Hanging Monastery of Bhutan -TIGER NEST - Paro Taksang

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They say this is the holiest place in Bhutan, but looking at it from the bottom, it just looks impossible. Today, we are hiking to Paro Taktsang (The Tiger’s Nest), a monastery clinging to a sheer cliff face 3,120 meters (10,240 ft) above sea level.

The Legend of the Flying Tigress You might wonder why anyone would build a temple on a cliff like this. The answer lies in one of the wildest legends in Buddhist history. It is said that in the 8th century, Guru Rinpoche (the father of Bhutanese Buddhism) didn't hike up here. He flew onto this cliff from Tibet on the back of a flying tigress. The tigress was actually a manifestation of his consort, Yeshe Tsogyal, who transformed to help him subdue a demon terrorizing the valley.

Once he landed, Guru Rinpoche meditated in a cave here for exactly 3 years, 3 months, 3 weeks, 3 days, and 3 hours. His meditation was so powerful it cleansed the space of evil spirits, turning the "Tiger's Lair" into the sanctuary it is today.

A Phoenix from the Ashes The history here isn't just ancient; it’s also tragic. In April 1998, a massive fire completely destroyed the main structure of the monastery, taking with it centuries of art and history. The Bhutanese people were devastated. But, like a phoenix, the Tiger’s Nest was painstakingly rebuilt to its former glory by 2005.

The Hike The trail up is brutal—a mix of steep dirt paths, altitude sickness, and endless stairs—but standing on the edge of that cliff, looking into the mist, you understand why this is the heart of Bhutan.