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Katskhi Pillar Monastery - Georgia
Katskhi Pillar is located on the Katskhi Pillar in western Georgia. Founded in the 7th century, after being destroyed several times by war in previous centuries, the area was restored in the early 2000s.
Katskhi Pillar is built at an altitude of 40 m above sea level. For centuries, the local people could only look up and could not reach this place. It was not until 1944 that a group of climbers led by Alexander Japaridze climbed up to explore the inside of the monastery.
Mount Popa Monastery - Myanmar
Mount Popa is a dramatic volcano with a bright yellow stupa monastery on top. Visitors must climb 777 steps to reach the monastery. The monastery is one of the most beautiful Buddhist sites in Myanmar.
Many legends are associated with Mount Popa, reflecting an animistic belief and the localization of Buddhism to blend with Myanmar culture. According to Myanmar Buddhist beliefs, the Nats are a group of different deities ranging from humanoid guardian deities to forest gods.
Paro Taktsang Monastery - Bhutan
Paro Taktsang is one of the holiest places in Bhutan. The monastery is located on a granite cliff towering high in the clouds overlooking the Paro Valley, at an altitude of more than 3,000 meters above sea level, about 900 meters above the Paro Valley.
Paro Taktsang is surrounded by the historic Paro Valley, which is revered by Buddhists and Bhutanese because of its association with the life and teachings of Padmasambhava. There are several mountain paths leading to the monastery, but the ascent is not easy.
Trinity Monastery - Greece
Built in the 15th century, Trinity Monastery overlooks the Peneas Valley in central Greece, perched atop the massive sandstone formation of Meteora. Monks and hermits have chosen this perilous location and inhabited these cliff-top monasteries since the 11th century.
Trinity Monastery is one of six active monasteries in Meteora and the only one to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Having endured a long history, Trinity Monastery today belongs to the Eastern Orthodox Church, with many rock reliefs and 17th-century frescoes that are extremely well preserved.
Key Monastery - India
Key Monastery is located in the Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh, the gateway to the Western Himalayas in northern India. The monastery is located at an altitude of over 4,100 m and was built in the 11th century. Inside the three-story monastery are many Buddha statues, murals and a collection of ancient texts.
The monastery has been attacked many times in its long history by Mongol and other armies and has also been ravaged by fires and earthquakes. The successive trails of destruction and restoration have created a box-like structure that, from a distance, makes the monastery look like an imposing fortress.
