… Hati-Dunga (The Elephant Rock)
Rationale
This sacred site was discovered after an earthquake in November 1980. There is a naturally formed Ganesh Statue along with many other divine forms. Ganesh sits majestically with his trunk in the natural holy spring water.
As I was invited to attend an event at Bhutan Stroke Foundation, I wrongly went following Google Maps and landed at the Bhutan Kin-nyam Party office at Motithang.
Google maps in Bhutan really require some serious support, maybe Druk GPS may come to the rescue as I have seen Facebook posts on training on using GPS and maps.
So, you may have heard a certain place in lower Motithang being referred to as Hati-Dunga (The Elephant Rock) but have you seen it?
Hati-Dunga is named after a more prominent rock and a space around it. It doesn't look so much like an elephant if not for the colour and the eyes drawn over it but it's regarded as a place of worship by the Hindus.
It may be associated with Lord Ganesh.
The furious dogs around the place were barking heavily almost like I am a thief trying to steal something.
The place is surprisingly so welcoming. It is developed and managed so well within a campus wall with a gate that's protected with a lock. Sadly, I could not meet anyone and inquire about it or get inside.
There is a tiled footpath inside the gate to circumambulate the sacred rock.
Maybe there is an assigned pujari (kenyer) who manages things because the smell of the butter lamps lit and incense burning was peaceful.
Is it a popular visitor destination for local Hindu devotees and Indian tourists?
Not to forget a blue-coloured traditional, magnificent house promisingly a traditional house that we, nowadays we cannot even find in southern Bhutan. I told our driver who was accompanying me that the house there resembles the traditional lhotsampa house that was prominent in the south. I tried looking for someone to talk with regarding the house and the Hati-Dhunga but there was no one.
The urge to narrate this story has remained in me. I definitely want to learn more from the locals regarding it during the next visit.
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