Chumi Gyatse

 

HIDDEN BEAUTY

CHUMI GYATSE

 

The itinerary for a trip to Tawang by most of the tourists normally involves a day or two of visiting monasteries around Tawang, along with the customary visits to Bumla, Nuranag falls, Sangetsar Lake and if you have the time, visit to Zimithang and Lumla. However, very few tourists venture to the areas East of Tawang. This area has very less population with very few villages/Hamlets and you only get to see  isolated grazier huts as you drive along. This untouched pristine beauty with various gems of nature is still largely unexplored and is not on the list of most of the tour operators. One of the most awe inspiring gems of Eastern Tawang which is a must visit for its sheer beauty, religious significance and it's uniqueness is Chumi Gyatse water falls.

 Chumi Gyatse (Chu-water, mig-eye, Gyatsa'- around hundred), also called colloquially as Holy Water Falls is a highly revered pilgrimage site for the local Monpas due to its association with Guru Padmasambhava. 

As per popular belief, the water of these falls descends directly from the sky and has divine healing powers for most bodily ailments and provides relief from ‘Sorrow and Pain’.

 

                           View of Chumi Gyatse Falls 

Religious Folklore

There are different local folklores as to the origin of the waterfalls, which emerge from the cliff face with no apparent source from top of the mountain.

As per one of them, Guru Padmasambhava (8^th Century Buddhist priest from Nalanda who is accredited with construction of Samya Monastery in Tibet in 749 AD and establishment of Nyingmapa Sect) was meditating in the Caves near present day waterfalls and the locals approached him to save them from a major epidemic. He threw his rosary (108 beaded mala) at the nearby rock face and each of the 108 beads resulted in a spring jutting out of the rock face.

 As per the other legend, the divine waterfalls are a product of show of strength between Guru Padmasambhava and Guru (Sarong) Rinpoche, both of whom had large following with competing claims of power. Legend has it that Guru Rinpoche turned a bamboo grove upside down swaying his palm. As a response to that Guru Padmasambhava flung his ‘Trengwa’  (rosary with 108 beads) against a rock face and simultaneously 108 springs gushed out as each bead hit the rock, combining to make the Chumi Gyatse Falls.

Getting There

The trip to Chumi Gyatse Falls from Tawang can be undertaken by combining it with the visit to Bumla.

Rhododendrons along Road from Bumla to Tsachu

From Bumla you need to drive to Tsachu (also called as Hot Springs or Damteng), which is the only habitation in three vicinity of the falls. The route takes you on a mesmerizing drive lined with Rhododendrons and Pine trees, taking you from 13000-14000 ft altitude and dropping down to 10500 ft, within a span of about two hours. 

Along the way you drive along a number of high altitude lakes and open grazing areas lined with yaks, grazier huts and prayer flags.

                      Zhaktsang Tso

On reaching Tsachu you get the view of a small hamlet nestled among the mountains on the Southern bank of the Shou Chu river inhabited by locals, who are said to have moved here from Shou village North of Bumla, post the occupation of Tibet by China in late 50s.

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Hills surrounding Tsachu

 On the Northern bank just across the village is a Hot sulphur water spring where you can take a bath in a bathing space made for the same, it is connected by a foot bridge and a vehicle bridge. 

                               Bridge on Shou Chu

In case you want to spend time and soak in the beauty of this beautiful hamlet, there are home stays where you can stay for the night or if you are short on time you can head back to Tawang the same day after visiting Chumi Gyatse. Some tour operators also provide option of camping in tents where you can enjoy the open night skies along the banks of the river.

From there move to Chumi Gyatse takes about another one hour, which involves a bit of hiking along a picturesque route. Chumi Gyatse is located in the narrow valley, characterised by steep cliffs and fast rapids of Shou Chu river close to the India- Tibet- China border.  

There is a Prayer Hall with the statue of Guru Padmasambhava at the foot of the waterfalls which provides a serene place to sit and be one with the nature while you are at the waterfalls. A tourist facility centre is also being planned by the state govt in the near future.