Paro Taktsang, also known as Tiger's Nest Monastery or Taktsang Palphug Monastery, is a sacred Buddhist monastery built into a cliff face about 3,000 feet above the Paro valley in Bhutan. It is one of the country's most iconic religious sites and one of its most visited.
What to expect
The monastery clings to the rock high above the valley floor, so the setting is as much a part of the visit as the buildings themselves. Most visitors come to see the monastery from the valley and to make the climb toward it, which is steep and takes time. Allow a full morning or afternoon, and wear sturdy shoes.
Because it is an active religious site, visitors are expected to dress modestly and behave with quiet respect, particularly inside the temples and while photographs are taken.
Around the monastery
- Paro Valley: The wider valley is a green, agricultural landscape, and the view of the cliff from below is among the reasons people come.
- Paro town: The town is the base for most trips to the monastery and offers places to stay, eat and arrange transport.
For practical questions before you travel, the monastery can be reached by telephone at +975-8-271017. The site's address is simply given as Paro Valley, Paro, Bhutan, so a local guide or driver is a sensible help for finding the trailhead.