The Tiger's Nest monastery, nestled precariously between two cliffs, looks as ethereal as its placement seems formidable. The monastery is built in the traditional Bhutanese architecture style with solid white walls and square slanted roofs. More than anything else, it has become a cultural and aesthetic symbol for the country and a place that unites travellers from across the globe.
The base camp of the trek is usually lined with vendors and food stalls, with an area occupied by mules. The 3000-metre climb to the Taktsang monastery, more popularly known as the Tiger's Nest, starts steady, gradually increasing the incline. You start at the bottom when the monastery still looks like a mirage. The impossible architecture of the monastery cupped in between sharp cliff faces seems like something out of a fantasy book. The climb uphill starts a bit rough, with a lot of huffing and mini-breaks for at least the first few minutes, and then it goes smoother. The terrain is pebbly, but the broad, uneven steps make climbing easier. Throughout the way, sunlight filters in through the gaps in the trees as my eyes catch the colours of the swaying prayer flags–red, yellow, green, white, and blue–all fluttering like kites in the crisp breeze. Some people are being carried on mules until the mid-way mark, where there is a cafeteria. The climb after that gets less strenuous, but many people halt their hike at this point. We stopped for around 15 minutes to catch our breath at the cafe and then resumed our journey.
It takes four to five hours to complete the trek, the climb and the descent. If you have an average fitness level, you can finish the trek without much difficulty. After nearly two gruelling hours and some much-needed picture breaks later, I spotted the monastery, perched on the cliff. It is the most stunning monastery I have ever seen. The Paro Taktsang looms impossibly on a cliff face in all its brocaded beauty.
According to the story, the Guru Padmasambhava (Lotus-born) flew on a tigress's back to take refuge in the caves that are now part of the monastery. He is said to have meditated for three years, three months, and three days without any food or water to drive away evil forces from the region.
Before entering the interior chambers of the monastery, you are supposed to submit your bags, cameras, mobile phones and any other carry-on items that you have. You will experience a sudden drop in temperature as soon as you enter the caves, so it is advised to carry a light jacket. There are no windows in the first storey; they only appear on the upper levels of the monastery. The stone steps guide us to the chambers with different incarnations and forms of the Buddha. One of the biggest ones survived the fire of 1998 that nearly destroyed the entire building. The current structure is a result of a restoration project that finished in 2004. There are four temples within the entire complex, and in each, the walls are covered with thangkas, and the altars are filled with various offerings from visitors.
Outside, I have a humbling experience. I stand at the edge of the bannisters admiring the bird's eye view of Paro. Zeroing in on the starting point of our trek from above, I feel staggering gratitude for what my body is capable of.
The Information
Getting there: The Paro International Airport is the nearest airport, around a 20-minute drive away.
Places to stay: There are a number of homestays and hotels near the base camp that you can stay at under a budget. For more luxurious accommodation, venture into the main town, where there are bigger hotels and resorts.
Things to carry: Carry a water bottle and some light snacks in a small backpack before starting the trek. Sturdy shoes and waterproof clothing are recommended since it often rains in Paro.
Best time to visit: The summer months between May and October are the best times to do the trek, with the weather being in your favour.
