Bhutan is a mysterious country with a population of only about 800,000 people, surrounded by high mountains, including 20 mountains higher than 7000m. Every year, this place welcomes about 300,000 visitors travel international, including 200,000 visitors from Asian countries.
In addition to the group of tourists coming to Bhutan, a country located in the middle of China In China and India, there are also groups of tourists coming to worship in the Buddhist kingdom with many ancient and sacred fortresses, monasteries, temples scattered on mountain slopes across the country.
Bhutan’s most famous Buddhist monastery that every tourist knows Coming to Tiger’s Nest, an ancient monastery perched on a 900m high cliff right on the mouth of the Paro valley (about 900m above the valley floor) at an altitude of 3,108m above sea level.
Traditional Legend has it that in the past Padmasambhava – who was instrumental in spreading Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhism to Bhutan – rode on the back of a tigress to come here and meditated in this place.
That’s why the monastery is called Tiger’s Nest. The monastery’s first temple was built in 1692 around the Taktsang Senge Samdup cave where Padmasambhava is said to have meditated for three years, three months, three weeks, three days and three hours in the 8th century.< /p>
According to Nima Yoezer, a Bhutanese tour guide, every Bhutanese person makes a pilgrimage to Tiger’s Nest at least once in their life.
It is believed that all prayers will be granted and come true and those who come here will have the physical and mental strength to overcome through the hardships and challenges ahead,” Mr. Nima shared.
Starting point to climb Tiger’s Nest is located about 10km from Paro town but takes up to 30 minutes by car due to the narrow and winding road.
The distance from the starting point in the valley to the monastery is about 6km long. The road is quite steep and winding when climbing and descending, mainly under ancient pine and oak forests.
After about 2 hours of walking, half way we stopped at Taktshang cafe to rest. rest. The restaurant has a very beautiful view overlooking the Tiger’s Nest monastery located precariously on top of the green mountain in front.
Every year there are tens of thousands of tourists trying to conquer Tiger’s Nest, but according to reviews, Mr. Tshering Tashi Director of Jojos Adventure Bhutan Tourism Company only about 60-70% of tourists succeed.
The remaining people have to give up halfway due to health reasons and they often Stop at the small temple next to Taktshang cafe where you can see the entire Tiger’s Nest monastery and worship from afar.
The best check-in point for taking photos is the cliff about 20 minutes walk from the monastery. From here you can look down and photograph the monastery at a close distance.
It takes about 2 5-3 hours for visitors to climb from the foot of the mountain to the top and about 2-2 5 hours from the top. monastery down at the foot of the mountain. It only takes local people about 45-60 minutes to reach the top.
Visitors can experience riding a horse up near the monastery and then walk about 400 steps up to the monastery’s gate. However, horses can only take tourists up, visitors must go down the mountain themselves for safety reasons.
There are currently about 50-60 monks living and practicing in the monastery. The day we arrived, there were 150 young Bhutanese monks on pilgrimage here. Besides local people and Vietnamese tourist groups, we also met two tourist groups of 20 people from the US and Europe.
Our group is not Buddhist but came to Bhutan to travel for 12 days and nights and come here to visit the ancient and sacred monastery. There was one person in my group who was in a wheelchair, but with the help of local people, she also successfully went to the monastery,” said 45-year-old Peter from New York.
Tiger’s Nest Monastery includes 4 main shrines with large elaborately carved statues as well as many miniature frescoes. depicts Padmasambhava practicing and propagating the Dharma of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and Buddhist deities.
Unfortunately, most monasteries in Bhutan do not allow photography inside to show respect as well as to protect the relics.
Visitors visiting the monastery are invited by the monks here to participate in prayers and then blessed by the abbots. each person.
After visiting the shrines and praying, we spent time looking at the green valley and the vast jungle below and felt truly at peace.
The best time to visit Tiger’s Nest is in the fall when the climate is cool and in Spring is when the trees bud and bloom. In summer the weather is hot and in winter the roads are covered with snow and slippery so usually only local people come here at this time.
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