The Tiger's Nest

Paro Taktshang 

10 Apr 2015 | From Jigme of Bhutan

POSTCROSSING FRIEND

Taktshang Goemba or Tiger's Nest Monastery was blessed and sanctified as one of Bhutan's most sacred religious sites. Taktsang Palphug Monastery more famous as Paro Taktsang is a Buddhist temple complex which clings to a cliff, 3120 meters above the sea level on the side of the upper Paro valley, Bhutan. It is one of the most famous touristic destinations of the country and the cultural icon of Bhutan. The main peculiarity of the monastery is its isolated location. It is only accessible by mountainous paths. It is a small monastery hung far up on a cliff overlooking a spectacular valley. It is also one of thirteen small monasteries or "tiger's lairs" where the Guru Rinpoche or "Precious Master" also known as the "Second Buddha" of Bhutan is said to have meditated.

As legend has it, Padmasambava landed at Paro Taktsang to meditate when he brought Buddhism to Bhutan in the seventh century. He is said to have arrived on a flying tiger which had recently been his Tibetan concubine. He then meditated in a cave high on the mountain for four months after which he subdued the local 'demons' and began the conversion of the Bhutanese to Buddhism.

My first postcard from Bhutan

The Dochula

16 Dec 2014 | From Jigme of Bhutan

POSTCROSSING SWAP

Bhutan, officially Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked country in South Asia at the eastern end of the Himalayas. The land consists mostly of steep and high mountains crisscrossed by a network of swift rivers, which form deep valleys before draining into the Indian plains. Nicknamed as 'The Land of Thunder dragon', Bhutan is surrounded by beautiful mountains and passes. Being in the Himalayan zone Bhutan has the most beautiful mountains in Jumolhari , Jichu drakay and Kula Gangir which lies in the Northen Part and bordered to China.

The most well known pass in Bhutan, Dochula, is located about 30 km away from the capital of Bhutan, Thimphu. Passes ('La' in the Bhutanese language) are linkages which connect the valleys of Bhutan. Dochula  is around 3150 meter from sea level and it's mostly covered with white clouds, where on a clear day you can see spectacular view of the mighty Himalayas mountain ranges. Dochula was commissioned by the eldest Queen Mother, Her Majesty Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuk, to honour the victory of the Bhutanese soldiers who were killed when fighting the Indian rebels in 2003. The pass is also popular spiritual destination for both locals and tourists because an important temple is located on the crest of Dochula pass. For tourists this is ideal location to capture beautiful pictures of Himalayan mountain range during clear, warm days.