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Re-construction of the Cantilever Bridge crossing the Mochhu (Mo-River) and connecting Punakha village and the Punakha Dzong in adapted traditional Bhutanese architecture.
On 10th of May, the sacred Punakha Dzong has regained its full beauty, harmony and spirituality; it was the auspicious day, when the PUNA MOCHHU BAZAM, the cantilever bridge in adapted traditional Bhutanese architecture, was inaugurated by H.E. Jigmi Thinley, Prime Minister of Bhutan, and “Pro Bhutan ” Chairman Harald N. Nestroy, German Ambassador (rtd).
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Inaug., l. to r.: Dr. Haring, Bhut. Prime Minister
Jigmi Y. Thinley, H.N.Nestroy, Angelika Nestroy, Dagmar Haring,
F.
Baumgartner |
Monks blessing the bridge at inaug. |
The Bhutanese Foreign Minister, the Home Minister and the Minister for Works and Settlements, MPs, diplomats including the Dpty Chief of Mission and the Cultural Councillor of the German Embassy New Delhi, other Bhutanese dignitaries, some German major donors, Dr. W. Haring (President), Mrs Dagmar Haring-Nestroy (Treasurer), Mrs. Angelika Nestroy (Secretary) from “Pro Bhutan Germany” and hundreds of red robed monks and Bhutanese from the area took part.
Religious mark dances and folk dances in front of the new bridge, decorated with hundreds of colourful cloth and prayer flags flapping in the gentle breeze, the traditional dresses of the Bhutanese dignitaries in their Ghos and carrying their swords, the ladies in their kiras and their jewellery caught the attention of the spectators. The perfect sun made the purple-blue flowers of the Jacaranda glitter in front of the white walls of the impressive Dzong.
Mask dance in front of new bridge at inauguration 10. May 2008
H.E. the Prime Minister praised the bridge saying that for the last half a century, the holy Punakha Dzong, without the bridge, was like a human being without a limb.
Punakha Dzong with steel suspension bridge, ungainly provisional
solution 1958-2007
He emphasized that the new Bazam is a very substantial contribution to the celebrations of “100 years of Wangchuck Monarchy in 2008” and to the coronation of His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck in the Punakha Dzong.
Punakha Dzong with new bridge, 10. May 2008
The Prime Minister thanked cordially the generous German donors and the partners like Walt-Galmarini and Prof. Speerli who enabled “Pro Bhutan” to complete this unique project, and the local staff of “Pro Bhutan” who with the Bhutanese contractors had worked so hard to finish the construction in time.
How did this incredible project come about?
The original roofed wooden cantilever bridge, built together with the Dzong in the 17th century; it was washed away by a flood in 1958. The new roofed bridge was an enormous technical challenge as the original bridge had a span of only 35 meters!) The new bridge has also been constructed of wood, but now has a free span of 55 meters due to the widening of the river by 20 meters by the mentioned flood. With a width of 3,4 meters the bridge will be for the use of persons and cattle only.
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Original bridge built about 1740,
photograph from 1906 |
New bridge seen from Punakha
village, 10. May 2008 |
Much technical detail research by our “Pro Bhutan” Project Co-ordinator Fritz Baumgartner was necessary, as no bridge in this traditional wooden cantilever technique and with similar dimensions has been built in the last 100 years or longer.
Without the assistance of an experienced engineering company, experts in designing long span bridges, responsible technical planning of the future Punakha bazam could not be achieved. Walt +Galmarini AG - Dipl. Bauingenieure ETH SIA USIC, Zurich, a world wide renowned engineering company specialized, among many other complicated constructions with large span, in designing bridges of all kind, helped: it generously accepted to design the new Punakha bazam in traditional architecture combined with most modern technology; their responsible engineer was Mr. Wofram Kuebler. Prof. Juerg Speerli of a Swiss Technical University designed the river bank protection against possible floods by glacier lake bursts.
See » Poster by the engineer
The works started in fall 2006 and were completed in a record time in May 2008.
This new bridge, replacing the ungainly improvision, the steel cable bridge in place for almost half a century, now has complete the majestic beauty of the holy Punakha Dzong where the founder of Bhutan, Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal lies embalmed in state and is venerated as a living God, where His Holiness Je Khenpo resides with more than 500 monks in winter, where all the Kings of Bhutan were coronated.
Accordingly, the bridge will also be instrumental at the coronation of the new King of Bhutan, His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, in the Punakha Dzong, forseen for fall 2008. The bridge also plays a prominent role during the celebrations of the jubilee „100 Years Wangchuck Monarchy“ during the course of 2008.
How is this project financed?
The cash costs for this culturally-religiously so important project amount to ca. 700.000 € and are covered by special donations earmarked for the bridge and entrusted to “Pro Bhutan” by private donors. The German Foreign Office, Berlin, within her program „Preservation of Cultural Heritage“, has contributed € 50.000. WALT+GALMARINI AG, Dipl. Bauingenieure ETH SIA USIC, Zürich, have generously contributed their complex and innovative engineering work to this challenging project free of charge. The same holds for the contribution by Prof. Juerg Speerli.
The costs for this project have risen drastically since signing of the agreement due to the enormous rise of construction costs in Bhutan. Thus we still have a financial gap to cover.
Would YOU like to contribute to this unique cultural heritage project with YOUR specially earmarked donation?
For more information: »Press Release for the inauguration of the bridge 10th May, 2008
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