Bhutan

The Paro-Taktsang Monastery which is also known as the Tiger's Nest is probably the most famous monastery in Bhutan. It was built in 1692 and lies at over 3,000 meters like an eagle's nest in a rock face above the Paro valley. You can only visit it on foot or by mule. You have to hike up 800 meters in altitude in about 3 hours. But the effort is worth it because the monastery and the surrounding views of the valley are extremely impressive.

The origin of the monastery is based on a legend. In the 8th century the Guru of Bhutan, Guru Ringpoche, is said to have flown into the Tiger's Nest on a tigress. There, he meditated in a cave for three months and then converted the population of the Paro Valley to Buddhism. The demons previously ruling in the valley, especially the mighty tiger demon, were subjugated and forced to build the tiger nest monastery. In fact, there are several caves behind the monastery and in the vicinity, some of them can be visited. Therefore, the Tiger's Nest is still one of the most important pilgrimage sites for the Bhutanese population.

Archery is the national sport of Bhutan. A traditional bow is used to shoot on a target (usually a disc) 140 meters away. To estimate this distance better, at the Olympic Games, you only have to hit the target at a distance of 30-90 meters. In every small village in Bhutan, there is a place for archery and the sport is part of every festival. It is deeply anchored in the culture and the sporting aspect is not the focus. The sport is still more dominated by men, meanwhile more and more women joining. If you want to learn archery directly from the locals, you can book a round trip or tour with selected tour operators and experience Bhutan´s national sport.