Trek to Taktsang #WanderfulWednesday

This Valentine’s Day I dedicate #WanderfulWednesday post to my son, who is my true love of life (goes without saying) and who made me proud by trekking to the Taktsang Monastery. It is one of the difficult and challenging treks and you gain merit with every step. Like a typical mother, I was worried to no end when he stubbornly wanted to trek. He was the youngest in the group. In fact, the tour guide was initially not even willing to take him along as he is below the permitted age. It took him 5 hours to complete the trek and the entire time, my heart was beating out of my body. Had it been inside my body I would have choked myself with anxiety. I couldn’t climb more than 100 metres while my little baby trekked 4.5km (one way).

Taktsang Monastery or The Tiger’s Nest Monastery is a small collection of buildings precariously perched on a cliff. It is stunning in its beauty and location. This was the place where Guru Padmasambhava meditated for 3 years.  The place is also known as Tiger’s Nest as the place resembles a tiger from a distance.

IMG_20171027_093141458_HDR

The only way to reach Taktsang is by foot. There are mules available from the base but mules take you only halfway to the monastery. I had taken a mule but regretted every single second of the ride. Fellow bongs if you remember Lalmohan Ganguly’s camel ride in Sonar Kella, then let me assure you he had a cake walk compared to mine. (The YouTube link for the reference of Non-Bengali readers.) Mules can be hired from the base but please remember to bargain. The mule track passes through pine forest that is colourfully festooned with moss and prayer flags

 

IMG_20171027_073308431

They look innocent but can give you the scare of your lifetime

 

IMG_20171027_124050822

The Base. This Place has a small flea market where you can buy Bhutanese artefacts at affordable prices.

IMG_20171027_084920067

The road to the monastery begins

IMG_20171027_115542038_HDR

IMG_20171027_091740032

IMG_20171027_082513917_HDR

The point where mules drop the passengers. Henceforward one has to climb.

There is a nice cafeteria midway. The mules leave from there. Most trekkers relax for some time at the cafe and then start the difficult trek by foot. Going ahead there is no place to eat or drink therefore it is advisable to buy your food and drink from here. The cafe serves only tea and cracker for breakfast and a continental lunch spread. I sat waiting for the trekkers at the cafe enjoying the view.

 

IMG_20171027_084913191_HDR

View of the Monastery from the cafe

 

IMG_20171027_090823454

My trekker son started his trek forward

While the son and his father were away trekking, I busied myself exploring the surroundings of the cafe and came across some amazing chanting wheels. Bhutan is a carbon negative country and everything is recycled. The prayer wheels were made of plastic bottles and honestly, I found them amazing.

 

 

IMG_20171027_082439535_HDR

Plastic bottle prayer wheels

IMG_20171027_082650646_HDR

IMG_20171027_082505116

Traditional prayer wheels

IMG_20171027_082523920_HDR

 

I was enjoying myself thoroughly at the cafe observing the trekkers who were coming and going from there while the duo was busy climbing up.

 

IMG_20171027_102658842_HDR

The narrow road that leads to the monastery

IMG_20171027_103811235

Almost there

IMG_20171027_094024004

Gets even more difficult

IMG_20171027_093959496

After crossing this stream the main monastery premise begin

 

 

IMG_20171027_102616995_HDR

Trek becomes arduous here

 

IMG_20171027_093011992_HDR

The trekkers have to reach this highest point and then ascend to reach the Tiger’s Nest

 

IMG_20171027_092449054_HDR

The monastery cradled among lush greenery

 

 

 

 

IMG_20171027_092757554_HDR

My son tired and hungry ascending after the trek

 

 

 

21 thoughts on “Trek to Taktsang #WanderfulWednesday”

  2. arv! says:
    Reply

    I’m happy to hear that your son completed this trek. My uncle visited this place last year and he explained me the complexity of this trail. Lots to learn from the little one. BTW how old is he?

    Liked by 1 person

    • Balaka says:
      Reply

      Did you watch the attached video?.it is hilarious..glad to know that you love Feluda…we grew up reading Feluda series and became a huge fan of Soumitra Chatterjee after he played Feluda onscreen.

      Liked by 1 person

Did you like my post? Please let me know

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.