Visiting Bhutan's Tiger's Nest Monastery

The Tiger Nest Monastery is one of the most magnificent sights to behold in Bhutan. Also known as Paro Takstang, the Tiger Nest Monastery is located in Paro, Bhutan and no trip to Bhutan is complete without visiting this incredible sacred site.

What is Bhutan’s Tiger Nest Monastery?

Bhutan’s Tiger Nest Monastery is a collection of four Buddhist temples perched 900 meters above the ground on a cliff in Paro. Legend has it that Guru Rinpoche flew on the back of his tigress to this very spot centuries ago and meditated. This significant event marks the introduction of Buddhism to Bhutan. In around 1692, the monastery was built at the same spot which then came to be known as the Tiger’s Nest Monastery.

The monastery is still functional today and Buddhist monks reside in the residential area of the monastery as well. Located about 6 miles north of the city Paro, you will need to hike to the monastery. The hiking trail is covered by beautiful pine trees and makes it a wonderful activity to indulge in.

Hiking to the Tiger’s Nest Monastery

The hike takes about 2 hours to finish. There is a small cafeteria halfway through the hike to help hikers refresh a bit. This is also the first viewpoint of the monastery. The beautiful monastery can be viewed in its full glory from this point and on colder or rainier days, you can witness a light blanket of fog mystifyingly covering the monastery. After you reach the final viewpoint, which is about half an hour from the cafeteria, you will need to cross a small bridge and then climb up the stairs to finally reach the monastery.

Tips when visiting the Tiger’s Nest Monastery

The UNESCO World Heritage site allows no photography inside the monastery. You will also need to be wearing long pants to enter the place and will be required to leave all your belongings in the courtyard outside.

You will need to set aside a whole day to make the trip to Bhutan’s Tiger Nest Monastery but rest assured, the marvelous place is worth the time.