Bhutan – Adventurous journey to Taktsang Monastery, the symbolic temple of Bhutan

An adventurous trip to Taktsang Monastery

Are you planning a trip dedicated to trekking in Bhutan and you don’t know what to choose? We will help you, proposing you as a destination to reach the Taktsang monastery, also known by the nickname of Tiger’s Den. Click the link now and discover our trekking trip to reach the famous Taktsang monastery in Bhutan by walking! This sacred site, which is one of the most important in Bhutan, is perched on a precipitous peak at 3,120 meters above sea level and 10 kilometers north of the city of Paro. The rocks are conformed to vertical shapes and the buildings of the monastery were built on the side of the mountain. Although overall the temple appears almost “magically” located in its position, the structure has access from many directions: to the north-west through a path in the forest, from the south through the road usually traveled by devotees, and to the north through a passage called ” a thousand fairies “. Furthermore, along the road of the devotees, there is also a mule track that passes through a pine forest decorated with many colored flags left by the faithful and usually the whole complex is covered by a very suggestive blanket of clouds. Along the path to reach the temple, there are other structures, such as the Lakhang (the village of monks attached to the temple) and the temple of Urgyan Tsemo, which, like the main monastery, is located on the rocky plateau near a lower precipice. Also on this same path, there is a 60-meter waterfall which is considered sacred and which creates a riverbed that can be crossed via a bridge, which takes us to the temple, where the path ends. However, each structure has a balcony that allows a romantic view of the extraordinary scenery of the Paro valley below. Unfortunately, on April 19, 1998, a fire broke out in the main building of the monastic complex, which contained valuable paintings, artifacts, and statues and which also caused the death of a monk. The fire is believed to have been caused by electrical shorts or flickering butter lamps illuminating the hanging tapestries. Consequently, the restoration work was started, which ended in 2005. The temple complex was started in its construction in 1692 around the Taktsang Senge Samdup cave where Guru Padmasambhava, or the founder of Tibetan Buddhism, is said to have meditated on the inside it for three months in the eighth century. According to one of the various popular legends, it is said that the guru was transported from Tibet to this place on the back of a tiger, hence the epithet of the tiger’s den derived from this story. Even today, this figure is celebrated with a popular festival, called Tsechu, which is held every year between March and April in the Paro valley. To conclude, the figure of Tenzin Rabgye, or the one who begins the construction work, is also venerated, as it is believed that he was the reincarnation of the guru Padmasambhava himself and that he was the architect of miracles and prodigious events. Certainly a place with unparalleled charm, which cannot fail to attract anyone who comes here!