In a troubling revelation that has shaken Bhutan’s tourism sector, four staff members at Chimi Lhakhang in Punakha are accused of siphoning off millions of Ngultrum (Nu) from entry fees over the past two years. This scandal emerges mere months after similar corruption cases surfaced at Paro Taktsang and Punakha Dzong, highlighting a concerning pattern of financial misconduct within the management of key cultural sites.
The Royal Bhutan Police, headquartered in Thimphu, launched an investigation in September following suspicions of irregularities in ticket sales and validations at Chimi Lhakhang. The probe has since been escalated to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), which officially took over the case on October 14. An ACC investigation team is currently delving into the allegations to determine the full extent of the fraud.
The accused, four desuups aged between 22 and 45, were responsible for handling ticket sales and validations at the temple. Two served as ticket validators, ensuring visitors had paid the requisite fee, while the other two managed the ticket counter, issuing passes to tourists. According to sources, these individuals employed tactics reminiscent of those used in the Paro Taktsang and Punakha Dzong scandals. Specifically, they allowed approximately half of the arriving tourist groups to enter Chimi Lhakhang without paying the entry fee of Nu 500. The proceeds from these unpaid entries were then allegedly divided among the four desuups.
Investigators revealed that multiple bank accounts were utilized to launder the embezzled funds, complicating efforts to trace the total amount stolen. Preliminary estimates suggest that around Nu 25 million, accounting for 47 percent of the total fees collected between September 2022 and September 2024, were legitimately deposited into government accounts. The remaining funds are believed to have been illicitly diverted by the perpetrators.
The Punakha Dzongkhag administration has called for a thorough investigation into the Chimi Lhakhang case, drawing parallels with the recent corruption incidents in Paro and Punakha Dzong. Notably, unlike these other sites, Chimi Lhakhang did not have police personnel stationed to verify ticket purchases, potentially creating an environment conducive to fraud.
Chimi Lhakhang, a significant pilgrimage site, attracts numerous tourists annually who are required to pay an entry fee of Nu 500 at the temple’s base. In March this year alone, a total of Nu 7 million was collected from Chimi Lhakhang and Punakha Dzong. The introduction of entry fees for monument sites began in 2017, with formal collection protocols established in 2020 under directives from the National Committee. After a brief suspension due to the Covid-19 pandemic, fee collection resumed on September 23, 2022, coinciding with Bhutan’s reopening to international tourism.
Nationwide, tourists are mandated to pay entry fees at seven prominent monument sites, including Taktsang and Kyichu Lhakhang in Paro, the National Memorial Choeten, Changangkha Lhakhang, and Tashichhodzong in Thimphu, alongside Punakha Dzong and Chimi Lhakhang. Except for Paro Taktsang, the standard entry fee across these sites is Nu 500 for foreign visitors, with students and youths between the ages of six and eighteen eligible for a 50 percent discount. The revenues from these fees are allocated towards the conservation and maintenance of Bhutan’s cherished cultural monuments, ensuring their preservation for future generations.
The ACC’s involvement in the Chimi Lhakhang case underscores the Bhutanese government’s commitment to rooting out corruption and safeguarding the integrity of its cultural institutions. As the investigation unfolds, authorities aim to recover the embezzled funds and implement stricter oversight mechanisms to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Residents and tourists alike are closely watching the developments, hoping that swift and decisive action will restore trust in Bhutan’s heritage sites and the systems designed to protect them.