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Title image - BAI takes you to: Bhutan

Bhutan Trip Dispatch

May 24, 2008 – In the Tiger’s Nest

Taktshang monastery

Arriving at the Taktshang Monastery

It’s our first full day in Bhutan, and we wanted to start things off right by visiting Taktshang Monastery.

Looking up at Taktshang Monastery

Looking up at Taktshang Monastery

In all of Asia there is truly no monastery more simply located, more mysterious, and more alluring than Taktshang, the Tiger’s Nest. It is perched on a cliff at a height of more than 800 meters above the valley floor. When you first see the monastery you can’t believe you might actually be able to reach it, but that was exactly what we wanted to do, and soon we were climbing the steep pathway.

Doc, Caroline, Dennis, Temba, and our Bhutanese guide Tsering trekked up the long trail. Inside the monastery we all felt awed by its beauty and its history. Dating back to the 7th Century, it has played a long and import role in the movement of Buddhism into Tibet and beyond.

The monastery is also wrapped in stories of flying tigresses and other legends that might seem fantastic to the outside world. But when you are here, it all seems quite plausible and certainly a rich part of this mysterious and wonderful culture.

Bhutan people love archery

We love archery!

We have heard there might be an archery tournament we can watch this afternoon before we drive north to Thimpu, the capital of Bhutan. We will continue to report each day of our adventures in this very scenic, friendly, and magnificent place, the Kingdom of Bhutan.

A morning briefing before setting out

A morning briefing before setting out

Doc and Temba setting off for more adventures

Doc and Temba setting off for more adventures