
#32 Globally
π Paro Taktsang (Tiger's Nest Monastery)
Bhutan
About This Sacred Site
Paro Taktsang, the Tiger's Nest Monastery, is Bhutan's most iconic sacred site and one of the most dramatic locations of any religious building in the world. Clinging to a sheer cliff face 900 meters above the Paro Valley, the monastery was built in 1692 around the cave where Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava) is said to have flown on the back of a tigress and meditated for three years. It is considered the most sacred site in Bhutan.
Key Facts
- β’Perched at 3,120 meters above sea level on a cliff face
- β’Built in 1692 around a sacred cave used for meditation since the 8th century
- β’Named after the legend of Guru Rinpoche riding a tigress to this spot
- β’Destroyed by fire in 1998 and meticulously restored by 2005
- β’The hike to reach the monastery takes 2-3 hours on foot
Location
Coordinates: 27.4914, 89.3636





