These are beautiful works but are located alone among the mountains, craggy, dangerous cliffs…
Monasteries are often located in remote places, away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. The essence of this is to keep them in a state of peace and quiet.
To visit and discover its beauty, you will have to be very difficult with high altitude, danger, even potential risk of losing your life like playing… that way”.
1. Meteora Monastery – Greece
The Monastery of Metéora (Greek for “floating in the air” or “in the heavens”) is a group of six monasteries and the largest and most important complex of Orthodox monasteries. Orientalism in Greece. The six monasteries are built on natural sandstone pillars.
It is considered one of the most powerful examples of architectural design dedicated to seclusion in a place just for meditation and prayer.
This system of monasteries was built 400m higher than the Peneas valley, near the town of Kalambaka around the 14th – 15th centuries. Currently, there are only four small monasteries in this system: Aghios Stephanos, Aghia Trias, Varlaam and Meteoron.
Initially, to get to the monastery, the only way was only 2 long rope ladders intertwined and a large net to climb. Therefore, visiting the monastery is almost impossible.
However, today, things have improved significantly when the steps cut into the cliff have created a path leading to the monastery.
2. Temple of Taung Kalat, Myanmar
Taung Kalat Temple is located near the dormant volcano Popa, located on the top of a volcano 737m higher than around central Burma (Myanmar), about 50km southeast of Bagan. You will need to climb 777 steps to reach the top and enjoy the majestic view.
There are also many Macaque monkeys living around and this has become a tourist attraction to Taung Kalat.
3. Taktsang Palphug Monastery, Bhutan
Taktsang Monastery, also known as the “Tiger’s Hideout”, is located on a steep cliff 900m above the Paro valley. The slopes are very steep, almost vertical, and the buildings of the monastery are built against the cliffs.
Although it seems extremely difficult and complicated, you can enter the monastery from many different directions, such as through the forest to the northwest, along the road from the south often used by devotees. walk or follow a trail that leads through a pine forest colorfully decorated with banners.
Most of the time, clouds often cover the monastery and give those who come here an eerie feeling of remoteness.
4. Sumela . Monastery
Sumela Monastery was built into the cliffs in the Altmdere valley in Türkiye. At an altitude of about 1,200m, it is a major tourist attraction of Altindere National Park.
The monastery was founded in 386 during the reign of emperor Theodosius (375 – 395). Legend has it that two priests came up with these creative and daring designs after discovering a miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary in a mountain cave.
During its long history, the monastery has been damaged several times and has been restored by various emperors. It reached its present architecture around the 13th century, when it gained prominence during the reign of Alexios III.
5. Hanging Temple in Heng Mountain, China
Located in a gorge at the foot of Heng Mountain in Shanxi Province – China, this temple was built on the side of a cliff about 75m above the ground. The temple hanging on Mount Heng was erected close to a corridor of damp stone with wooden beams inserted into the mountain.
Here, more than 40 rooms and halls with an area of 152.5 square meters are connected by corridors, bridges and boardwalks that are evenly distributed and highly balanced.
Inside are more than 80 bronze and iron statues, clay sculptures and stone carvings spread down from different dynasties.
The temple was built in this location to avoid terrible floods, using the mountain as a protection from snow, rain, and sunlight. Today, it is one of the main tourist attractions and historical sites of the Datong area.
