As he was climbing uphill from Gyelposhing through Wangling in search of his destined place to be founded, on reaching the hilltop he heard the mantra chanting the six-syllable mantra of Avalokiteshvara (OM MA NI PAD ME HUNG) emanating from there. Wondering who could be reciting that mantra, he started to look for. To his surprise, he saw no one. Taking this as a good omen, he decided to settle here. He constructed two storied lhakhang around 1755 in the 18th century but sometime later it is said the earthquake destroyed the old lhakhang. The Lama, thus, declared the place as the abode of Avalokiteshvara and named it Potala. Some people used to say that the Goenpa is called Mani Sungjoen lhakhang in Mongar. However, over time, people have mispronounced the name and it is now known as Pongchula. Whether it is known as Potala or Pongchula, it is the abode of Avalokiteshvara and is revered as one of the godliest paradises on earth. It is said that the merit obtained by chanting the six-syllable mantra for one time at Pongchula is equivalent to the merit obtained by chanting the same mantra for hundred times elsewhere. Besides, visiting Pongchula is regarded as the same as visiting the heavenly abode of Avalokiteshvara. In the hills from lhakhang we can see the seat of lama Tshulthrim Jamtsho for his Yidam practice. As lama founded the Gonpa, water was the scarcity then and he looked at the possibilities of water over it but could not found anywhere. One day all of a sudden one vulture flew over the area and make a sound like ‘Drakchudrachu’ and landed on the big tree below the present lhakhang location, then lama followed the bird and when he went near the tree, he notice water pond below the big tree. It is believed that it is the holy water of Lama Tshultrim Jamtsho. This water can be still seen today.

Pongchula Goenpa sits on the highest of the four great mountains of Mongar. It is known as Phaktsang (plenty of wild pig). The three other mountains are Tsenphug, Kengkhar and Larjab, and are known as Dretsang, Dhomtsang and Taktsang respectively. It was built mainly to reduce the depredation of crops by the wild pig as the area in the past is usually affected by wild pigs. This Goenpa is adorned both spiritually and aesthetically with chorten and prayer flags. One of the most sacred chorten is the Kudung Chorten of lama Tshulthrim Jamtsho. From this particular chorten drips drupchhu during the 30th day of every month, and some people can hear religious chants from there during auspicious days.

It’s during one of the successive incarnations of Zhabdrung Rinpoche, Zhabdrung Jigme Norbu. Rinpoche instructed one of his Cymbal makers to make a cymbal for him. The maker then presented to Rinpoche. When Rinpoche struck against each other, it did not make a pleasing sound, so Rinpoche threw them away towards the door. He then instructed his attendant that this cymbal is destined to be with a man who will visit him shortly. As prophesied it was lama Tshulthrim Jamtsho who visited Zhabdrung Rinpoche. This cymbal was given to lama Tshultrim Jamtsho and this Cymbal is still there at Monastery as a relic.