The one must-visit site in the Paro valley is the Taktsang monastery. This monastery is also called “Tiger’s Nest” and is the most venerated of all Buddhist monuments in Bhutan. Legend goes that it was founded in the 8th century A.D. by Guru Rinpoche, a Tibetan Tibetan missionary who is widely revered in Bhutan as the second Buddha (after Buddha Sakyamuni a.k.a Gautama Buddha). Guru Rinpoche supposedly landed on this spot on the back of a flying tiger, and brought with him the tenets of Buddhism, over time converting the Paro valley from its previous animistic beliefs into Buddhism.
The monastery was devastated by fire in the late 1990s, but has been painstakingly rebuilt over the years. In her book, “Treasures of the Thunder Dragon – A Portrait of Bhutan”, HRH Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuk, the former queen of Bhutan, writes that virtually every Bhutanese contributed to the rebuilding effort in either cash or kind.
The monastery itself clings to a sheer mountain ledge about 3,000 feet above the Paro valley. A 3-4 hour trek is required to reach it. The trek is quite scenic, affording some scenic views of the Paro valley. The trek is of medium difficulty, although at some places, the inclines are steep and there is no parapet even as the path hugs the cliff edges precariously. There are enough spots where one can relax and catch their breath. It is advisable to take water since the only overpriced refreshments available are at a solitary cafe – Taktsang Cafe – about 90 minutes into the trek. Mules can be hired at the base of the mountain, but they can go only about three-fourths of the way uphill. From that point on, there is a stone stair that winds its way across the mountain ridges to finally reach the monastery.
The monastery itself is stunningly silent with the only sounds being the howling of the wind, the fluttering of the prayer flags, and the murmur of the monks’ chanting. The monastery has 3 temples, the largest of which houses the 3 Buddhas – Buddha Sakyamuni, Guru Rinpoche, and Zhabdrung Nyamgel (who lived in the 16th century and is regarded as the founder of Bhutan since he unified the country’s warring feudal lords). Photography is prohibited inside the monastery.
Mules are not available for the downhill journey, and climbing down at a leisurely pace takes about 2 hours. At the end of it, anyone with a moderately sedentary lifestyle can expect crunched knees and toes, but with memories that will last a lifetime!
Taktsang as viewed from the base
Wild horses enroute
A waterfall slightly off the trail
Views of the Paro valley
The ubiquitous prayer flags
Taktsang as seen from the halfway mark
Closer views of Taktsang – from this point on, it is still a 20 minute winding walk up and down a stony stairway to reach the monastery
