Bumdeling Gewog. alt. 3000m.

It was initially built by Lama Tshering Gyamtsho, a disciple of the 9th Je Khenpo Shacha Rinchhen (1744-1755) and renovated and extended by his nephew Lama Jangchhub Gyeltshen. His nephew Lama Ngawang Loday was appointed the 3rd Abbot of Rigsum Gonpa by His Holiness Yonten Thaye, the 13th Je Khenpo (1771 – 1775). He further extended the gonpa and brought the Jowo Shakya Muni statue (the Buddha as a prince) from Punakha Dzong. The Jowo statue is a replica of the one in Lhasa in Tibet. The fifth abbot reportedly witnessed the statue speak. It is believed that if you can’t go to Tibet for pilgrimage then visiting Rigsum Gonpa is an alternative giving the same merit. The gonpa was restored/rebuilt in 2004. It has a traditional religious school for about 40 gelongs. 3 hrs walk from Dungzam in Boomdeling, the monastery is located on a ridge with good views of the Boomdeling valley and Trashi Yangtse Dzong. A road may be constructed to the gonpa in the 11th FYP, which would make a visit to Dechenphodrang monastery on the same day possible (a 4 hr walk).