Tiger's Nest Monastery in Paro, Bhutan

Perched precariously on the edge of a cliff in the Paro Valley is the Tiger's Nest or Paro Taktsang Monastery, one of Bhutan's sacred and most iconic temples. The site is reached by a 2-hour hike that climbs 900 meters and ends with 700 steps leading up to the monastery.

The original temple was built in 1692 around the cave where Guru Rinpoche, the founder of Bhutanese Buddhism, meditated for 3 years, 3 months, 3 days and 3 hours in the 7th century.

According to legend, Guru Rinpoche flew into the cave on the back of a tiger. He then meditated inside the cave to subdue the evil demons living in the cave and transform them into gods.

Hence the name of the monastery. The cave has been considered a holy place ever since. Today it is still a working monastery with monks still living here.

It is the most visited place in Bhutan and the reason why many tourists come to Bhutan.

Hiking is quite popular. If you are going to the temple on foot, leave early as the trail will be very crowded. The temple is located at 3120 meters, so many people spend a few days in Bhutan to acclimatize to the altitude before going on the trek.