Joy's Thimphu Travels: Tiger's Nest Monastery

It’s been another really busy week and taken me until Friday to have time to post this blog about last Sunday’s adventure. Ugyen and I drove to Paro and made the climb up to Taktsang Lhakhang, commonly known as Tiger’s Nest Monastery. And what a climb it was! Reaching the monastery requires an arduous climb up a narrow winding path that takes you from an initial 7,000 ft up to 10,000 ft in the clouds. The views and the climb are both breathtaking. I thought I’d brave the entire climb on foot, but partway up I opted for a passing pony and rode it to a point about 2/3 up. No ponies are allowed beyond that point because the last section of the hike takes you up and down some 850 steps to the temple itself. Along the way we passed tall waterfalls and several small temples, meditation huts, and prayer wheels.

Vendors at beginning of the trail

One of the waterfalls on the way

It's going to be a loooonnnggggg walk!

Deciding to take some help from the pony

Even the pony needed a drink to make it all the way!

Monk at prayer wheel on the way up

The monastery itself is indescribable. Here’s a link if you’d like to read more detail about this amazing place (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paro_Taktsang) that was first built in 1692. The wonder of how they built this temple that literally hangs on the side of a cliff is enough to make you believe the many legends surrounding the place. It is said that Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche) flew here from Tibet on the back of a tigress. Rinpoche is a highly revered guru, sometimes referred to as the second Buddha and is credited with bringing Buddhism to Bhutan. The many temples are built around a cave where he meditated for 3 years, 3 months, 3 days, and 3 hours. The temples are connected by various winding halls and stairways. No photos are permitted inside, so you’ll have to take my word that, inside and out, this was the most impressive monastery I have visited so far.

We began the ascent at about 10:30 am and were back on the bottom around 4 pm. No ponies can be ridden for the steep walk down. My hips and knees complained every step of the way, and my muscles were sore for nearly three days after, but it was worth every step.