If you are seeking a location that offers a harmonious blend of natural beauty and cultural significance, a monastery may be the ideal destination for you. It is highly recommended that you consider paying a visit to one.
These spiritual sanctuaries are often present in the most breathtaking places as if they are trying to make you closer to God, just by making you realize how stunning his creation is in reality.
So let’s move forward and shed light on the Top 10 Monasteries around the world. Let us know which one you like the best and want to visit in the future.
10. Thikse Gompa, Ladakh, India
This is a Tibetan monastery that is present in India. It embodies gorgeous Buddhist architecture and is a remarkable 12-story complex situated in the highest mountains. Thikse Gompa and Potala Palace of Tibet look a bit similar.
Why and how you should get there?
This monastery has attractive landscapes and architecture that is historically significant. You can reach it by coming on the tours that begin from Ladakh. The total distance is of 18 km.
9. Cappadocia, Turkey
This alluring place is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Cappadocia. Numerous monasteries were built amidst the churches, houses, and another building way back in the 4th and 13th centuries.
These monasteries are carved to make them look like soft pillars.
How and why you should go there?
This monastery is extremely popular in Turkey; however, the most famous ones are the cave ones in Uchisar. You can reach it via a bus or train coming from several cities. Proper tours are also conducted from Göreme.
8. Paro Taktsang, Bhutan
This monastery is also called Tiger’s Nest. It is an exceptionally sacred site of Himalayan Buddhists and represents Bhutan.
It is situated in Paro valley on the cliffside and was built in the honor of the Second Buddha that used to meditate in these caves.
Why and how you should get there?
This is among the most stunning and famous landmarks of Bhutan. You can reach here via a plane which lands in Paro Airport. You can ride on a horse or hike up the monastery, a guide can be hired to help you along the way.
7. Sumela Monastery, Trabzon, Turkey
Sumela Monastery in Turkey looks like the most unreachable building and is carved in the Melá Mountain. Nevertheless, visitors still access it by a path that is present in the forest.
This monastery is dedicated specifically to Virgin Mary. Since this monastery is Greek Orthodox, its design and architecture are inspired by Turkish and Greek culture.
Why and how you should get there?
This monastery has a stunning landscape and architecture. You can reach it by coming along with the tours that begin from Trabzon.
6. Key Gompa, Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh, India
This monastery is said to be built in the 11th century and was at first a training center specifically for Lamas. Key Gompa has a huge assortment of books, ancient murals, and Buddha images. It is located in an extremely beautiful place.
Why and how you should get there?
Spiti valley is a secluded place, but still, it’s a marvelous site to go to. You can reach it by taking a bus from Kaza or Kibber.
5. Bagan, Mandalay Region, Myanmar
This famous tourist destination once used to be a religious, economic, and political center. This historic city is full of many monuments that were built from the 7th to 19th centuries and are very well preserved since then.
Why and how you should get there?
This monastery has significant historic architecture. You can reach it via a bus or a plane or take a train from Mandalay and Yangon.
4. Mont-Saint Michel, France
This beautiful complex outlines the feudal society of medieval times. The top had monasteries and monks that were believed to be the closest to God, then came below nobles, servers, fishers, and farmers respectively.
Why and how you should get there?
This is among the most renowned landmark of France. You can reach it by taking a bus or driving a car.
You can only come from the causeway, be careful and don’t even try taking any other route, because you can end up drowning in the mud.
3. Lion Rock, Sri Lanka
Lion Rock is also called Sigiriya, it is an enormous rock that is the remnants of the hardened magma that spread due to a volcano.
In the 5th century, it used to be the capital. Later on, it was made into a Buddhist monastery. UNESCO also provides protection to this natural-architectural place, which can be seen from far away in a clear landscape.
Why and how you should go there?
This monastery is among the most famous destination for people in Sri Lanka. You can reach it by a tuk-tuk or a bus coming from Dambulla.
2. Meteora, Greece
This complex has six monasteries that are made of sandstone rock pillars. Eastern Orthodox monastery is the biggest and the most significant one in Greece.
UNESCO also provides protection to this monastery because it is present in a remarkable landscape.
When and how you should get there?
You can visit this place in the spring and autumn seasons as the weather is extreme in winter as well as in the summer. You can reach there by bus, car, or train that travels from Volos to Kalampaka.
1. Santa Maria de Montserrat, Spain
Santa Maria de Montserrat is a Benedictine abbey that is constructed extremely high in the mountains of Montserrat.
Apart from the stunning scenery, the abbey houses contain a big collection of artworks by Picasso, El Greco, and Dali. This complex also has prim and proper gardens in which performances of the Montserrat Boys’ Choir are held.
Why and how you should get there?
If you visit this monastery you can witness great sites, exhibitions, architecture, and divine choir performances. You can travel by bus or in a car. The total distance is 48km from the city of Barcelona.
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