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Bhutan16 Paro3 Taktsang

Paro Taktsang alias Tiger Hill is a prominent Himalayan Buddhist sacred site and temple complex, located in the Cliffside of the upper Paro valley, in Bhutan. Taktshang Goemba or Tigeru2019s Nest Monastery is blessed and sanctified as one of Bhutanu2019s most sacred religious sites.

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Bhutan16 Paro3 Taktsang

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  1. Bhutan, officially the Kingdom of Bhutan is a landlocked country in Asia. Located in the Eastern Himalayas, Bhutan is geopolitically in South Asia. Thimphu is its capital and largest city

  2. Paro Taktsang alias Tiger Hill is a prominent Himalayan Buddhist sacred site and temple complex, located in the Cliffside of the upper Paro valley, in Bhutan

  3. Taktshang Goemba or Tiger’s Nest Monastery is blessed and sanctified as one of Bhutan’s most sacred religious sites

  4. The Guru Tshan-brgyad Lhakhang alias the Temple of the Guru with Eight Names is an elegant structure built around the cave in 1692 and has become the cultural icon of Bhutan

  5. It hangs on a cliff and stands above a beautiful forest of blue pine and rhododendrons. A temple complex was first built in 1692, around the cave where Guru Padmasambhava is said to have meditated for three years, three months, three weeks, three days and three hours in the 8th century

  6. Padmasambhava is credited with introducing Buddhism to Bhutan and is the tutelary deity of the country. Today, Paro Taktsang is the best known of the thirteen taktsang or "tiger lair" caves in which he meditated

  7. The monastery is located 10 kilometres to the north of Paro and hangs on a precarious cliff at 3,120 metres about 900 metres above the Paro valley, on the right side of the Paro Chu (river)

  8. It takes around 3-4 hours to get to the monastery by foot

  9. All along the rocks, someone had placed about a hundred tsa tsas, small statues made out of a mixture of clay and human ashes, created to honor the dead

  10. According to the legend related to this Taktsang (which name in Tibetan language literally means "Tiger's lair"), it is believed that Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche) flew to this location from Tibet on the back of a tigress from Khenpajong. This place was consecrated to tame the Tiger demon

  11. The rock slopes are very steep (almost vertical) and the monastery buildings are built into the rock face

  12. Though it looks formidable, the monastery complex has access from several directions, such as the northwest path through the forest, from the south along the path used by devotees, and from the north (access over the rocky plateau, which is called the “Hundred Thousand Fairies” known as Bumda (hBum-brag)

  13. A mule track leading to it passes through pine forest that is colorfully festooned with moss and prayer flags

  14. If you decide to get a horse, it will cost you about $10 and you will be up at the monastery in an hour and a half, but the journey might be more pleasant

  15. It is not recommended to rent a horse on rainy days because of the sloppiness of the road. Be advised that the horse will only take you uphill, and you will have to get back down on foot

  16. On the approach path to the monastery, there is a Lakhang (village level monastery) and a temple of Urgyan Tsemo

  17. From this location, the monastery’s buildings are on the opposite ravine, which is known by the name “Copper-Colored Mountain Paradise of Padmasambhava”. This is the view point for visitors and there is a cafeteria to provide refreshments.

  18. Break and rest at Cafeteria half way up to Tiger Nest Taktshang

  19. An alternative legend holds that a former wife of an emperor, known as Yeshe Tsogyal, willingly became a disciple of Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambahva) in Tibet. She transformed herself into a tigress and carried the Guru on her back from Tibet to the present location of the Taktsang in Bhutan The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

  20. The popular legend of the Taktsang monastery is further embellished with the story of Tenzin Rabgye, who built the temple here in 1692. It has been mentioned by authors that the 8th century guru Padmasmab-hava had reincarnated again in the form of Tenzin Rabgye Prayer Wheels on the Hiking Trail to Tigers Nest

  21. Water-powered prayer wheels, set in motion by a flowing stream The water that is touched by the wheel is said to become blessed and carries its purifying power into all life forms in the oceans and lakes that it feeds into

  22. Prayer wheel on a rock Thousand fluttering prayer flags and heavenly waterfalls

  23. Prayer wheel on a rock with Tiger Nest Monastery in the background

  24. Colorful patches of prayer flags strung from tree to tree

  25. From the 11th century, many Tibetan saints and eminent figures came to Taktsang to meditate, including Milarepa (1040–1123), Pha Dampa Sangye (died 1117), the Tibetan yogini Machig Labdrön (1055–1145) and Thangton Gyelpo (1385–1464)

  26. A popular festival, known as the Tsechu, held in honor of Padmasamb-hava, is celebrated in the Paro valley sometime during March or April

  27. The track terminates at the main monastery where colorful paintings are displayed. Guru Rinpoche's cave where he meditated is also seen. This cave is opened for public viewing only once a year

  28. Everyone has to deposit hand phone, cameras and bag at this point. Security will conduct pocket check (just for male guests only) before letting you in

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