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Nest of Tigress monastery in Bhutan

08/05/201208/05/2019 by Viola

Nest of Tigress monastery in Bhutan
Built in 1692 The Taktsang Palphug Monastery is one of the most famous and holy monasteries in Bhutan. Situated at an altitude of 3120 meters above sea level, it’s name means “Nest of Tigress.” According to legend, Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche) was transported into this cave, sitting on the tigress, which has become his wife Yeshe Tsogyal. On April 19, 1998 the monastery almost completely burned down, killing a few monks. However, in a short time the monastery has been restored. Old photographs and diaries were used to make the reconstruction as close to the original as possible. The monastery consists of seven temples, and tourists may visit each of them. By the way, you can get there on foot or by mule. Undoubtedly, the place is worth the efforts to reach there. You are in heaven and cloud nine.

According to the legend, Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche) flew to this location from Tibet on the back of a tigress from Khenpajong. This place was consecrated to tame the Tiger demon.

However, an alternative legend holds that a former wife of an emperor, known as Yeshe Tsogyal, willingly became a disciple of Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambahva) in Tibet. She transformed herself into a tigress and carried the Guru on her back from Tibet to the present location of the Taktsang in Bhutan. In one of the caves here, the Guru then performed meditation and emerged in eight incarnated forms and the place became holy. Subsequently, the place came to be known as the “Tiger’s Nest”.