Brief History of Gewog
The Phangkhar is one of the centrally located Gewog connected by the Gomphu- Panbang high way in the Dzongkhag. The Gewog centre is at Pantang with 89 km from Dzongkhag and 25 km away from the Panbang Dungkhag. The name of the Gewog derived from two local syllables ‘Pham’ meaning loses the war, ‘Khar’ means the Dzong. In literally, it means the Dzong losses the war to its opinion. We can still see the ruin of Jadrung Dzong at Termapong, Panabi Chiwog which has functioned as administration unit of boarder area of India, during the reign of Penlops. During the duar war losses to the India and conquered the Assam and other boarder areas.
The Gewog falls in the sub-tropical zone with altitude ranges from 238m to 1500m above the sea level. It experiences the hot and humid weather with room temperature in an average of 35 degree Celsius in summer and 20 degree Celsius in winter. The whole area of the Gewog is home to the Royal Manas National Park with rich biodiversity. Eventually, the Gewog has highest poverty incidence of 64.17% in the country as per the GNHC survey 2010. There are eleven small and scattered villages separated each other by difficult terrains and streams.
Changarzam: It is the smallest and the far flung village located at side way to the high way towards the Dungkhag. Earlier, the name of the village was known as Changkoli zam,’Changkoli’ means turning point of the river ‘zam’ is the bridge constructed nearby the river turning point. Hence, the village being located near to the bridge derived as Changkolizam later with the passage of time the pronunciation was changed to present called Changarzam
Shilingteo: Earlier the village was called as Zhiling teo, which was derived from local syllables ‘Zhiling’ means village with maximum households ‘teo’ means the uphill. Thus, the name of the village derived and later happens to change as Shilingteo with passage of time.
Tashibi: The name of the village was known from the topography of the land and the famous man who happens to reside first in the area called Tashi. ‘Tashi’ means name of the famous man ‘bi’ means flat land. The village is located at one hour distance from the road head, Shamshala.
Pantang: Located at the mid way of Gomphu- Panbang highway where the Gewog centre is located. The Pantang in local dialect means valley of abandon growth of wild pata. ’Pan’ means place of pata ’thang’ means flat place. Thus, the name of the village was derived..
Pongchula: Is the remotest village in the Gewog with three days dolam from the Gewog centre. The name derived from Pungchoila ‘Pung’mass gathering ‘choila’ means hill topography of the gathering place. Later pronounce as Pongchula.
Panabi: Is the first village to have access by farm road facility and connected by Pantang-Salapong farm road. The name of the village was known from the local name of the tree found in the place called ‘Panala’ and ‘bi’ means the flat land.
Tradijong: Is also another remotest village in the Gewog. The senior people of the village called as Kradijong, which ‘Krad’ means the local name of cane stick and ‘jong’ means the valley. However, later on the name changes as Tradijong.
Mamung Trong: The name of the village was Tashicholing however later after the arrival of official guest who have been for the first time in the village has told the local resident to name it as Mamung. ‘Mamung’ means word of feeling uneasiness or restlessness who does not know anything clearly due to alcohol consumption, ‘trong’ means the village in kheng.
