Guru Rimpoche’s cave and Khandros’ stove

 The great Lopen Pema Juney visited Bhutan twice and is believed to have blessed every inch of the land. He is also believed to have hidden many treasures to be discovered later by prophesied Tertons (Treasure revelers).

Guru's body print at the meditation cave.

To visit one such place, walk uphill from Taphag (Taphay) Goenpa for about 45 minutes, and you will reach the open cave where Guru Rimpoche is believed to have meditated. The cave lies at an altitude of about 3150 meters above the sea level.

The cave has the body imprints of Guru Rimpoche. Just beside Guru’s cave, one can also see a similar cave where Khando was believed to have meditated. Without any written documents to authenticate the information, no exact time can be determined of Guru’s visit to the place, neither can pinpoint the khando.

View of Trongsa from the cave.

One can enjoy the scenic beauty of Trongsa town and majestic Chhoetse Rabtse Dzong which stands like a sleeping white dog. The caves lies about five feet from the ground on a rocky cliff. Since the place is situated on a steep slope, pilgrims needs to be very careful during the visit.

As always, khandos have followed Guru during his journeys for the benefits of the sentient beings. One amazing place of khandos’ lies hidden in the hills about thirty

Our guide Lopen Kuenga
in the Khando's stove

minute walk from Guru’s cave. The place is well hidden that finding it is difficult without a guide. It is believed that Khandos prepared Ara (local brew) and meals to be offered to Guru Rimpoche here.

Pilgrims can see the cylindrical stupas like structures made with stones stacked on each other. It resembles like a container to store stocks. The place looks more like a cave. The surface of the cave also has black patches which locals say, were fromed by the fire the khandros made.

Too reach the place, pilgrims have to endure the steep uphill walk for about 30 minutes only to descend the hill for another 10 minutes. Few meters before reaching, one has to use a scary temporary wooden ladder to descend about 20 meters. The scary journey doesn’t end here, then one has to cross a make-shift bridge constructed from two small wooden poles and ascend about 20 meters to reach the place.

The scary rotten ladder.

Since the place is secluded and the path leading to it seems like inexistent, one should not plan to visit it without a seasoned guide. On the other hand, the ladder and the wooden bridge seems to be surrendering themselves to the weather and time. They are fragile and withered. One wrong step, and you can be about hundred meters down the cliff. So, the Nye isn’t for faint –hearted pilgrims or people who fear heights. But few dozens of meters from the place, one can sit on a rock which seems to be sticking out of the hill like a human tongue and enjoy the scenic view of Trongsa town and the great Yotongla, the pass between Trongsa and Bumthang.

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