Chapter 21: Place Names and Their Meaning

A name, whether given to a person, an animal or a place, is to help identify an individual from amongst the myriad of things around us. Giving names for identification and separating one from another of similar kind is perhaps one of the most important cultural features anywhere in the world. A place is given a name, often inspired by a famous person, an historic event, a geographical landmark or a new feature added to that place as can be noted in the texts in this chapter.

The general topography of Bhutan is rugged with the criss-cross of mountain ranges whose peaks often stand above tree lines and are white with perennial snow. As a child I came to understand them as Kyalpai Gang¹ (peak of eons) from my parents. There is a general belief in Bhutan that the perennial snow on these peaks would melt only when an eon of civilisation comes to an end.