A gateway to the last Himalayan kingdom, Paro is the little town of Bhutan situated at the banks of the Paro (or Pa). Apart from holding its simplicity and blessing of the nature’s finest views, this town also shelters the ancient monasteries. Among these architectural treasures, Paro Taktsang monastery stands out for its incredible location and magnificent beauty.
It was first built in 1692 at a cave where Guru Rimpoche meditated in the 7th century A.D. Legend states that Guru Rimpoche flew to the site atop the back of a tigress and meditated in the cave for 3 years, 3 months, 3 days and 3 hours in order to subdue evil demons residing within it. The cave has been considered a sacred site ever since and many famous saints have travelled to meditate in it.
Taktsang Lhakhang is located approximately 10 km north of Paro town at an altitude of 3.120 m. In order to arrive at the temple visitors must trek for around 2-3 hours through beautiful, shady pine forests. No trip to Bhutan would be complete without a visit to this remarkable heritage site.
