Every now and then, I keep planning for where to pack my bags and satisfy my travel bug biting around. Never had I ever thought I would be writing about this mightiest trek. It took us 8.5 hrs, to be precise. 4hrs to reach and 3 hrs to come back. And 1.5 hrs to unify with the meditating calmness of the tranquilizing monastery. Itβs a monastery built in 1692 by Guru Padmasambhaba to teach Vajrayana Buddhism and meditate along with his students. Itβs one of the thirteen shrines or Tigers nest caves in the history of Tibet.
Itβs all about the way up and starts from the car parking base with no idea where to head to and how! You just have to keep on walking. I was trekking with my parents. Yes, my parents. They walked this 4miles round trip with no signs of giving up soon. And I guess thatβs where I got my travelholic genes from. Itβs a trail mounting, not so steeply for the entire way, passing beneath many prayer flags and the cold breeze seemed to take all the weariness away. The first few hours was easy, full of excitement and enthusiasm, making way for the horses and the sight of the monastery peeping through the trees at every turn. These panoramic scenes are the only treasure of a traveler.
From the downhill it looked like a small monastery perched on a cliff , kind of sandwiched between the mountains, it made us more inquisitive of what the valley beholds. Thereβs a cafeteria at halfway of our destination that gave us an enthralling view. The bridge was the third and the last leap , covered with colourful flags all around . The first step on the stairs of the mighty shrine, will make a shiver run down your spine, not only because it was icy cold but also thereβs something magical about the atmosphere. Climbing up the spiral staircase, I realised how sacred the shrine is and the monks chanting prayers made me wonder how can a monastery up above the hill clinged between cliffs , can be so poised and magnificent. I kept gazing deeply into the most bewitching lamasery.
