Demise of Tongphu Gyalpo

Tongphu was one of many valley kingdoms that existed ineastern Bhutan during ancient times. There are manyfolktales and oral accounts associated with these valleykingdoms. One such popular account narrated andremembered to this day is about a crazy command ofTongphu Gyalpo to level a mountain blocking the view of hisqueen’s house. This surely is a myth but the eventsassociated with this myth are interesting in that theyhighlight some historical and anthropological research issues.In the following essay, I will piece together some informationdocumented last summer from some elderly citizens inThridangbi village in Mongar.