Changyuel Galem House in Punakha: History, Love Story, and Restoration Updates

Discover the story of Changyuel Galem’s House in Punakha, a 400-year-old heritage site tied to Bhutan’s tragic love legend of Galem and Singye, now awaiting urgent restoration.

About a two-hour drive from Thimphu, Punakha is one of the country’s most visited districts, renowned for its breathtaking landscapes and the majestic Punakha Dzong. Beyond these iconic attractions, it is also home to Changyuel Galem’s house, a heritage building recognised for its rich cultural and historical significance. Linked to the 17th-century tale of Gasa Lamai Singye and Changyul Bum Galem, the house is a culturally significant site.

The love story of Gasa Lamai Singye and Changyul Bum Galem

The 17th-century tragic love story of Changyuel Galem and Gasa Lamai Singye is often described as Bhutan’s own Romeo and Juliet. Singye, a messenger from Gasa, fell in love with Galem, a beautiful young woman from Punakha. Fate kept them apart, and the separation is said to have broken Galem’s heart, leading to her death. Overcome with grief, Singye leapt into her funeral pyre, sealing their love story in legend and sorrow.

The story continues to inspire Bhutanese films and music, captivating audiences across generations with its timeless appeal. Galem’s house, still stands as a historic landmark, preserving the memory of the legendary lovers and their enduring romance. Revered by locals and visitors alike, the house remains closely associated with the folklore of Gasa Lamai Singye and Changyul Bum Galem.

However, the house is now in a dilapidated state, urgently in need of renovation. 

Changyul Bum Galem’s house

Situated on 19 decimals of land along the banks of the Mo Chhu river in Changyuel, the Galem house lies roughly a kilometer from the Punakha Dzong.

While no official records document its exact construction, the house is widely believed to be over 400 years old, making it one of the oldest residential typologies in Bhutan.

Architectural Evolution

The house is a three-story rammed earth structure featuring traditional timber rabseys (windows) and flooring. Its history can be categorized into two distinct phases:

• The Original Core: Architectural records identify the house as a Type A chronology—the earliest known form of Bhutanese domestic architecture. It began as a modest two-room structure with a single sliding front entrance.

• Later Extensions: The building was eventually expanded outward, resulting in its current facade characterized by dual bay windows.

Heritage Significance

Although these modifications altered the original layout, structural analysis confirms that the core remains the only surviving example of this specific early vernacular style in the country. Because of this rarity, the house maintains significant tangible heritage value as a window into Bhutan's architectural past.

Cultural significance of the Changyuel Galem house 

In addition to its historical significance, the altar room on the house's upper floor is also referred to as the neykhang (sacred shrine) of the deity Goen Drakpa. 

Goendrap, a local deity of Punakha believed to reside in Punakha during the winter and in Gasa during summer.

The Pazaps (warriors who served under Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in the 17th century) must also go to the Nyekhang during Punakha Dromchoe in order to gain blessings from the deity. The pazaps are hosted by the house owner, and the event takes place in the early hours of the first day of the Dromchoe. 

As a result, the structure is crucial for sustaining the continuity of long-standing customs and the value of the cultural heritage for preserving the diversity and character of the region.

Restoration in question

Discussions on restoring Galem’s house have been ongoing for years. Although the restoration of Changyuel Galem’s house was scheduled to begin in 2024–2025, the heritage project has yet to take off, raising questions about delays in implementation and coordination.

The Department of Culture and Dzongkha Development, in collaboration with the Punakha Dzongkhag Administration, has proposed its restoration and development, although the property remains under private ownership. The current generation of Galem lives a few metres away from the house.

The total estimated project cost is approximately Nu. 17 million, covering restoration, site development, utilities, consultancy, and safety measures.

The project is proposed to be jointly funded by the government and the Pro Bhutan Association, Germany, with contributions of Nu. 5 million from the government and €130,000 from the association.

The project was delayed due to the time required for the tendering process and the search for a contractor with the specialised expertise needed for heritage restoration. By the time a contractor was finalised, it was nearing the close of the German Federal Foreign Office financial year, making it unfeasible to release the allocated funds. Consequently, the restoration was deferred to the 2025–2026 financial year.

Securing funding for 2025–2026 now requires the submission of a fresh application. In addition, the German Federal Foreign Office has revised its funding criteria, necessitating substantial changes to the original proposal. Given the scope of these revisions, the Department of Culture and Dzongkha Development, in coordination with the Punakha Dzongkhag, is currently updating the proposal to align with the donor’s requirements. Once completed, it will be submitted for consideration in the next funding cycle.

Although a chain-link fence has been installed around the structure as a temporary measure, residents of Changyuel fear that any further delay could lead to its collapse, as the house is already visibly tilted.

The rammed earth walls of the structure show significant damage and deterioration.

According to the inventory maintained by the Department of Culture and Dzongkha Development, there are more than 2,000 heritage sites across the country.

At present, nearly 300 sites have been registered, with the Department continuing the process of registration and designation by compiling lists of potential sites from the dzongkhags. Among those formally recorded, Changyuel Galem’s house is recognised as a designated heritage building.

The future plans 

Following restoration, an agreement between the dzongkhag administration and the owner of Galem’s house will make the property accessible to the public. A revenue-sharing arrangement, generated through entry fees and cafeteria services, will be implemented to support the site’s long-term maintenance.

The ground floor will feature a courtyard and a cafeteria for visitors, while the middle floor will include a tengo (balcony) designed for storytelling, photography, and exhibitions. The top floor will preserve traditional living spaces, maintaining the cultural essence of the house.

Footpaths, pavements, parking areas, and streetlights will be developed in the Changyul area. A new footpath will connect Changyul to the Mo Chhu riverside, with access steps and the preservation of the historic rock associated with Galem. A designated takeout area for rafting will also be established.