1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #255 - Tiger's Nest Monastery (Taktsang), Paro

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #255

- Tiger's Nest Monastery (Taktsang), Paro

 

(To fully appreciate the true beauty of this monastery, one has to climb it. No words can fully describe the breathtaking beauty of Tiger's Nest Taktsang Monastery. It simply defies logic - that a monastery of this size can be built on a cliff-edge, almost 3200m above sea-level. To get to it requires a heart-thumping 3-hour uphill hike, and another 2hours coming back down. With the thin air here and forgoing the donkey-ride, it was pretty tough for me - almost as tough as my hike up Huayna Picchu, Peru last year [click here: Huayna Picchu climb]. Once up there, it was a pure visual feast, with even a 200ft waterfall right before entering its gate - watch the video below for a real feel, as we saw it for the 1st time. We took the opportunity to say our prayers in 1 of several ornate prayer halls inside, saying thanks for a safe and unforgettable journey in Bhutan. As Hillary said, I conquered myself. But our guide,Tashi, said it best, "You will leave here a little bit changed, like a small drop of water will change the surface of a lake". Yes, I made it to Tiger's Nest, post-cancer - and I am changed!)