Who built Paro Taktsang?
Guru Padmasambhava
This is the holiest place and the most famous building in Bhutan. The complex was built in 1692, in Guru Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche, founder of Tibetan Buddhism) meditated for 3 years, 3 months, 3 weeks and 3 hours. According to legend, Guru came to this place where the temple was built.
What is Paro Taktsang used for?
Paro Taktsang is a temple perched high in the Himalaya mountains of Bhutan. It was originally just a network of caves used for meditation by Padma Sambhava, the man who brought Buddhism to Bhutan. In 1692, Tenzin Rabgye, the ruler of Bhutan, oversaw the building of the temple on the meditation site.
Why is Paro Taktsang sacred?
The Tiger’s Nest, known to the Bhutanese as Taktsang, is a sacred cave in the Paro Valley in western Bhutan. This cave is just one example of how a sacred site embodies Bhutanese religious belief and historical understanding. The geology of the Paro Valley reflects that of the middle Himalayas.
How do you get to Paro Taktsang?
You can hire a taxi to reach Paro Taktsang base. It will take you around 30-40 minutes in a car/ taxi to reach the starting point of trail to Taktsang from lower Paro town. You should ideally reach Paro the day before and start your hike in the morning around at 8 AM.
Where is the Paro Taktsang monastery in Bhutan?
View of Paro Taktsang. Location within Bhutan. Paro Taktsang (Dzongkha: སྤ་གྲོ་སྟག་ཚང་, also known as the Taktsang Palphug Monastery and the Tiger’s Nest), is a prominent Himalayan Buddhist sacred site and the temple complex is located in the cliffside of the upper Paro valley in Bhutan.
Where is the Tiger’s Nest monastery in Bhutan?
Perched at an attitude of 3120mt on the precipitous cliff Paro Taktsang Monastery is situated in the upper valley of Paro. In the native language the word Taktsang stands for “The Tiger’s Nest”. Paro Taktsang Monastery is a Buddhist temple complex which is considered as the most iconic landmark in Bhutan.
Are there any Buddhist monks in Paro valley?
Monks who practice Vajrayana Buddhism (the formal State Religion of Bhutan) at this cave monastery live here for three years and rarely go down to the Paro valley. Beside the main buildings of the Tiger nest monastery, there are also some structures which are present near the monastery and are famous.
When did Paro Taktsang Palphug Monastery catch on fire?
The Taktsang Palphug Monastery is one of the most famous touristic destinations of the country and the cultural icon of Bhutan. On April 19, 1998, a fire broke out in the main building of the monastery complex, which contained valuable paintings, artifacts and statues.
