Tigers Nest Monastery, Bhutan

Fans of stay in the atmosphere of solitude are attracted by the Paro Valley in Bhutan. Here is one of the most beautiful Buddhist monasteries in the world. It owns a proud name - the Tiger's Nest. This monastery is located in a very remote and dangerous area. The shrine was built on the slope of a steep cliff at an altitude of 3 120 meters above sea level. Construction of the monastery was completed in 1692. The history of the place is inextricably linked with the name of Guru Rinpoche, who was honored by many residents of the country as the second Buddha.

According to one legend, a tigress brought the great guru on its back to a steep slope of rocks. There he found a cave, in which eight evil beings lived. Guru Rinpoche meditated in a cave for several months, after which it got rid of all evil, and these amazing places became sacred. Subsequently, a beautiful monastery was built next to the holy cave. Over a thousand years, the site remained one of the most important Buddhist shrines for local residents.

Unfortunately, the ancient monastery hasn’t preserved in its original form to these days. A large fire almost completely destroyed the landmark in 1998. It became possible to restore the monastery only by the year 2005. Today, it is one of the few Buddhist monasteries in the world that are open to the public. Travelers who want to visit these amazing places have to overcome the hard path through the narrow mountain trails. A long ascent to the mountain is the main way of spiritual purification for thousands of pilgrims. Next - Ellidaey Island