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Idea Description
General Information
Description
Paro Taktsang or Taktsang Palphug Monastery (also known as The Tiger's Nest) is a Buddhist sacred site and temple complex in Paro valley in Kingdom of Bhutan. The monastery is 6.2 miles (10 km) to the north of town Paro. It is sitting on a spectacular cliff at 10,240 ft (3,120 m) altitude. It hangs about 3,000 ft (900 m) above Paro valley. Monastery structures are built into the rock face of the mountain.
Taktsang Tiger’s Nest is a temple complex built around the Taktsang Senge Samdup cave. According to the legend, the location of the monastery is the place where Guru Rinpoche (see list of alternative names below), the founder of Bhutanese Vajrayana Buddhism (the formal State Religion of Bhutan), flew on the back of a tigress in 747 AD. During his journey through Tibet and Bhutan Guru Rinpoche meditated in many caves (taktsangs) but announced Paro Taktsang to be a sacred place (palphug) for meditation. The site and the sacred cave became the place of intensive pilgrimage for many ordinary people, Tibetan saints and distinguished figures who had been coming to Taktsang to meditate.
In 1692 the 4th Druk Desi (the secular ruler of Bhutan) Tenzin Rabgye laid the foundation for the temple dedicated to Guru Rinpoche. In 1694 construction of the main two story temple around the holy cave was completed.
The monastery consists of four main buildings and living quarters for monks. The buildings are constructed around eight caves and perfectly adjusted to the granite parapets and rocky terrain. Steps, stairs and passages carved in the rocks and wooden bridges connect various structures transforming them into one impressive and intricate complex. For centuries the monastery was untouched by elements until fire in 1998 when the Paro Taktsang and many of the artifacts it held were destroyed. After intensive work the complex was restored in 2005.
In various places (India, China, Mongolia, Tibet, etc.) Guru Rinpoche is known under different alternative names. One the most frequently used names is Padmasambhava. Other names are Orgyen Guru, Loppon Rinpoche, Padum, Padmakara, Saroruha Vajra, Lovon Badmajunai. All these names refer to the same person - a sage guru from Oḍḍiyāna (small country in early medieval India) credited for spreading Vajrayana Buddhism to Bhutan, Tibet and some other countries in the 8th century.
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What Makes It Special
Taktsang Palphug Monastery is the source of the Buddhism in Bhutan. It represents the legendary historic and spiritual roots of the last remaining Himalayan Kingdom - Kingdom of Bhutan. The encounter with pristine traditional Tibetan religion and culture of Buddhist festivals, monasteries and shrines makes it special for anyone who wants to experience the enchantment one of the world’s most mysterious place, a distant and secluded hideaway of great beauty and peacefulness. The temple complex itself represents great artistic and architectural value. Terraces added to the design of each building give an opportunity to enjoy the stunning views of the valley.
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Directions To Destination
While planning your trip to Paro Taktsang keep in mind that most visits to Bhutan are organized and only with a tourist group. Recently, some travel companies, for example, Asia Transpacific Journeys (asiatranspacific.com), offer personalized trips to Bhutan.
The best way to get to Paro, Bhutan is by air to Paro Airport (PBH), an international airport located in a Paro valley near town Paro in Bhutan. Druk Air (Royal Bhutan Airlines) and Buddha Air are two airlines available in Bhutan.
Druk Air (Royal Bhutan Airlines) services flights from Bangkok, Delhi, Kolkata, Dhaka, Kathmandu. Buddha Air started to serve Paro recently from Kathmandu. If you decide to enter the country via Kathmandu it will give you an unforgettable glimpse of the Himalaya. Keep in mind that connections via Kolkata or Dhaka are off the routes of the main airline direct flights.
When using Druk Air remember that, according to the airline's rules, the increase in fare after the ticket is issued may be collected during check-in.
If you arrive to Paro Airport and stay in Thimphu, the capital and largest city of Bhutan, the travel time to Paro is about two hours by car (about 40 miles or 65 km). The only means of transport in Bhutan is by motor vehicles. Roads are nicely built and well maintained and connect all major sightseeing places.
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Best Time To Go
Bhutan generally dry spring starts in early March and lasts until mid-April. Summer weather comes in mid-April with occasional showers and continues through the pre-monsoon rains of late June. Spring months March and April is the best time to visit as the days are warm and clear and visibility is at its best.
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Where To Stay
For those who want to stay in Paro close to Taktsang Palphug Monastery:
- Uma Paro (Paro, Bhutan), five-start hotel with rates from $330, a boutique luxury resort. Uma Paro sits on a wooded hill overlooking Paro.
- Zhiwa Lin (Satsam Chorten, Paro, Bhutan), five-star hotel; rates are from $250. Hotel has 45 rooms in a nice garden setting. It is located about five miles (8 km) from Paro and is close to the base for the climb up to Taktsangs monastery.
- Gangtey Palace Hotel (Gangtey, Paro, Bhutan) - rates from $30 to $50 with views of Paro town and Rinphung Dzong. This old hotel in the traditional Bhutanese style is an excellent alternative for budget travelers.
For those looking accommodation in Thimphu, the capital and largest city of Bhutan, we recommend Taj Tashi (Samten Lam Chubachu, Thimphu, Bhutan), a five star with rates from $430. Taj Tashi is a distinctively Bhutanese hotel with world class quality and taste. The hotel is 14 miles from Paro Airport.
All prices above are 2011.
Research and book hotels in or near Thimphu, Bhutan
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Activities
Useful Visitor Information and Tips
You can get to Taktsang Palphug Monastery by climbing a steep path or riding on the back of a horse or a donkey. On the way down there is a cabin where you can have a rest and some hot meal if you order it on your way up.
You will need: light cottons, linens and waterproof clothes during the day, light sweaters and jackets for the evenings in the valleys. In the mountains: warm clothing for the day and even warmer for the evenings. A good sturdy pair of shoes is essential on the rough terrain.
Paro is a historic town with many sacred sites and historical buildings scattered around the area. One of the interesting places to visit is Rinpung Dzong - Drukpa Kagyu Buddhist monastery and fortress built in 1649 as a defense against Tibetan invasions in Paro District in Bhutan. It houses the district Monastic Body and government administrative offices of Paro Dzongkhag.
A special spectacle in Bhutan is the festival Tsechu (meaning "day ten" in Bhutanese) which takes place in monasteries all over Bhutan and in the most sacred place Taktsang Palphug Monastery in honor of Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava). The dates of Paro Tshechu Festival change every year based on the Bhutanese Lunar calendar. The festival lasts for 5 days and held at the end of March or April according to Gregorian calendar. The monks perform mask dances and tell stories.The main ceremony is unfolding of the silk Thangka - a religious picture painted on a huge peace of silk known as a Thongdroel ("liberation" in Bhutanese). It is unfolded and shown to the public only for a few hours, at day break of the last day of the festival. Unfolding silk Thangka is one of the most sacred blessings in Bhutan.
While planning for your trip keep in mind that Bhutan tries to promote Bhutanese only services. For example, it is difficult to find alternatives even to fly to Bhutan other than using Bhutanese airlines. This may result in higher costs of your trip.
Although you can visit Taktsang Palphug Monastery as a day trip from Paro, we recommend to plan for several days to stay in the area to explore it. The Paro valley has many other attractions. One of them is the elegant Rinpung Dzong - a large Drukpa Kagyu Buddhist monastery and fortress in Paro District in Bhutan. Behind Rinpung Dzong, there is Ta Dzong - a castle watch tower built in 1651 on a high hillside to defend Bhutan from Tibetan invasions. Ta Dzong houses the National Museum since 1967. You can also visit the ruins of Drugyel Dzong ("Victorious Fortress") located 11 miles (18 km) from Paro - the place from which Tibetan invasions were repelled.
On a clear day one can get a view of Mount Jomolhari (Chhomolhari or Jomo'lhari) - the Mountain of Goddess (elevation of 7,314 m 24,000ft).
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Additional Information
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