Taktsang, the Tiger's Nest, is a group of temples built on to a cliff 10 km north of Paro. It is the best known sight in Bhutan, and the only way to reach it is on foot.
The figures
| Height of the monastery | 3,120 m, about 900 m above the floor of the Paro valley |
| Climb on foot | A little over 500 m, from the car park |
| Distance | 6 to 7 km there and back |
| Time | 4 to 5 hours there and back, with the visit |
| Entry fee | Nu. 1,000 for each adult. Under-18s pay half and children under 5 nothing |
| Guide | Required to enter |
You will see "900 m" quoted as the climb. That is the monastery's height above the valley floor. The road takes you up the first part, and the walk from the car park is a little over 500 m.
How hard is it?
It is a steady uphill walk on a wide, well-made path, not a climb. There is nothing to scramble over. What makes it tiring is the height: you start at about 2,600 m and finish above 3,100 m, where there is noticeably less air.
Most people in ordinary health reach the monastery. Go slowly from the first step, drink plenty of water, and stop when you need to. Nobody is timing you.
The walk, stage by stage
From the car park to the viewpoint
The path climbs through pine forest, past a prayer wheel turned by a stream near the start. After about an hour, more if you are taking it gently, you reach a cafeteria on a spur with a full view of the monastery across the gorge. Tea is served, and this is a perfectly good place to stop if you would rather not go on.
From the viewpoint to the monastery
The path climbs again to a second viewpoint, level with the monastery and close enough to photograph it. From there a long flight of stone steps leads down to a bridge beside a waterfall, which drops about 60 m, and up again to the gate.
Inside
There are four main temples, built around the cave where Guru Padmasambhava is said to have meditated. Shoes come off, and photography is not allowed.
The story
By tradition Guru Padmasambhava, who brought Buddhism to Bhutan, flew to this cliff in the eighth century on the back of a tigress, and meditated in a cave here. Taktsang means "tiger's lair".
The temples were built around the cave in 1692 by Tenzin Rabgye, then the ruler of Bhutan. A fire on 19 April 1998 destroyed much of the complex. It was rebuilt, and the restoration was completed in 2005.
What to wear and bring
- Walking shoes or boots with a good grip. The path is dusty when dry and slippery after rain.
- Long trousers and a top with long sleeves, which you need to enter the temples.
- A warm layer. It is cool in the shade and at the top, even on a sunny day.
- At least a litre of water, a sun hat and sunscreen.
- Walking poles, if you use them. They help most on the way down.
When to go
Start early. The path is cooler and emptier in the first hours of the day, and you are back down for a late lunch.
As for which day: the last full one. Paro is at about 2,250 m, and most visitors have just flown in from near sea level. After several days in the country the same walk is far easier. Every one of our itineraries keeps the Tiger's Nest for the end for that reason.
Riding part of the way
Another way in
The Bumdra trek spends a night in camp on the ridge above, and comes down to the Tiger's Nest from behind, by a path very few visitors use.
