Most of the Buddhist monasteries are found in places that are highly remote due to the fact that they are aimed only for those that have a lot of dedication. The same approach was taken by those of other faiths, creating some of the most remote establishments in the world. Even if it is really hard to reach them, at the same time, these are tremendous tourist attractions. Various methods like stairs, ropeways and others will be available for those brave enough.
Without further ado, let’s just take a look at some of the top inaccessible isolated monasteries that are truly stunning and that you do want to consider visiting.
Taktsang Palghug Monastery – Bhutan
This monastery is also referred to as Tiger’s Nest. You find it around 900 meters over the surrounding Paro Valley. Rock slopes are quite sleep, almost close to vertical. It does look tremendous and the complex can be accessed by various locations. You will want to consider the mule track, which is definitely the most scenic of all that you can experience to get to the monastery.
Meteora Monsateries – Greece
Meteora is not one monastery, as many believe. It is actually a group of 6 stunning monasteries. We are talking about the largest of all the Eastern Orthodox monastery complexes in the country. They are built on sandstone rock pillars and there is just one word to describe them: stunning. They appeared during a period of political instability, during the fourteenth century. Access was incredibly difficult until the twenties, when we saw the building of rock steps, making everything a lot more accessible.
Taung Kalat Monastery – Burma
You can find the Taung Kalat monastery in Myanmar, around 50 km to the southeast of Bagan, rising over 700 meters over the surrounding area. It is located right on Mount Popa, an extinct volcano. You need to climb 777 steps in order to get to the top and the view is definitely worth it by itself. Make sure that you will keep your eyes open for the Many Macaque monkey, which is definitely an attraction you will want to enjoy.
Hanging Monastery – China
Also referred to as Hanging Temple, the Hanging Monastery is found right at Mountain Heng’s feet, in Shanxi, China. This is a temple that is built right into cliff side, around 75 meters above ground. There are so many interesting halls, wooden beams, corridors and much more that can be seen by tourists. However, getting there is definitely difficult so get ready for a challenge.
Sumela Monastery – Turkey
Another wonderful monastery built right in rock cliffs, Sumela Monastery is a huge tourist attraction in the Altmdere National Park, Altmdere Valley, Turkey. It is quite an old one, erected in the year 486 AD. According to local legends, 2 priests found a Virgin Mary icon in one of the mountain’s cave and then started working to erect the monastery. As you can easily imagine, there is a huge history behind this location, with the monastery ending up in ruins several times, regaining huge prominence only during the thirteenth century.