Precariously perched on the edge of a 1,200 meter cliff, this monastery creates an impressive sight, and is the unofficial symbol of Bhutan. It is about a 2-to-3-hour, totally uphill hike from the parking lot to the monastery, though there is a cafe on ridge across from the Taktsang (about 90 minutes into the walk) that provides a welcome opportunity to take a rest and purchase refreshments and snacks. Taktsang was established as a sacred place for meditation by Guru Rinpoche who visited the site on his second visit to Bhutan in 747 CE, though the first monastery was not constructed until 1694. In 1998, a tragic fire destroyed most of the original buildings, but these have since been painstakingly restored to their former glory. An entry fee of Nu500 is levied on regional tourists (those who do not pay the US$ 250 day tariff). The ticket office is in the parking lot at the foot of the mountain - entry will be denied if a ticket from this office is not produced at the monastery gate. Entry is free for tourists who pay the daily tariff.