Paro Taktshang

Paro Taktsang, famously known as Tiger’s Nest, is Bhutan’s most sacred Buddhist monastery, dramatically perched on a cliff 900 meters above the Paro Valley. According to legend, Buddhist saint Guru Padmasambhava flew to the site on the back of a tigress in the 8th century to meditate and subdue negative forces, helping establish Buddhism in Bhutan. The monastery complex was formally built in 1692 by Gyalse Tenzin Rabgye and later restored after a devastating fire in 1998. Taktsang symbolizes spiritual power, protection, and enlightenment, making it Bhutan’s most iconic pilgrimage site.

If you want to visit this world heritage site, you have to either walk or travel by horse ride (available for hire at the base). Taktshang Monastery is 3 KM from road point (base) and the track mostly uphill. It takes about 1.5 hours for a fit man to reach up there. During the monsoon, the roach can be muddy and slippery.

Chelela Pass

Chele La Pass is the highest motorable road pass in Bhutan, sitting at an elevation of 3,988 meters (13,083 feet) above sea level. Located in between Paro and Haa districts, it serves as the natural highway border dividing the scenic Paro Valley and the remote Haa Valley.