taktsang monastery: hanging on the edge of a 1200 meter cliff, this monastery is believed to be the abode of gods and monks located at an altitude of 3100m on the upper paro valley, bhutan. as per the legend, guru rinpoche came in the form of dorje droloe riding a flying tigress to subdue the demon that was obstructing the spread of buddhism in the himalayas. it is also known as “tigers nest”. the cave is said to be the origin of buddhism in bhutan. during the hike, one can see you’re likely to see locals displaying handicrafts for sale along the route to the monastery—evidence of individual enterprise rarely seen until the past few years. the hike is moderate to strenuous and takes about 2-3 hours. a pony can be arranged for the ride up, but only until the cafeteria. from then on, it is another steep walk and some narrow stairs towards the monastery itself. the view of the paro valley from here on is astonishing.