Taktsang Palphug Monastery, Bhutan Feb 28, 2025

Taktsang Palphug Monastery, Bhutan

Today"s image takes us to Taktsang Palphug, also known as the Tiger"s Nest, a Buddhist monastery and holy site perched 3,000 metres above sea level in Bhutan. Built around the Taktsang Senge Samdup cave in 1692, it is where Guru Padmasambhava, who introduced Vajrayana Buddhism to Bhutan, meditated and taught his students. According to legend, an emperor"s former wife, out of devotion, transformed into a tigress and carried Guru Padmasambhava from Tibet to Taktsang in Bhutan. There, he meditated in a cave and emerged in eight incarnations, which is why it is known as the "Tiger"s Nest." Paro Taktsang is made up of four main temples, all connected by stairways cut into the cliff face, as well as a handful of rickety bridges. There are three main routes to reach the monastery, with the most popular path winding through a forest decorated with prayer flags. The hike is demanding but rewarding, providing breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape.

© Baron Reznik/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Feb 28, 2024Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland, England
Feb 28, 2026Oloupena Falls, island of Molokai, Hawaii, United States

More Desktop Wallpapers:

May 17, 2024African elephants, Tanzania
Aug 4, 2025Great grey owls
May 20, 2024Bee tending a honeycomb
Mar 2, 2026Harbour and longtail boats at Ko Samui, Thailand
Feb 21, 2025Champaka Sarasi, Shivamogga, Karnataka, India
Oct 5, 2025Boreal owl
Oct 19, 2025Apples ready for harvest, Minnesota, United States
May 12, 2026Atlantic puffins, Wales
Sep 6, 2025Rufous hummingbird
Feb 21, 2026Red fox, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, United States
Dec 7, 2024Arraial do Cabo, Brazil
Sep 15, 2025Black-winged stilts, France
Nov 19, 2023Alam-Pedja Nature Reserve, Estonia
Aug 25, 2023Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA
July 13, 2026Antelope Canyon, east of Page, Arizona, United States
Sep 13, 2024Point Reyes National Seashore
Feb 13, 2025Lake Tyrrell, Victoria, Australia
Aug 21, 2025Wheatear, Peak District National Park, England
Oct 11, 2026Glade Creek Grist Mill, Babcock State Park, West Virginia, USA
Apr 25, 2025Magellanic penguins, Volunteer Point, Falkland Islands
Sept 17, 2026Santenay wine region, Côte de Beaune, Burgundy, France
Oct 9, 2023Fremont petroglyphs, Dinosaur National Monument, Utah, USA
Dec 25, 2024Lakes of Covadonga, Asturias, Spain
Apr 8, 2025Piazza Maggiore, Bologna, Italy
Apr 12, 2026International Space Station
Oct 4, 2026Château de Castelnaud overlooking the river Dordogne, France
Jul 8, 2025Seceda, Dolomites, South Tyrol, Italy
Jul 26, 2025Mangrove trees, Walakiri Beach, island of Sumba, Indonesia
Aug 29, 2025Aerial view of Plaza Mayor, Madrid, Spain
Apr 22, 2026Alam-Pedja Nature Reserve in Tartu County, Estonia