Paro Taktsang, Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Paro Valley, Bhutan
The monastery sits on a cliff face at about 10,240 feet (3,120 meters) elevation, with four main temples and residential buildings built directly into the rock above Paro Valley.
The monastery was constructed in 1692 by Tenzin Rabgey around the cave where Guru Padmasambhava meditated in the 8th century, and suffered major fire damage in 1998 before reopening in 2005.
The site is sacred to Buddhists because Guru Padmasambhava is believed to have flown here on a tigress and meditated in the cave, introducing Vajrayana Buddhism to Bhutan.
Visitors can reach the monastery by hiking a steep trail through pine forests for about two to three hours from Paro town, with an entrance fee of approximately 13 dollars for those over 12.
The complex includes eight caves where monks meditate, with the main cave called Pel Phuk marking the original meditation spot of Guru Padmasambhava in the 8th century.
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