The letter “Om” is located in Teotso Geog under Tashiyangtse Dzongkhag locally called “Ombha Ney” which means the sacred place of hidden “Om”. Since the Tertoen Pema Lingpa’s visit in the early 15th century, people from far and near visit the place annually on pilgrimage.

The “Aa”is located in “Aaja” in Mongar Dzongkhag. “Aaja” means hundred numbers of letters. “Aa” which is visible on a rock surface in Aaja Nye.

The letter “ Hung” could be viewed at Hungrel in Paro, which is located below Rinpung Dzong.

Buddhist believes that visiting such sacred places will purify our minds and rinse away the sins committed by our physical actions. Therefore, it is obligatory for Buddhist to visit the places as and when we are able to walk and travel.

How to reach Ombha?

There is a motor able road till Tsenkharla Middle Secondary School, which is 33 KM away from Tashiyangtse and 36 KM from Tashigang. We have to walk from Tsenkharla towards Sep and Jangphu village, which is about four hours without much climbing. After passing by some villages and we will finally arrive at Ombha village. From there it is just a 15 minutes walk to the sacred place. The letter “Om” is visible on the rock surface if you watch carefully from a distance about 7 yards. If you draw closer you cannot see. One does not know the reason why! That’s miracle! One has to think and meditate for sometime. It takes a whole day to visit all the sites here. A local contractor has constructed a small shrine where people can offer incense and butter lamps and a guesthouse for those who wish to spend the night at the sacred place.

Ombha was first revealed as a sacred Nye by some descendents of Guru Choewang. Terton Pemalingpa also blessed the Nye and later on his grand daughter Ani Choeten Zangmo spent sometimes here in meditation. Guru Rimpochey blessed the place while he was in pursuit of Yonglha alias Geygnen Choephel guardian deity of Gomphu Cora. About 3hours walk down from here is another famous Nye called Gongza, which is actually Gong Ja where Guru Rimpochey spent duration of having tea.

After the death of Lama Tshering Gyamtsho, his nephew and spiritual heir Lama Jangchhub Gyeltshen took over the entire responsibility of the place. He renovated and extended the present-day lower lhakhang with the unique mural paintings of the life history of Lord Buddha (Paksam Thrishing), which is a rare artifact not seen anywhere. The lhakhang was named as Rigsum Goenpa lhakhang. Lama Jangchhub Gyeltshen was instrumental in spreading Buddhism in the region who attained nirvana in his lifetime. He has already found his spiritual heir in the person of Lama Ngawang Loday.

While Lama Ngawang Loday was reinforcing religious activities introduced by his uncle, His Holiness Yonten Thaye, the 13th Je Khenpo(1771-1775), who was on the way to Tsari Rongkor(Mountain Pilgrimage in Arunachal Pradesh, India) visited the region and ordained him as the 3rd Abbot of Rigsum Goenpa Lhakhang. He was a famous lama who left behind a great spiritual legacy. He constructed the bigger lhakhang and installed valuable Ku Sung Thukten( sacred artifacts representing the body, mind and speech of the Buddha) including the statue of Jowo Shacha Muni, hundred volumes of Kanjur and the eight enlightening stupas of Lord Budha (Desheg Chhorten Gyed) for the well being of the people of Bhutan. The statue of Jowo and chortens were brought all the way from Punakha Dzong. It was handiwork of the famous craftsman and iconographer Pentsa Dev from Nepal during the reign of fourth Gyalsay Tenzin Rabgay. So sacred is the statue that, the sixth abbot of the lhakhang, Lama Shacha Gyalpo received its speech. Hence,the Jowa Sung Joem (the Jowo that spoke).

Major reconstruction works at main Rigsum Goenpa Lhakhang are in the final stages. The funds are from the Royal Government and the people of Tashiyangtse Dzongkhag contributed the labour force. The works are expected to be completed by the end of 2004. The old lhakhang where the rare and special artifact painting of Pasam Thrishing is located would also be renovated soon. However, as these paintings are done directly onto the mud wall the restoration would require special expertise while restoring this unique painting to retain its original splendour.

The newly gilded Sertog(Golden Cupola) was donated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during visit of His Excellency Lyonpo Jigmi Y Thinley in Decembers 2001, (installed it in December, 2003). The main Nye of the Rigsum Goenpa exists at Nye Pemaling and Pelri Tse. The Pemaling would be visited traveling through Tarphel, Tobrang, Shingphel towards Tibetan border which takes about 3 days from Bumdeling.

Pelri Tse would be reached from Rigsum Goenpa in 2 days walk over the hill above Rigsum Goenpa. Both the Nyes are of Guru Rinpoche where he was in pursuit of Yonglha who is the local deity of Gom Kora (also known as Gyenen Chophel).

Pelri Tse is the remnants of Pemaling Nye but supposed to be strikingly beautiful with 13 lakes all of which are Latsos of the guardian deities. Other Nye at Pelri Tse are Zangtho Pelri, Nangsey Tshering Phodrang and Throegi Zingbo which is an island where one could walk through a path to the middle of the lake and put up prayer flags. The ideal time to visit this place would be in the 4th or 7th Lunar month.