Paro Taktsang Monastery

Paro Taktsang Monastery

Constructed in 1692, Paro Taktsang Monastery was badly damaged by a fire and later reconstructed in 1998. It is the most sacred Buddhist temple in Bhutan and is acclaimed as one of the world’s top ten superlative temples. Located on a 3,000-foot-high cliff in the Paro Valley, the monastery is said to be the site where the legendary second Buddha, Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava), flew on the back of a tiger and meditated in a cave that is now part of the temple complex—making it a hallowed place for Buddhist teachings.

Paro Taktsang Monastery is a site that combines breathtaking scenery with exquisite artistry. Towering cypress trees, dozens of meters high, are draped with tufts of moss. A waterfall cascades down in front of the temple’s entrance, flowing over layers of rocks into a deep pool before dropping hundreds of meters into the valley below. None of the monastery’s halls are very large, and many are irregularly built along the rugged mountainside. The murals were all first painted on cloth and then affixed to the walls, similar to the thangka painting technique. This style of painted murals is more delicate than those directly painted on walls, often depicting deities such as Vajrakila. In addition, the copper statues of Buddhas in the various halls are grand in scale, but due to the small size of the rooms, visitors are unable to closely admire these intricate works in their entirety.