The floating statue of Dorji Phagmo In Paro

A two-storied sacred Chumphu Monastery that houses a floating statue of Dorji Phagmo is located 1 and half hour drive from Paro town and about 3 hours hike.  The temple is perched on a hilltop surrounded by three mountains shaped in the form of crowns. The aerial view of the area gives an imaginary figure of a female wearing the crown and the monastery constructed in the center, at the heart of the body.  

Bhutan is the last Himalayan kingdom practicing Tantric Vajarayana form of Mahayana Buddhism introduced by Guru Padmasambhava (also known as Padmakara or Padma Raja; and earlier as Saroruha Vajra or simply Saroruha), a monk from the Swat Valley, (now in Pakistan). After his historical visit to Paro Taktsang Monastery / Tiger’s Nest riding on a Tigress’ back, he then visited this place and mediated here for 2 months.

A deep sense of spirituality and faith is evoked as one hikes through the gentle slopes, along the beautiful crystal clear blue stream flowing a little below the trail and with different shapes and sizes of rocks spread all the way up to the monastery bearing deep meaning and reflecting the spiritual history of the place.

At the foothill atop which bears the monastery is a dramatic waterfall, numerous caves where Guru Padmasambhava and his consorts, dakinis and legendary scholars were believed to have meditated. Also, among many spiritual invoking sites is the holy water that seeps out of a huge solid dry rock believed to heal various diseases and give long life.

The most sacred object of the area is the floating statue of Dorji Phagmo (Vajravarahi) defying gravity. History has it that the statue was discovered from the lake above the Monastery, originally smaller in size but miraculously grown to the present size by itself.  The caretaker of the monastery will prove to each and every visitor that the statue is indeed floating by moving a scarf or money back and forth under the statue. Dorje Phagmo, or the "Diamond Sow," is an incarnation of Dolma (Tara), the divine consort of Chenrezig (Buddha of Compassion).

What you need?

• Trekking Boots (broken in)
• Down jacket
• Warm mid layers (fleece/micro fibre)
• Trousers - Lightweight, loose fitting, trekking trousers.
• Warm Hat and sun Hat
• Scarf/neck warmer
• Sunglasses with UV protection
• Sunscreen and Lip Balm
• Light weight towel
• Hand sanitizer gel
• Trail mix / nuts/ muesli bars

How to go?

This hike can be done as a day trip with picnic lunch as night halt facilities are not available at the monastery. The hike is on the gentle slope; around 9 km in distance and a sharp ascend of 826 m at the end of hike to reach the monastery on the top.

It’s about three hours hike up and 2 hours and 30 minutes down.

Your guide will pick you up from the hotel and drive for one and half hour on an unpaved farm road through the villages. A packed lunch will be provided half way to the monastery.