On the Trail of the Peerless Lotus Born: a Report on Sacred Aja Ney and Ney Chen Phunyingla

On the Trail of the Peerless Lotus Born: A Report on Sacred Aja Ney and Ney Chen Phunyingla

©UWICE

Citation: UWICE, 2016. On the Trail of the Peerless Lotus Born: A Report on Sacred Aja Ney and Ney Chen Phunyingla. Royal Government of Bhutan, UWICE Press, Bumthang.

Report Prepared by: Sonam Wangdi and Nawang Norbu

Field Work: Sherub; Dawa Yoezer; Tshewang Dorji; Tsethup Tshering; Sonam Wangdi, Sonam Penjor and Nawang Norbu

Acknowledgement We are grateful to Mr. Sangay Pelzang and Changa Tshering for their input in creating trek route maps.

佴བ་ཕ일གས་鮦ས་蝴ལ་ཨ་བརྒྱ་轴ང་། ། གནས་མཆ일ག་དམ་པ་བདེ་ཆེན་ཕ일་லང་䝴། ། ཨ일ན་པད་མའི་ཞབས་ལ་གས일ལ་བ་འདེབས། ། ཚེ་འདི་རིག་འཛིན་འཐ일བ་པར་བིན་གི་ར일བས། །

In the western hidden land of Aja Valley, Towards the sacred palace of Dechen Phodrang, There at the feet of Ugyen Pema we supplicate, To bless us, so that we may in this very life, attain the state of Vidyadhara.

Contents

Introduction: ...... 1

Route to Aja Ney and Phunyingla: ...... 1

Spiritual Significance of Aja Ney: ...... 2

Circumambulatory Routes at Aja Ney: ...... 3

Spiritual Significance of Nye Chen Phunying: ...... 4

Species of Significance at Aja Ney and Phunyingla: ...... 6

Mountain Closure and Protection of A Sacred Site: ...... 8

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Introduction: Among many sacred sites in Bhutan associated with the peerless lotus born Guru Ugyen Pema, Aja Nye1 in Mongar and the Nye Chen Phunying2 in Lhuntse are considered amongst the most sacred. Bhutanese from all walks of life make an effort to visit both these sites at least once in their life.

Aja valley and Nye Chen Phunying has been home to hidden yogis over many centuries and continues to do so even today. Within these hushed valleys and mountains, spiritual seekers in pursuit of unravelling the meaning of life often spend their entire lives in retreat. This makes the pilgrim believe that the blessings of Guru Tsokye Dorji is still manifest and continues to be very much alive in this remote, verdant and lush landscape.

Aja valley also serves as summer pastureland for cattle from the lower valleys of Yarab and Thiling in Mongar. And it is an important watershed for the Sherichu, a major river of eastern Bhutan.

Although the spiritual significance of the two sacred sites have been recorded in religious texts, there is scant information available for the lay reader.

Here, we describe the trekking route from Bangtsho in Lhuntse to Senekhar in Mongar which passes through Phunyingla and Aja Ney. We document the sacred circumambulatory routes at both Aja Ney and Phunyingla. We also provide a brief overview of the spiritual significance of Aja Ney and Phunying. We conclude by providing a brief description of the habitats and traditional belief system used to regulate visits to these sacred sites.

Route to Aja Ney and Phunyingla: Aja valley can be accessed either from Phunying in Lhuntse or from Yarab in Mongar via a day long walk (See Map). Phunying is a day's walk (>6 hrs) from Bangtsho village in Tsengkhar geog of Lhuentse which is connected by a motorable farmroad. Bangtsho village is about 2 hour's drive from Autsho, Lhuentse. It takes another day (> 5hrs walk) from Phunyingla to Aja valley.

1 'Aja' where A should be read as dzongkhag alphabet letter Aa (ཨ); 'Ja' means the numerical hundred and 'Nye' means sacred site 2 'Chen' means great and 'Phunying' means 'heart of the mountains'

From Aja, it takes another day walk (>6hrs walk) to reach Yarab village in Mongar which is connected by a farm road. Yadi town in Mongar is about 32 kms from Senekhar, the road point below Yarab.

Map of the trek route from Bangtsho in Lhuntse via Phunying and Aja towards Senakhar, Mongar

Spiritual Significance of Aja Ney: The history of Aja Nye dates back to about 830 AD (Wangchuk, 2004). It was at that time that the Tibetan demon King, Khikha-rathoed (one with a dog's mouth and a goat's head) was exiled into a secluded dense forest towards the South. Later, upon discerning that the demon king was trying to settle at Aja valley, Guru Rinpoche followed the demon through Tormi-jangsa, under Tashi Yangtse with the intention of subduing him.

Guru Rinpoche spent more than three months in meditation within the Aja valley biding for the right moment to subdue Khikha-rathoed. During this time, Guru Rinpoche concealed several sacred sites and treasures within the valley.

Imprints of the letter Aa (ཨ) within the inner walls of a cave located beside the Aja Chu is believed to have been left by the great guru. It is believed that a hundred Aa (ཨ) has been imprinted on the walls, giving the place its name of Aa-ja, meaning a hundred Aa(s). Today, a few of the imprints can still be seen on the walls of the cave (Picture below).

Imprints of Aa (ཨ) on the inner face of a cave where the Guru meditated

During the 14th century, Terton Ugyen Lingpa initially unlocked the sacred site of Aja Nye followed by Terton Rigzin Goeki Dhemthrug.

Guru Rinpoche had prophesized that Aja Nye would be discovered and unlocked by the ninth Karmapa, Wangchuk Dorji (1556-1603). However, in his place, the ninth Karmapa sent his disciple Lama Karma Jamyang to unlock and reveal the sacred site.

Circumambulatory Routes at Aja Ney: Lama Karma Jamyang categorised the Ney into four circumambulation routes: Ra-kor (base circumambulation), Bar-kor (middle circumambulation), Tsekor (outer circumambulation) and Nangkor (inner circumambulation); comprising of about 50, 70, 100 and 40 scared sites within each route respectively. A complete and proper visit to all these sites along the circumambulation routes would take at least a week to complete.

See Map below.

Map of circumambulatory routes of Aja Nye

Spiritual Significance of Nye Chen Phunying: The history of Nye Chen Phunying is as old as the story of Aja Nye itself. It is believed that Guru Rinpoche meditated within Phunying mountain ridges for a few months while chasing the demon king Khikha-rathoed who had fled from Aja to Khempa Jong, located towards the North of Kurtoe.

The Nye was unlocked by Lama Karma Jamyang, who revealed the entire Aja Nye. It is considered that there are four sacred hidden sites located in the four main cardinal directions with Pema Yangzom (alias for Aja) at its centre.

Nye Chen Phunying is considered to be the western branch and is regarded as the heart of all mountains on the planet and contains numerous sacred sites associated with the lotus born.

In recent times, the Nye has served as a secluded retreat and meditation hideaway for many highly revered Yogis such as Lama Sonam Zangpo in the 1960s. The Nye consists of more

4 than 50 sacred sites along the circumambulatory route (See Map below) and includes symbols of Guru Padmasambhava’s treasure box and imprints of Khandro Drowa Zangmo’s skull.

Map of Nye Chen Phunying's circumambulatory route and location

Species of Significance at Aja Ney and Phunyingla: Aja Nye is located at an altitude of about 2500 meters, at the base of Phunying and is covered by lush cool broadleaf forests.

Cool broadleaved forests of Aja Valley

Seeds of star anise (Illicium griffithii) from the forests of Aja

Plants with medicinal and economic value such as the Star anise (Illicium griffithii) are also abundant in the area.

Locals believe that a terrestrial orchid, which we identified as Neottia acuminata (local name: Tsa-Awa-Doti) is found only in the Aja area. Consumption of the roots of this plant is supposed to be a health tonic and is also believed to help beings clear their karmic

6 obscurations since the plant is supposed to have been blessed by none other than Guru Rinpoche himself. It can be consumed either raw or soaked in water to produce an infusion that can be drunk.

A list of species found in Aja is provided in annexure VII (plants) and annexure VIII (birds).

Phunying is located at an altitude of about 3700 meters. The landscape is dominated by alpine scrub, rhododendrons and bamboos overlooking Lhuntse district and the northern Himalayan mountain ranges.

Pilgrims on the ridges of Phunyingla

Phunying not only hosts various sacred sites but is also home to a wide range of plants [annexure III], birds [annexure VI] and animals. The landscape is covered by Rhododendron species such as R. falconeri, R. maddenii and R. kezanghii with other species such as Taxus bacata, Illicium griffithii and Skimmia laureola.

Lobelia leschenantiana, a rare plant species within Bhutan was also recorded within the area.

Plants and bird species seen during the trek from Bangtsho to Phunying are recorded in annexures I and II respectively; and plants and birds seen on the trek from Phunying to Aja are shown in annexure V and VI respectively.

Mountain Closure and Protection of A Sacred Site: Apart from year round residents comprising of retreatants and temple care takers, visitors and pilgrims cannot enter Aja Ney from March to October.

A woman and her grandson who reside within Aja Ney year round prepares butter lamps for pilgrims to light

This closure of the sacred sites has been a centuries old tradition which is still in practise to this day.

Annexure I: A list of plant species recorded between Bangtsho – Phunying trek Sl.No. Species (Botanical Name) Sl.No. Species (Botanical Name) 1 Abies densa 24 Quercus griffithii 2 Acer sikkimensis 25 Quercus Oxyodon 3 Beilschmiedia sp 26 Quercus semicarpifolia 4 Benthamidia capitata 27 Rhododendron anthopogon 5 Berberis aristata 28 Rhododendron falconeri 6 Betula alnoides 29 Rhododendron grande 7 Corylus ferox 30 Rhododendron hodgsonii 8 Daphne bholua 31 Rhododendron kesangiae 9 Daphniyphyllum himalayansis 32 Rhododendron keysii 10 Elaeagnus infundibularis 33 Rhododendron lepidotum 11 Enkianthus deflexus 34 Rhododendron maddenii 12 Erythrina arborecens 35 Rhododendron setosum 13 Eurya acuminata 36 Rhododrendon arboreum 14 Gaultheria semi-infera 37 Rhodoendron niveum 15 Ilex dispyrea 38 Schefflera sp 16 Lindera sp 39 Skimmia laureola 17 Lobelia leschenantiana 40 Sorbus cuspidata 18 Lyonia ovalifolia 41 Sorbus microphylla 19 Magnolia campbellii 42 Symplocos sp 20 Mahonia nepaulensis 43 Taxus bacata 21 Pinus bhutanica 44 Tsuga dumosa 22 Pinus roxburghii 45 Viburnum cylindricum 23 Piptanthus nepalensis 46 Viburnum mullaha

Annexure II: A list of bird species recorded between Bangtsho – Phunying trek Sl.No. Species (Scientific Name) Common Name 1 Abroscopus schisticeps Black-faced Warbler 2 Actinodura nipalensis Hoary-throated Barwing 3 Aegithalos concinus Black-throated Tit 4 Aethopyga saturata Black-throated Sunbird 5 Blythipicus pyrrhotis Bay Woodpecker 6 Carduelis spinoides Yellow-breasted Greenfinch 7 Certhia discolor Brown-throated Treecreeper 8 Certhia nipalensis Rusty-flanked Treecreeper

9 Cettia fortipes Brown-flanked Bush Warbler 10 Chelidorhynx hypoxantha Yellow-bellied Fantail 11 Cissa chinensis Common Green Magpie 12 Copsychus saularis Oriental Magpie Robin 13 Corvus macrorhynchos Large-billed Crow 14 Dendorcitta formosae Grey Treepie 15 Dicaeum ignipectus Fire-breasted Flowerpecker 16 Dicrurus hottentottus Spangled Drongo 17 Dicrurus leucophaeus Ashy Drongo 18 Dicrurus remifer Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo 19 Enicurus schistaceus Slaty-backed Forktail 20 Enicurus scouleri Little Forktail 21 Falco tinnunculus Common Kestrel 22 Galucidium cuculoides Asian Barred Owlet 23 Garrulax albogularis White-throated Laughingthrush 24 Garrulax leucolophus White-crested Laughingthrush 25 Garrulax ruficollis Rufous-necked Laughingthrush 26 Garrulax striatus Striated Laughingthrush 27 Garrulus glandarius Eurasian Jay 28 Glaucidium brodiei Collared Owlet 29 Hypsipetes leucocephalus Black Bulbul 30 Ixos mcclellandii Mountain Bulbul 31 Lanius schach Long-tailed Shrike 32 Lophura leucomelanos Kalij Pheasant 33 Macropygia unchall Barred Cuckoo Dove 34 Malacias capistratus Rufous Sibia 35 Megalaima franklinii Golden-throated Barbet 36 Megalaima virens Great Barbet 37 Melanochlora sultanea Sultan Tit 38 Micropternus brachyurus Rufous Woodpecker 39 Monticola cinclorhynchus Blue-capped Rock Thrush 40 Monticola rufiventris Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush 41 Myophonus caeruleus Blue Whistling Thrush 42 Nicifraga multipuntulata Spotted Nutcracker 43 Oriolus trailli Maroon Oriole 44 Orthotomus sutorius Common Tailorbird 45 Parus monticolus Green-backed Tit

46 Parus spilonotus Yellow-cheeked Tit 47 Passer montanus Eurasian Tree Sparrow 48 Passer rutilans Russet Sparrow 49 Pericrocotus brevirostris Short-billed Minivet 50 Pericrocotus ethologus Long-tailed Minivet 51 Pericrocotus solaris Grey-chinned Minivet 52 Pericrocotus speciosus Scarlet Minivet 53 Phylloscopus cantator Yellow-vented Warbler 54 Phylloscopus reguloides Blyth's Leaf Warbler 55 Picumnus innominatus Speckled Piculet 56 Picus canus Grey-headed Woodpecker 57 Picus chlorolophus Lesser Yellownape 58 Picus flavinucha Greater Yellownape 59 Pomatorhinus erythrogenys Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler 60 Pomatorhinus ruficollis Streak-breated Scimitar Babbler 61 Prinia atrogularis Black-throated Prinia 62 Prinia crinigera Striated Prinia 63 Pycnonotus cafer Red-vented Bulbul 64 Pycnonotus leucogenys Himalayan Bulbul 65 Pycnonotus striatus Striated Bulbul 66 Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax Red-billed Chough 67 Rhipidura albicollis White-throated Fantail 68 Rhyacornis fuliginosa Plumbeous Water Redstart 69 Sasia ochracea White-browed Piculet 70 Saxicola ferreus Grey Bushchat 71 Seicercus burkii Green-crowned Warbler 72 Seicercus castniceps Chestnut-crowned Warbler 73 Sitta cinnamoventris Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch 74 Staphida castaniceps Striated Yuhina 75 Streptopelia chinensis Spotted Dove 76 Streptopelia orientalis Oriental Turtle Dove 77 Sylviparus modestus Yellow-browed Tit 78 Tichodroma muraria Wallcreeper 79 Turdus boulboul Grey-winged Blackbird 80 Urocissa flavirostris Yellow-billed Blue Magpie 81 Yuhina flavicollis Whiskered Yuhina 82 Yuhina gularis Stripe-throated Yuhina

83 Yuhina nigrimenta Black-chinned Yuhina 84 Yuhina occipitalis Rufous-vented Yuhina 85 Zoothera dixoni Long-tailed Thrush 86 Zoothera mollissima Plain-backed Thrush 87 Zosterops palpebrosus Oriental White-eye

Annexure III: A list of plant species recorded in Phunying Area Sl.No. Specie (Botanical Name) Sl.No. Species (Botanical Name) 1 Rhododendron falconeri 11 Rhododendron barbatum 2 Lonicera sp 12 Rhododendron kendrickii 3 Rhododendron arboreum 13 Rhododendron keysii 4 Berberis sp(Large leaf) 14 Rhododendron kezanghii 5 Betula utilis 15 Rhododendron maddenii 6 Daphne bholua 16 Rhododendron niveum 7 Ilex depyrea 17 Schefflera sp 8 Illicium griffithii 18 Skimmia laureola 9 Magnolia campbelii 19 Symplocos sp 10 Rhododendron barbatum 20 Taxus bacata

Annexure IV: A list of bird species recorded in Phunying Area Sl.No. Species (Scientific Name) Common Name 1 Aegithalos iouschistos Rufous-fronted Tit 2 Aethopyga nipalensis Green-tailed Sunbird 3 Buteo rufinus Long-legged Buzzard 4 Certhia hodgsoni Hodgson's Treecreeper 5 Cettia brunnifrons Grey-sided Bush Warbler 6 Corvus macrorhynchos Large-billed Crow 7 Culicicapa ceylonensis Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher 8 Dendrocopos darjellensis Darjeeling Woodpecker 9 Emberiza pusilla Little Bunting 10 Falco tinnunculus Common Kestrel 11 Ficedula strophiata Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher 12 Fulvetta vinipectus White-browed Fulvetta 13 Garrulax affinis Black-faced Laughingthrush 14 Garrulax erythrocephalus Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush 15 Garrulax ocellatus Spotted Laughingthrush 16 Ithaginis cruentus Blood Pheasant

17 Lophophanes dichrous Grey-crested Tit 18 Lophophorus impejanus Himalayan Monal 19 Lophura leucomelanos Kalij Pheasant 20 Minla ignotincta Red-tailed Minla 21 Monticola rufiventris Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush 22 Mycerobas affinis Collared Grossbeak 23 Mycerobas carnipes White-winged Grossbeak 24 Nicifraga multipuntulata Spotted Nutcracker 25 Parus monticolus Green-backed Tit 26 Periparus ater Coal Tit 27 Periparus rubidiventris Rufous-vented Tit 28 Phoenicurus frontalis Blue-fronted Redstart 29 Phylloscopus chloronotus Lemon-rumped Warbler 30 Phylloscopus maculipennis Ashy-throated Warbler 31 Phylloscopus pulcher Buff-barred Warbler 32 Phylloscopus trochiloides Greenish Warbler 33 Prunella strophiata Rufous-breasted Accentor 34 Pseudominla castaneceps Rufous-winged Fulvetta 35 Pteruthius melanotis Black-eared Shrike-Babbler 36 Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax Red-billed Chough 37 Siva strigula Bar-throated Siva 38 Sylviparus modestus Yellow-browed Tit 39 Tarsiger chrysaeus Golden Bush Robin 40 Tarsiger rufilatus Himalayan Bluetail 41 Tichodroma muraria Wallcreeper 42 Tragopan satyra Satyr Tragopan 43 Troglodytes troglodytes Eurasian Wren 44 Turdus albocinctus White-collared Blackbird 45 Urocissa flavirostris Yellow-billed Blue Magpie 46 Yuhina gularis Stripe-throated Yuhina 47 Yuhina occipitalis Rufous-vented Yuhina

Annexure V: A list of plant species recorded between Phunying – Aja trek Sl.No. Species (Botanical Name) Sl.No. Botanical Name 1 Abies densa 11 Rhododendron keysii 2 Acer sp 12 Rhododendron lanatum

3 Bamboo sp 13 Rhododendron triflorum 4 Gaultheria semi-infra 14 Ribes sp 5 Rheum astragalus 15 Rosa sericea 6 Rhododendron barbatum 16 Rubus sp 7 Rhododendron campylocarpum 17 Sorbus cuspidate 8 Rhododendron cinabarinum 18 Spirea accuta 9 Rhododendron hogsonii 19 Symplocos sp 10 Rhododendron kesangiae 20 Viburnum erubesences

Annexure VI: A list of bird species recorded between Phunying – Aja trek Sl.No. Species (Scientific Name) Common Name 1 Actinodura nipalensis Hoary-throated Barwing 2 Aegithalos iouschistos Rufous-fronted Tit 3 Aethopyga nipalensis Green-tailed Sunbird 4 Alcippe nipalensis Nepal Fulvetta 5 Anthus hodgsoni Olive-backed Pipit 6 Arborophila rufogularis Rufous-throated Partridge 7 Arborophila torqueola Hill Partridge 8 Brachypteryx montana White-browed Shortwing 9 Certhia hodgsoni Hodgson's Treecreeper 10 Certhia nipalensis Rusty-flanked Treecreeper 11 Cettia brunnifrons Grey-sided Bush Warbler 12 Chaimarrornis leucocephalus White-capped Water Redstart 13 Chelidorhynx hypoxantha Yellow-bellied Fantail 14 Corvus macrorhynchos Large-billed Crow 15 Dendrocopos darjellensis Darjeeling Woodpecker 16 Emberiza pusilla Little Bunting 17 Falco tinnunculus Common Kestrel 18 Ficedula strophiata Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher 19 Ficedula tricolor Slaty-blue Flycatcher 20 Fulvetta vinipectus White-browed Fulvetta 21 Garrulax affinis Black-faced Laughingthrush 22 Garrulax albogularis White-throated Laughingthrush 23 Garrulax erythrocephalus Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush 24 Garrulax imbricatus Bhutan Laughingthrush 25 Garrulax ocellatus Spotted Laughingthrush 26 Garrulax striatus Striated Laughingthrush

27 Garrulus glandarius Eurasian Jay 28 Hypsipetes leucocephalus Black Bulbul 29 Ithaginis cruentus Blood Pheasant 30 Leiothrix lutea Red-billed Leiothrix 31 Lophophanes dichrous Grey-crested Tit 32 Lophophorus impejanus Himalayan Monal 33 Lophura leucomelanos Kalij Pheasant 34 Malacias capistratus Rufous Sibia 35 Megalaima virens Great Barbet 36 Minla ignotincta Red-tailed Minla 37 Monticola rufiventris Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush 38 Mycerobas affinis Collared Grossbeak 39 Mycerobas carnipes White-winged Grossbeak 40 Myophonus caeruleus Blue Whistling Thrush 41 Nicifraga multipuntulata Spotted Nutcracker 42 Nisaetus nipalensis Mountain Hawk Eagle 43 Oligura castaneocoronata Chestnut-headed Tesia 44 Parus monticolus Green-backed Tit 45 Pericrocotus ethologus Long-tailed Minivet 46 Periparus ater Coal Tit 47 Periparus rubidiventris Rufous-vented Tit 48 Phoenicurus frontalis Blue-fronted Redstart 49 Phoenicurus hodgsoni Hodgson's Redstart 50 Phylloscopus chloronotus Lemon-rumped Warbler 51 Phylloscopus maculipennis Ashy-throated Warbler 52 Phylloscopus mafnirostris Large-billed Warbler 53 Phylloscopus pulcher Buff-barred Warbler 54 Phylloscopus reguloides Blyth's Leaf Warbler 55 Phylloscopus trochiloides Greenish Warbler 56 Prunella immaculata Maroon-backed Accentor 57 Prunella strophiata Rufous-breasted Accentor 58 Pseudominla castaneceps Rufous-winged Fulvetta 59 Pteruthius melanotis Black-eared Shrike-Babbler 60 Pycnonotus striatus Striated Bulbul 61 Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax Red-billed Chough 62 Pyrrhoplectes epauletta Gold-naped Finch 63 Pyrrhula erythrocepha Red-headed Bullfinch

64 Seicercus burkii Green-crowned Warbler 65 Seicercus whistleri Whistler's Warbler 66 Sitta himalayensis White-tailed Nuthatch 67 Siva strigula Bar-throated Siva 68 Stachyridopsis chrysaea Golden Babbler 69 Sylviparus modestus Yellow-browed Tit 70 Tarsiger chrysaeus Golden Bush Robin 71 Tarsiger rufilatus Himalayan Bluetail 72 Tichodroma muraria Wallcreeper 73 Tragopan satyra Satyr Tragopan 74 Troglodytes troglodytes Eurasian Wren 75 Turdus albocinctus White-collared Blackbird 76 Urocissa flavirostris Yellow-billed Blue Magpie 77 Yuhina flavicollis Whiskered Yuhina 78 Yuhina gularis Stripe-throated Yuhina 79 Yuhina occipitalis Rufous-vented Yuhina 80 Zoothera dixoni Long-tailed Thrush

Annexure VII: A list of plant species recorded in Aja Area Sl.No. Species (Botanical Name) Sl.No. Species (Botanical Name) 1 Acer campbelii 23 Musa griersonii 2 Alcimandra cathcartii 24 Myrica sculanta 3 Bamboo sp(Chimonobambusa callosa) 25 Myrsine semiserrata 4 Berberis angulosa 26 Nyssa javanica 5 Beilscimiedia sp 27 Parasassafras confertiflora 6 Betula alnoides 28 Phobea sp 7 Castanopsis tribuloides 29 Pinus bhutanica 8 Daphne bholua 30 Prunus cerasoides 9 Daphnephylum himalayansis 31 Prunus nepaulensis 10 Dichroa febrifuga 32 Quercus griffithii 11 Docynia indica 33 Quercus lamellosa 12 Eurya accuminata 34 Quercus oxyodon 13 Ficus numularia 35 Rhododendron grande 14 Ficus roxburghii 36 Rhododendron niveum 15 Fraxinus floribunda 37 Sorbus cuspidata 16 Gaultheria fragantissima 38 Skimmia luareola 17 Hypericum sp 39 Symplocos sp

18 Illicium griffithii 40 Tetradium fraxinifolium 19 Indigifera dousa 41 Trevesia palmate 20 Juniperus sp 42 Tsuga domusa 21 Lyonia ovalifolia 43 Viburnum erubecens 22 Magnolia campbelia 44 Wenlandia luzoniensis

Annexure VIII: A list of bird species recorded in Aja Area Sl.No. Species (Scientific Name) Common Name 1 Abroscopus schisticeps Black-faced Warbler 2 Actinodura egertoni Rusty-fronted Barwing 3 Actinodura nipalensis Hoary-throated Barwing 4 Aegithalos concinus Black-throated Tit 5 Aegithalos iouschistos Rufous-fronted Tit 6 Aethopyga nipalensis Green-tailed Sunbird 7 Alcippe nipalensis Nepal Fulvetta 8 Anthus hodgsoni Olive-backed Pipit 9 Arborophila rufogularis Rufous-throated Partridge 10 Arborophila torqueola Hill Partridge 11 Blythipicus pyrrhotis Bay Woodpecker 12 Brachypteryx montana White-browed Shortwing 13 Buteo burmanicus Himalayan Buzzard 14 Carduelis spinoides Yellow-breasted Greenfinch 15 Certhia discolor Brown-throated Treecreeper 16 Certhia hodgsoni Hodgson's Treecreeper 17 Certhia nipalensis Rusty-flanked Treecreeper 18 Cettia brunnifrons Grey-sided Bush Warbler 19 Cettia fortipes Brown-flanked Bush Warbler 20 Chaimarrornis leucocephalus White-capped Water Redstart 21 Chelidorhynx hypoxantha Yellow-bellied Fantail 22 Chloropsis hardwickii Orange-bellied Leafbird 23 Cinclus pallasii Brown Dipper 24 Cissa chinensis Common Green Magpie 25 Columba hodgsonii Speckled Wood Pigeon 26 Coracina melaschistos Black-winged Cuckooshrike 27 Corvus macrorhynchos Large-billed Crow 28 Culicicapa ceylonensis Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher 29 Cutia nipalensis Himalayan Cutia

30 Dendorcitta formosae Grey Treepie 31 Dendrocopos darjellensis Darjeeling Woodpecker 32 Dendrocopos hyperythrus Rufous-bellied Woodpecker 33 Dicaeum ignipectus Fire-breasted Flowerpecker 34 Dicrurus hottentottus Spangled Drongo 35 Dicrurus leucophaeus Ashy Drongo 36 Dicrurus remifer Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo 37 Emberiza pusilla Little Bunting 38 Enicurus maculatus Spotted Forktail 39 Enicurus schistaceus Slaty-backed Forktail 40 Enicurus scouleri Little Forktail 41 Erpornis zantholeuca White-bellied Erpornis 42 Falco tinnunculus Common Kestrel 43 Ficedula strophiata Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher 44 Ficedula tricolor Slaty-blue Flycatcher 45 Fulvetta vinipectus White-browed Fulvetta 46 Galucidium cuculoides Asian Barred Owlet 47 Garrulax affinis Black-faced Laughingthrush 48 Garrulax albogularis White-throated Laughingthrush 49 Garrulax caerulatus Grey-sided Laughingthrush 50 Garrulax erythrocephalus Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush 51 Garrulax imbricatus Bhutan Laughingthrush 52 Garrulax leucolophus White-crested Laughingthrush 53 Garrulax ocellatus Spotted Laughingthrush 54 Garrulax ruficollis Rufous-necked Laughingthrush 55 Garrulax squamatus Blue-winged Laughinthrush 56 Garrulax striatus Striated Laughingthrush 57 Garrulax subunicolor Scaly Laughingthrush 58 Garrulus glandarius Eurasian Jay 59 Glaucidium brodiei Collared Owlet 60 Gyps himalayensis Himalayan Vulture 61 Haematospiza sipahi Scarlet Finch 62 Hypsipetes leucocephalus Black Bulbul 63 Indicator xanthonotus Yellow-rumped Honeyguide 64 Ixos mcclellandii Mountain Bulbul 65 Lanius schach Long-tailed Shrike 66 Leiothrix lutea Red-billed Leiothrix

67 Liocichla phoenicea Red-faced Liocichla 68 Lioparus chrysotis Golden-breasted Fulvetta 69 Lophophanes dichrous Grey-crested Tit 70 Lophura leucomelanos Kalij Pheasant 71 Macropygia unchall Barred Cuckoo Dove 72 Malacias capistratus Rufous Sibia 73 Megalaima franklinii Golden-throated Barbet 74 Megalaima virens Great Barbet 75 Melanochlora sultanea Sultan Tit 76 Micropternus brachyurus Rufous Woodpecker 77 Minla ignotincta Red-tailed Minla 78 Monticola cinclorhynchus Blue-capped Rock Thrush 79 Monticola rufiventris Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush 80 Motacilla alba White Wagtail 81 Motacilla cinerea Grey Wagtail 82 Mycerobas melanozanthos Spot-winged Grosbeak 83 Myophonus caeruleus Blue Whistling Thrush 84 Nicifraga multipuntulata Spotted Nutcracker 85 Niltava grandis Large Niltava 86 Niltava macgrigoriae Small Niltava 87 Niltava sundara Rufous-bellied Niltava 88 Ninox nivicola Himalayan Wood Owl 89 Nisaetus nipalensis Mountain Hawk Eagle 90 Oligura castaneocoronata Chestnut-headed Tesia 91 Oriolus trailli Maroon Oriole 92 Orthotomus sutorius Common Tailorbird 93 Parus monticolus Green-backed Tit 94 Parus spilonotus Yellow-cheeked Tit 95 Passer rutilans Russet Sparrow 96 Pericrocotus brevirostris Short-billed Minivet 97 Pericrocotus ethologus Long-tailed Minivet 98 Pericrocotus solaris Grey-chinned Minivet 99 Pericrocotus speciosus Scarlet Minivet 100 Periparus ater Coal Tit 101 Periparus rubidiventris Rufous-vented Tit 102 Phoenicurus frontalis Blue-fronted Redstart 103 Phoenicurus hodgsoni Hodgson's Redstart

104 Phyllergates cuculatus Mountain Tailorbird 105 Phylloscopus cantator Yellow-vented Warbler 106 Phylloscopus chloronotus Lemon-rumped Warbler 107 Phylloscopus maculipennis Ashy-throated Warbler 108 Phylloscopus mafnirostris Large-billed Warbler 109 Phylloscopus pulcher Buff-barred Warbler 110 Phylloscopus reguloides Blyth's Leaf Warbler 111 Phylloscopus trochiloides Greenish Warbler 112 Picumnus innominatus Speckled Piculet 113 Picus canus Grey-headed Woodpecker 114 Picus chlorolophus Lesser Yellownape 115 Picus flavinucha Greater Yellownape 116 Pnoepyga albiventer Scaly-breasted Wren Babbler 117 Pnoepyga pusilla Pygmy Wren Babbler 118 Pomatorhinus erythrogenys Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler 119 Pomatorhinus ruficollis Streak-breated Scimitar Babbler 120 Pomatorhinus schiticep White-browed Scimitar Babbler 121 Prunella immaculata Maroon-backed Accentor 122 Prunella strophiata Rufous-breasted Accentor 123 Pseudominla castaneceps Rufous-winged Fulvetta 124 Pseudominla cinerea Yellow-throated Fulvetta 125 Pteruthius melanotis Black-eared Shrike-Babbler 126 Pteruthius xanthochlorus White-browed Shrike-Babbler 127 Pycnonotus cafer Red-vented Bulbul 128 Pycnonotus leucogenys Himalayan Bulbul 129 Pycnonotus striatus Striated Bulbul 130 Pyrrhoplectes epauletta Gold-naped Finch 131 Pyrrhula erythrocepha Red-headed Bullfinch 132 Rhipidura albicollis White-throated Fantail 133 Rhyacornis fuliginosa Plumbeous Water Redstart 134 Sasia ochracea White-browed Piculet 135 Saxicola ferreus Grey Bushchat 136 Seicercus affinis White-spectacled Warbler 137 Seicercus burkii Green-crowned Warbler 138 Seicercus castniceps Chestnut-crowned Warbler 139 Seicercus poliogenys Grey-cheeked Warbler 140 Seicercus whistleri Whistler's Warbler

141 Sitta himalayensis White-tailed Nuthatch 142 Siva cyanouroptera Blue-winged Siva 143 Siva strigula Bar-throated Siva 144 Spilornis cheela Crested Serpent Eagle 145 Stachyridopsis chrysaea Golden Babbler 146 Stachyridopsis ruficeps Rufous-capped Babbler 147 Streptopelia chinensis Spotted Dove 148 Streptopelia orientalis Oriental Turtle Dove 149 Sylviparus modestus Yellow-browed Tit 150 Tarsiger chrysaeus Golden Bush Robin 151 Tarsiger rufilatus Himalayan Bluetail 152 Tesia olivea Slaty-bellied Tesia 153 Tichodroma muraria Wallcreeper 154 Tickellia hodgsoni Broad-billed Warbler 155 Tragopan satyra Satyr Tragopan 156 Troglodytes troglodytes Eurasian Wren 157 Turdus albocinctus White-collared Blackbird 158 Turdus boulboul Grey-winged Blackbird 159 Urocissa flavirostris Yellow-billed Blue Magpie 160 Xiphirhynchus superciliaris Slender-billed Scimitar Babbler 161 Yuhina flavicollis Whiskered Yuhina 162 Yuhina gularis Stripe-throated Yuhina 163 Yuhina nigrimenta Black-chinned Yuhina 164 Yuhina occipitalis Rufous-vented Yuhina 165 Zoothera dixoni Long-tailed Thrush 166 Zoothera mollissima Plain-backed Thrush

Annexure IX: A list of bird species recorded between Aja – Senakhar trek Sl.No. Species (Scientific Name) Common Name 1 Abroscopus schisticeps Black-faced Warbler 2 Actinodura nipalensis Hoary-throated Barwing 3 Aegithalos concinus Black-throated Tit 4 Aegithalos iouschistos Rufous-fronted Tit 5 Aethopyga nipalensis Green-tailed Sunbird 6 Aethopyga saturata Black-throated Sunbird 7 Alcippe nipalensis Nepal Fulvetta 8 Anthus hodgsoni Olive-backed Pipit

9 Arborophila rufogularis Rufous-throated Partridge 10 Arborophila torqueola Hill Partridge 11 Blythipicus pyrrhotis Bay Woodpecker 12 Brachypteryx montana White-browed Shortwing 13 Carduelis spinoides Yellow-breasted Greenfinch 14 Certhia discolor Brown-throated Treecreeper 15 Certhia nipalensis Rusty-flanked Treecreeper 16 Cettia brunnifrons Grey-sided Bush Warbler 17 Cettia fortipes Brown-flanked Bush Warbler 18 Chaimarrornis leucocephalus White-capped Water Redstart 19 Chelidorhynx hypoxantha Yellow-bellied Fantail 20 Cissa chinensis Common Green Magpie 21 Columba hodgsonii Speckled Wood Pigeon 22 Copsychus saularis Oriental Magpie Robin 23 Corvus macrorhynchos Large-billed Crow 24 Culicicapa ceylonensis Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher 25 Dendorcitta formosae Grey Treepie 26 Dendrocopos darjellensis Darjeeling Woodpecker 27 Dendrocopos hyperythrus Rufous-bellied Woodpecker 28 Dicaeum ignipectus Fire-breasted Flowerpecker 29 Dicrurus hottentottus Spangled Drongo 30 Dicrurus leucophaeus Ashy Drongo 31 Dicrurus remifer Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo 32 Emberiza pusilla Little Bunting 33 Enicurus schistaceus Slaty-backed Forktail 34 Enicurus scouleri Little Forktail 35 Falco tinnunculus Common Kestrel 36 Ficedula strophiata Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher 37 Ficedula tricolor Slaty-blue Flycatcher 38 Fulvetta vinipectus White-browed Fulvetta 39 Galucidium cuculoides Asian Barred Owlet 40 Garrulax affinis Black-faced Laughingthrush 41 Garrulax albogularis White-throated Laughingthrush 42 Garrulax erythrocephalus Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush 43 Garrulax imbricatus Bhutan Laughingthrush 44 Garrulax leucolophus White-crested Laughingthrush 45 Garrulax ocellatus Spotted Laughingthrush

46 Garrulax ruficollis Rufous-necked Laughingthrush 47 Garrulax striatus Striated Laughingthrush 48 Garrulus glandarius Eurasian Jay 49 Glaucidium brodiei Collared Owlet 50 Hypsipetes leucocephalus Black Bulbul 51 Ixos mcclellandii Mountain Bulbul 52 Lanius schach Long-tailed Shrike 53 Leiothrix lutea Red-billed Leiothrix 54 Lophophanes dichrous Grey-crested Tit 55 Lophura leucomelanos Kalij Pheasant 56 Macropygia unchall Barred Cuckoo Dove 57 Malacias capistratus Rufous Sibia 58 Megalaima franklinii Golden-throated Barbet 59 Megalaima virens Great Barbet 60 Melanochlora sultanea Sultan Tit 61 Micropternus brachyurus Rufous Woodpecker 62 Minla ignotincta Red-tailed Minla 63 Monticola cinclorhynchus Blue-capped Rock Thrush 64 Monticola rufiventris Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush 65 Mycerobas affinis Collared Grossbeak 66 Mycerobas carnipes White-winged Grossbeak 67 Myophonus caeruleus Blue Whistling Thrush 68 Nicifraga multipuntulata Spotted Nutcracker 69 Nisaetus nipalensis Mountain Hawk Eagle 70 Oligura castaneocoronata Chestnut-headed Tesia 71 Oriolus trailli Maroon Oriole 72 Orthotomus sutorius Common Tailorbird 73 Parus monticolus Green-backed Tit 74 Parus spilonotus Yellow-cheeked Tit 75 Passer montanus Eurasian Tree Sparrow 76 Passer rutilans Russet Sparrow 77 Pericrocotus brevirostris Short-billed Minivet 78 Pericrocotus ethologus Long-tailed Minivet 79 Pericrocotus solaris Grey-chinned Minivet 80 Pericrocotus speciosus Scarlet Minivet 81 Periparus ater Coal Tit 82 Periparus rubidiventris Rufous-vented Tit

83 Phoenicurus frontalis Blue-fronted Redstart 84 Phoenicurus hodgsoni Hodgson's Redstart 85 Phylloscopus cantator Yellow-vented Warbler 86 Phylloscopus chloronotus Lemon-rumped Warbler 87 Phylloscopus maculipennis Ashy-throated Warbler 88 Phylloscopus mafnirostris Large-billed Warbler 89 Phylloscopus pulcher Buff-barred Warbler 90 Phylloscopus reguloides Blyth's Leaf Warbler 91 Phylloscopus trochiloides Greenish Warbler 92 Picumnus innominatus Speckled Piculet 93 Picus canus Grey-headed Woodpecker 94 Picus chlorolophus Lesser Yellownape 95 Picus flavinucha Greater Yellownape 96 Pnoepyga albiventer Scaly-breasted Wren Babbler 97 Pomatorhinus erythrogenys Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler 98 Pomatorhinus ruficollis Streak-breated Scimitar Babbler 99 Prinia atrogularis Black-throated Prinia 100 Prinia crinigera Striated Prinia 101 Prunella immaculata Maroon-backed Accentor 102 Prunella strophiata Rufous-breasted Accentor 103 Pseudominla castaneceps Rufous-winged Fulvetta 104 Pteruthius melanotis Black-eared Shrike-Babbler 105 Pycnonotus cafer Red-vented Bulbul 106 Pycnonotus leucogenys Himalayan Bulbul 107 Pycnonotus striatus Striated Bulbul 108 Pyrrhoplectes epauletta Gold-naped Finch 109 Pyrrhula erythrocepha Red-headed Bullfinch 110 Rhipidura albicollis White-throated Fantail 111 Rhyacornis fuliginosa Plumbeous Water Redstart 112 Sasia ochracea White-browed Piculet 113 Saxicola ferreus Grey Bushchat 114 Seicercus burkii Green-crowned Warbler 115 Seicercus castniceps Chestnut-crowned Warbler 116 Seicercus whistleri Whistler's Warbler 117 Sitta cinnamoventris Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch 118 Sitta himalayensis White-tailed Nuthatch 119 Siva cyanouroptera Blue-winged Siva

120 Siva strigula Bar-throated Siva 121 Stachyridopsis chrysaea Golden Babbler 122 Stachyridopsis ruficeps Rufous-capped Babbler 123 Staphida castaniceps Striated Yuhina 124 Streptopelia chinensis Spotted Dove 125 Streptopelia orientalis Oriental Turtle Dove 126 Sylviparus modestus Yellow-browed Tit 127 Tarsiger chrysaeus Golden Bush Robin 128 Tarsiger rufilatus Himalayan Bluetail 129 Tichodroma muraria Wallcreeper 130 Tragopan satyra Satyr Tragopan 131 Troglodytes troglodytes Eurasian Wren 132 Turdus albocinctus White-collared Blackbird 133 Turdus boulboul Grey-winged Blackbird 134 Urocissa flavirostris Yellow-billed Blue Magpie 135 Yuhina flavicollis Whiskered Yuhina 136 Yuhina gularis Stripe-throated Yuhina 137 Yuhina nigrimenta Black-chinned Yuhina 138 Yuhina occipitalis Rufous-vented Yuhina 139 Zoothera dixoni Long-tailed Thrush

Reference:

Wangchuk, R. (2004). Myth and Mystery of Aja Nye. Journal of Bhutan Studies. Thimphu. Vol.10.