Hanging Monasteries Around The World

Taken from Dark Roasted Blend, here are some of the most amazing hanging monasteries in the world. These ancient monastery sites were built on steep cliffs often accessible only by secret paths to provide seclusion and serene surroundings. Why? Because when you gotta get some peace with the God of your choice, you don’t want a tourist trying to use the GPS on his cell phone to find “the righteous path”!

The Lion Mountain – Sigiriya, Sri Lanka

The sacred city of Sigiriya contains the ruins of the palace and of the original temple, dating back to 500 AD. The monastery caves are like rabbit warrens off the vertical walls, hardly accessible as they hang at a height of 370-meters. The stairs leading to the Mirror Wall will take your breath away…and if you’re not careful, your life!

Taktshang – Tiger’s Nest Monastery in Bhutan

This precarious monastery lies on the side of a cliff 2300 feet above the Paro Valley floor. To get there, you must hike on foot to reach the monastery and the temples, or ride a loyal mule along the steep and narrow mountain paths.

images: Alysson and Dominic

The Roussanou Monastery – Meteora, Greece

This monastery sits on some cliff formations in Greece, in the plains of Thessaly. Meteora means “suspended in the air” or “in the heavens above.”

image: Karolos Trivizas

Cave Monasteries of Cappadocia, Turkey

The Natural Rock Citadel of Uchisar is the highest peak in the region. Cliff side erosion reveals its fantastical honeycombed architecture.

via Dark Roasted Blend