The Hidden Lake (Yeeb Tsho)
Approximately 500 metres southwest of the Royal Heritage Museum, Ta Dzong, Trongsa, lies an area traditionally believed to conceal a hidden lake, locally known as Yeeb Tsho. Although no visible lake exists today, the area remains naturally marshy, with numerous small pockets of standing water appearing across the ground. These features have sustained the local belief that a larger body of water lies beneath the surface.
The unusual water conditions were further observed when the museum management undertook a small exploratory excavation in the area. A pond approximately two metres in radius and 0.5 metres deep was dug, but it was quickly filled with water, despite its relatively shallow depth. This occurrence strengthened the belief that an underground or hidden water body may exist beneath the surrounding terrain.
A few years ago, the Trongsa Thromde administration explored the possibility of constructing an access road through this area. However, the proposal was considered technically unfeasible following an assessment by a technical team from the Department of Culture. The area’s unstable and waterlogged ground was understood to be a significant constraint for construction.
During the preparation of the Trongsa Town Structural Plan, the area was subsequently designated as a green zone, partly reflecting its environmental characteristics and the presence of underlying water. Today, Yeeb Tsho remains an intriguing natural and cultural feature of the landscape surrounding the museum, carrying both ecological significance and local traditional belief.
Contributed by
Sangay Tashi
Chief Curator
