The Tiger's Nest, nestled in the breathtaking landscapes of Bhutan, stands as an iconic symbol of the nation, much like the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Statue of Liberty in the USA, or the Tower of Pisa in Italy.
When I saw the Tiger's Nest (highlight of all tourist brochures promoting Bhutan) on postal stamps or photos, it first feels unreal!
The History of Tiger’s Nest Monastery
Tiger's Nest also known as Paro Taktsang or Taktsang Palphug, is a monastery and temple in Bhutan with a rich history and many legends. Here is the history of Tiger's Nest
According to mythology, the monastery was built in the 8th century by the renowned Buddhist Guru Rinpoche (Indian Guru Padmasambhava, the second Buddha) who flew there on the back of a tigress.
Story of Guru Rinpoche - Guru Rinpoche, played a pivotal role in bringing Buddhism to Bhutan during the 8th century. Throughout his travels in the Himalayas, he blessed numerous significant locations. One such location was Taktshang Pelphug (today's Tiger's Nest), a cave nestled along the cliffs of the Paro valley, which was inhabited by malevolent spirits. To pacify these spirits and sanctify the area, Guru Rinpoche manifested as the deity Guru Dorji Droloe
At the same time, Tashi Kheudron, a dakini or female enlightened from Tibet, took the form of a tigress to serve as the Guru's mount. Together, they confront the malevolent spirits and bound them by oath to safeguard Buddhism. Guru Rinpoche then concealed numerous sacred treasures at the site, including teachings on three essential spiritual practices.
While at Taktshang Pelphug, Guru Rinpoche conferred initiations of the deities Amrityus and Vajrakilya upon Khandro Yeshey Tshogyal and Tashi Kheudron. These enlightened women spent 4 months in deep meditation, during which a black ritual dagger mysteriously appeared in the cave after subduing spirits in neighboring regions like Nepal. Through their perfected meditations, Khandro Yeshey Tshogyal and Tashi Kheudron demonstrated many miraculous feats.
Following sacred ceremonies, Guru Rinpoche departed for another renowned sacred site, Yonphu Taktshang in Tibet, yet leaving his spiritual imprint on Taktshang Pelphug. He prophesied that the sacred site would one day gain further prominence. Over the centuries, numerous esteemed spiritual masters journeyed to Taktshang Pelphug for meditation.
Zhabdrung Takes Over Taktshang - In 1646, Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel (The founder of Bhutan), was conducting a Drupchen, a special Buddhist ritual, at Rinpung Dzong, Paro. That night, he had a dream where a man in black offered him control over Taktshang. The following day, Singye Samdrup, the guardian deity of Taktshang disguised as a poor man, appeared to Zhabdrung, confirming the dream and offering him ownership of the sacred site.
Zhabdrung instructed Singye Samdrup to ascend the cliff and declare 3 times that henceforth, Taktshang belonged to Choeje Drukpa Ngawang Namgyel, the Zhabdrung. This ceremonial act fulfilled Guru Rinpoche's prophecy, transferring ownership of Taktshang to Bhutan's founder.
In 1646, Zhabdrung and his spiritual son Lopen Rigzin Nyingpo visited Taktshang, where teachings were imparted by Lopen Rigzin Nyingpo. Auspicious signs persuaded Zhabdrung of the necessity to construct a temple at the site. However, preoccupied with the nation's establishment, he delegated this task to his spiritual son Gyalsey Tenzin Rabgye.
Temple Construction - Gyalsey Tenzin Rabgye tasked Paro governor, Penlop Drakpa Jamtsho, to initiate the temple's construction. However, the challenging cliff terrain made it impossible to lay the foundation stones, as they kept sliding. In a remarkable display of devotion, Gyalsey mixed hair from his own head into the mortar, enabling the stones to adhere securely. This crucial breakthrough allowed construction to progress smoothly and was completed in 1694.
Guru Rinpoche Bronze Statue - A renowned sculptor from Nepal, Pentsa, meticulously crafted a magnificent bronze statue of Guru Rinpoche to serve as the main image of the temple. However, during the statue's transportation to Taktshang, the porters encountered a narrow section of the trail known as Demig Gocha. Fearing they might drop the precious statue, they refused to proceed.
Legend has it that night, the statue itself spoke, insisting it should not be dismantled but rather awaited a special carrier. True to the prophecy, Singye Samdrup, now in human form, miraculously appeared the next morning and shouldered the weighty statue, safely delivering it to its destination inside the newly constructed Taktshang temple. The statue is said to have spoken in 1951 as well.
Fire Destruction - Unfortunately, a devastating fire engulfed Tiger’s Nest Monastery in 1998, causing extensive damage to its wooden structures, intricate carvings, and precious murals. However, through dedicated efforts, the restoration work was completed in 2005, allowing visitors like us to witness its splendor today.
Inside the Monastery - There are strict conditions for entry inside the pilgrimage site. You cannot take shoes, cellphones, cameras, or any kind of electronic equipment inside. You need to deposit everything at the counter outside the monastery. One can see the Butter Lamp Room. Here there are endless rows of bowl-sized butter lamps glowing to honor lost loved ones. After offering prayers, the caretaker offers a saffron-infused holy water from a vessel. This holy water meant to wash away the sins as we drink and wipe some on hair.
Our guide said, there are total 8 temples inside the Monastery. Four temples are main once and remaining once are small temples. Following temples can be visited at Tiger's Nest Monastery.
- Guru Druphu
- Guru Sungjoenmai Lhakhang
- Kuenra Lhakhang
- Choeten Lhakhang
- Guru Tshengyed Lhakhang
- Droloe Lhakhang
- Namsey Lhakhang
- Tshepamed Lhakhang
- Neypoi Lhakhang
Paro Stay
During our stay in Paro, we spent two nights at the tranquil Lhayhuel Resort and Spa. Although the hotel was situated a distance away from Paro Town, the serene atmosphere, peaceful surroundings, and breathtaking views of Paro International Airport from the resort made it a truly worthwhile experience.
Early Morning Start
The previous evening, our guide Jampel advised us to embark on our hike early in the morning to evade the scorching sun later in the day. We agreed to commence between 6:30 and 7:00 a.m., ensuring we packed breakfast from the hotel. By 6:30 a.m., we were all set, though we took the opportunity to snap photos around the resort while waiting for the children to get ready. From the resort, we had a clear view of the Paro International Airport, allowing us to capture mesmerizing moments of airplanes taking off and landing.
The hotel's hospitality extended to meticulously packing breakfast for us, including thoughtful arrangements for our guide and driver
Paro hotel to Tiger's Nest Parking Area
With everything in order, we set off from the hotel promptly at 7:00 a.m. The journey to the Tiger's Nest parking area covered approximately 15 kilometers and lasted 35 minutes. The drive was a spectacle in itself, offering picturesque views of the meandering Paro Chu River alongside the road. The weather was favorable, with a pleasant cloud cover, ideal for our hiking adventure.
Upon reaching the parking area, we opted to enjoy our breakfast before embarking on the hike. Our guide, observing a 16-hour fasting period between meals, chose to forgo breakfast. Meanwhile, he purchased entrance tickets for us. The entrance fee was Rs 1000/- per adult, payable at the counter conveniently located in the parking area. Our guide informed us that if someone opted solely for the hike without entering the monastery, they could skip paying the entrance fee. Throughout the hike, our guide remained by our side.
View of Taktsang or Tiger's Nest from Parking Area.
Tiger's Nest Trek Details
The Tiger’s Nest Monastery sits perched on the side of a Himalayan mountain at an elevation of 3,120 meters (10,240 feet), with a near-vertical climb of about 900 meters (3,000 feet). Given that the city of Paro is already situated at 7,000 feet, this places the Tiger’s Nest at an impressive 10,000 feet above sea level. The complete trek is approx 4-5 kms and took us 4 hours to reach monastery (including 1 hour at Cafe).
The trek to the Tiger’s Nest Monastery in Bhutan can be divided into two main parts:
- The main trail offers gradual ascents and relatively less strenuous hiking. However, we occasionally took shortcuts that were steeper but helped save time.
- The side trail, although cutting down on hiking time, is considerably steeper and is recommended mainly for seasoned trekkers. Beginners might find it quite challenging.
Along the trek, three significant landmarks stand out:
- The Cafeteria, marking the halfway point of the journey, where one can enjoy a quick lunch. Bringing your own refreshments is a more budget-friendly option.
- The first viewing point, offering a splendid initial view of the monastery.
- Finally, the monastery itself, which captivates all trekkers from afar, with the continuous chanting of mantras motivating their pace.
Hiking Starts
Getting to the Tiger's Nest in Bhutan is no easy feat. However, every Rupee spent and every drop of sweat shed during the trek to the monastery is absolutely worth it. At the start of hike point, hiking sticks were available for rent at 100 Nu. Reflecting on my experience, I realized the value of having a stick.
After freshening up at the restroom located in the parking area, we ascended through a couple of fields until we reached the base of the cliff, where locals kept mules and horses available for hire. Despite the convenience, we opted against using horses for two main reasons:
- We wanted to savor the journey and experience the satisfaction of reaching the Tiger’s Nest on our own.
- Riding horses only takes you halfway up; the second half of the trek is notably more challenging.
On the way, one can see the details of the Taktsang Heritage Forest.
As you trek, you will first reach to an area, where locals kept mules and horses for hire. You'll encounter towering pine trees and refreshing cold breezes that invigorate your spirit.
Gentle climb into the pine forests.
The ascent started off seeming manageable, but gradually transformed into a steep and challenging trail. The trail is very beautiful and covered with dense tall pine trees.
Further along the trek, we encountered small shrines housing water-run prayer wheels, adding to the spiritual ambiance of the journey
We opted to take a rest for a while at the tables conveniently placed nearby these shrines.
We also made a conscious decision to take breaks every 10 minutes to ensure we didn't exhaust ourselves entirely along the challenging ascent.
During our ascent, we were able capture a few bird species through our camera lenses, adding to the richness of our experience on the trail.
We caught our first glimpse of the Tiger's Nest as we made our way towards the Taktsang Cafe, a sigh of relief hope to reach main monastery soon.
We were unstoppable in our quest to capture every moment of this memorable trek
Once you spot the prayer bells, you know you've reached the halfway point on your trail to Tiger's Nest. The prayer wheels made happy.
To the right of the prayer bells, a small trail leads to the Taktshang Cafeteria
Entrance gate for Taktshang Cafeteria
Many trekkers choose to take a break at this cafeteria to refresh and enjoy lunch before continuing their onward journey to Tiger's Nest.
It took us just over 1.5 hours to reach the Cafeteria from the Parking area.
It was our 21st wedding anniversary, we were fortunate enough to celebrate it in front of the Taktsang Monastery. Our eldest son, Prathamesh, surprised us with a sweet treat - an indulgent puff pastry overloaded with chocolate, sourced from the cafeteria, making our anniversary celebration even more memorable.
From the Cafeteria, the Tiger's Nest still appears as a tiny object perched on the mountain cliff, emphasizing the scale and grandeur of the journey ahead.
After a brief break of about 45 minutes, we resumed our onward journey.
The trek from the cafeteria to the first viewpoint is relatively flat and easy.
The view of Tiger's Nest from the first viewpoint is truly mesmerizing. One can't help but be captivated by the sight of the monastery, gazing at it in awe.
Continuing trek, you'll reach the second viewpoint in about 5 to 7 minutes. The second Viewpoint – totally awestruck by the beauty. The view of the monastery and the surrounding valley from here is simply breathtaking.
Taktsang was just 800 steps away from this spot. From the second viewpoint, you'll need to descend approximately 600 steps before encountering a section with around 200 ascending steps.
Upon descending the 600 steps, you'll see a stair trail plunged into a bridge and a striking waterfall which is spanning the bridge cascaded into a sacred pool. Though the water flow might not have been abundant, the cool breezes and the picturesque view were truly spectacular to behold.
Our guide Jampel was happy to strike a pose for a photo near the waterfall.
After capturing some snapshots by the waterfall, we ascended approximately 200 steps, passing through a gate before reaching the security cabin. Upon reaching the security cabin, our guide informed us that all mobile phones and baggage needed to be stored in lockers. He assisted us with the registration process and securing a locker, where we placed our backpacks.
Deprived of my mobile phone amidst such a spectacular site, I couldn't help but feel handicapped, regretting the missed opportunity to capture the monument through my camera lens.
Trekking Down
We cherished peaceful moments inside the Tiger's Nest, soaking in the serene atmosphere. The breathtaking view of the valley from Tiger's Nest left us awe-struck. After retrieving our bags from the locker, we commenced our hike back. The return journey was equally revered and offered new perspectives along the way. We started around 12.45 p.m., and reached parking area by 2.45 p.m.
My descend was quicker than expected; but had to be careful at the muddy slippery stretches, but equally dramatic. You feel calm and relaxed from inside after this spiritual journey.
We could see the Paro Valley view while ascending up from the stairs area.
The beautiful trail while hiking back.
One of the resting places on the Tiger’s Nest hike.
On reaching back to parking area, we have to return back the hiking stick.
Facts
Entrance Fees
During our visit to Tiger's Nest in May 2024, an entrance fee of 1,000 Nu was imposed for all adult visitors.
Note, Indian Rupees are widely accepted everywhere in Bhutan.
Altitude
The Tiger’s Nest Monastery sits at an elevation of 3,120 meters (10,240 ft), with a near-vertical climb of about 900 meters (3,000 ft) above the Paro Valley.
Distance and Time
The Tiger's Nest trek distance is 5/6 Kms from the base. It take 6/7 hours to complete the trek.
You should keep an entire day for the trek. It takes about 3+ hours to reach there, 1 hour to visit the monastery, and 1 to 2 hour to get down.
Timing
Trek timings for the Tiger’s Nest Monastery are from 8 am to 5 pm
What to Carry
1. Hiking sticks - are available for rent from the entrance point for 100 Nu.
2. It is recommended to carry a jackets as the weather can change in an instant and it is almost always cold at over 3000m altitude.
This featured blog entry was written by nileshtravel from the blog Day Hike to the Tiger’s Nest Monastery.
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