5 monasteries with the most impressive architecture in the world.

Katskhi Pillar Monastery - Georgia

Katskhi Pillar is located atop Katskhi Pillar in western Georgia. Founded in the 7th century, after being repeatedly destroyed by wars over the centuries, the site was restored in the early 2000s.

Katskhi Pillar was built 40 meters above sea level. For centuries, locals could only look up at it and could not reach it. It wasn't until 1944 that a group of mountaineers led by Alexander Japaridze climbed to explore the inside of the monastery.

Mount Popa Monastery - Myanmar

Mount Popa is an impressive volcano with a bright yellow stupa-style monastery perched atop it. Visitors must climb 777 steps to reach the monastery. The monastery is one of the most magnificent Buddhist landmarks in Myanmar.

Many legends are associated with Mount Popa, reflecting animistic beliefs and the localization of Buddhism to blend with Myanmar culture. According to Myanmar Buddhist beliefs, the Nat gods are a group of different deities ranging from guardian gods in human form to forest spirits.

Paro Taktsang Monastery - Bhutan

Paro Taktsang is one of the most sacred places in Bhutan. The monastery sits atop a towering granite cliff, shrouded in clouds, overlooking the Paro Valley. It is situated at an altitude of over 3,000 meters above sea level, approximately 900 meters above the valley itself.

Paro Taktsang is surrounded by the historic Paro Valley, a place particularly revered by Buddhists and the people of Bhutan because it is associated with the spiritual practice and teachings of Padmasambhava. There are many 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, atop a massive sandstone massif called Meteora. Monks and hermits have chosen this precarious location and resided in these cliffside monasteries since the 11th century.

Trinity Monastery is one of six active monasteries in Meteora and the only one recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Having weathered the vicissitudes of history, Trinity Monastery today belongs to the Eastern Orthodox Church, with many remarkably well-preserved 17th-century rock reliefs and frescoes.

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 sits at an altitude of over 4,100 meters and dates back to the 11th century. Inside the three-story monastery are numerous Buddha statues, murals, and a collection of ancient texts.

The monastery has been attacked numerous times throughout its long history by Mongol and other armies, and has also been ravaged by fires and earthquakes. The continuous cycles of destruction and restoration have created a box-like structure, which from a distance resembles an incredibly majestic fortress.