chuphu there are no references on the internet other than this source. Possibly because of spelling?

Erik Skydive's picture on Gasa TsaChu as it was.

Error
Chuphu is much better known as Chubu. As stated above, it is located in Punakha, Chubu is often visited.
From recent photo's (by yasu kita) it is evidently a very rustic affair; a small cemented pool with a low corrugated iron roof over it. Already a decenium back local government mentioned that

'The Tshachhu, however, lacks proper pond and accommodation facilities'.

Does not look like much has changed since.
Looking further back in time this site comes with a plausible reason why the spring is sacred:

'Many great master visited this Landlocked country in different centuries. As well during 8th century, the great Ngingmapa Master Guru Padmasambhava (lotus born) visited Bhutan, subdued the evils and blessed whole corner of the valley where he also introduced Hot spring for the well being of the sentient [= responsive, perceptive] beings. So, with the strong believes, hundreds of people hiked to the particular places where they have hot spring to take bath, especially the victims of different sorts of diseases. And by taking bath in the hot spring, it can heals different kinds of diseases like Tuberculosis, sinus, body-ache etc'.

Sangey Tashey in a very recent blog mentions that due to a new road it's only a 2-3 hour walk.

Then

'Koma Tsachu (Punakha) is a vigorous two hour walk from the small community of Mitesgang. There are three bathing pools covered by simple rooves, and a four roomed building with solar lighting where sleeping bags and mats can be laid (there is no charge for staying in the building). Outside, there is ample room to pitch tents and rock overhangs to camp under(source)'.

Then there is an excellent report on a visit to Koma Taschu by Phuntsok Rabten published in the Bhutan Observer (26 April 2008).

'Nestled alongside the creek in this picturesque jungle were the three pools of the hot springs. Amongst the scattering of tents and makeshift camps were two public toilets, three outdoor running taps and a most decent guest house of five rooms and two attached bathrooms, facilitated with solar electricity and water supply. Here, the music of modern amenities played in rhythm with the wild beat of the jungle drums. Koma Tsachu sees revelers and visitors round the year. Spring-time sees the most influx while the student hordes invade the tsachu during holidays. There were about 30 people when we arrived'.

Kuensel reports (2006) on the bridge to Kheng Dungmang Tsachu (Zhemgang):

'“A new suspension bridge will be constructed next year,” he said. Meanwhile the travellers through the tsachu zam are advised to be careful while passing through this bridge. People as far as from Thimphu and Haa in the west and from Trashigang and Trash Yangtse in the east visit the Dunmang tsachu from November till march. The tsachu’s three ponds with water temperatures measuring between 42 degrees to 52 degrees, is believed to cure diseases like tuberculosis, and sinusitis besides healing aches and wounds. A village elder from Kheng Gongphu said that the temperature of the water had been decreasing over the years. “We used to boil eggs in the tsachu not long ago,” said Ap Sangay, 90. “In the absence of hospitals in the past, the tsachu was very indispensable for us.” Thousands of people visit the tsachu every year'.

More recent info from this BBS report on Dunmang.  

Gelephu Tshachu seems less well-known. Kuensel reports today that renovations were on the horizon.

'It will be the first major renovation since the hot springs were opened to public in 1962'.

Possibly in reply to an earlier this year published report in the Bhutan Today. It mentions inadequate bathing facilities, a decrepit guesthouse and non-existent toilets.
The BBS even mentions conjunctivitis outbreak at this hot sprin:

'...the outbreak occurred after an old couple infected by conjunctivitis soaked in the Tshachu'.

Duethang in Ura, Bumthang is expected to be another better developed hot spring site.

Hopefully the above info is comprehensive enough ....

'Cassie in a hot stone bath
Cassie made a bhutanese mans day when he walked in front of the window'.

Photo by The.Adrians.Golf