Life inside the monasteries may be frugal but they often have a beautiful exterior. The architecture of the monasteries has amazed travelers for centuries. Individuals who decide to live in monasteries have to follow a strict and rigorous lifestyle. The rules the monks follow change and alter according to the religion of the monastery. People do not only visit the monasteries in search of peace and spiritual guidance but also for relishing the splendid visual beauty of the monasteries. There are some monasteries which have been built at remote yet picturesque parts of the world. This makes traveling to visit such monasteries more pleasurable. As the residents of the monasteries leave all worldly luxuries behind them on entering monkhood and maintain celibacy, the monasteries are often built away from locality. In the following you will find information regarding the best looking monasteries of the world which are worth visiting.
Taktsang Monastery, Bhutan:
The Taktsang Monastery is the one of the most famous monasteries in Bhutan. The meaning of the word Taktsang is ‘Tiger’s lair’ in English. It has been built above a cliff that is 3,120 meters high. If you really want to visit this monastery then you must be ready to take some risks as getting there is not going to be easy. Visitors can reach this monastery if they are capable of climbing the steep mountain or if they can arrange mules. It is said that a great religious leader Padmasambhava was flown to this monastery by a tiger with wings. A visitor is permitted to see all the seven temples of this monastery once they have reached the place.
The Monastery of Gregoriou, Greece:
On the south western side of Mount Atos in Greece there is this beautiful Monastery of Gregoriou. It was built in the 14th century. The beautiful monastery was built for St. Nicholas on the banks of a mountain river. The rules and regulations of this monastery are very stringent and it is very well maintained. It is one of the best examples of Coenobitic Monasteries. This monastery’s walls were decorated by two monks Gabriel and Gregory in the year 1779. Monks have been residing inside this beautiful monastery for several hundreds of years. It has multiple chapels and religious relics from different centuries.
Yumbulagang Monastery, Tibet:
The 2,000 year old Yumbulagang Monastery is the first palace that was built in Tibet. Buddhism is the main religion in Tibet. It is also among the very first buildings which were built in this country. During the Cultural Revolution the Yumbulagang Monastery was demolished by rebels. In the 1980s this monastery was rebuilt from the rumbles. If you visit this monastery you will get to learn about the Tibetan history from the wall murals of this monastery.
Meteora Monastery, Thessaly, Greece:
Perched pretty on top of a steep mountain in Thessaly, Meteora Monastery is one of the most majestic monasteries of this world that exudes an unparallel charm. Greece has numerous remarkable tourist attractions and the Meteora Monastery is surely one of them. It was built in the 14th century just like the Monastery of Gregoriou. It has been declared an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Theofanis o Kris, a celebrated Cretan painter, had painted and decorated the walls of the catholicon with great skill.
Ngaphechaung Monastery, Burma:
If you feel dismayed at finding the beautiful monasteries mentioned earlier all built on top of mountains then you may visit the Ngaphechaung Monastery. It has been built on a lake in Burma. The Inle Lake of Burma is the ground where this extremely beautiful Buddhist monastery has been built. Not just monks but also numerous cats have got refuge here. Established in the year 1850 this monastery is open to all visitors alike. The cats here are trained so that they can jump through hoops. You will have to cross the lake on a boat for reaching Ngaphechaung and travel for about 25 minutes.
Popa Taungkalat Shrine, Burma:
The Popa Taungkalat Shrine is another beautiful monastery in Burma that you may like to visit. It is also built on top of a steep mountain, away from the buzz of the cities. The atmosphere is amazingly peaceful and helps every traveler relax. It is believed to be the residence of 37 Mahagiri Nats, who are the powerful Buddhist spirits. There are 777 steps which you will have to climb. You should pack some snacks for feeding the naughty monkeys who live in the surrounding.
Sigiriya, Sri Lanka:
Travel to the Central Matale district of Sri Lanka for visiting the beautiful Sigiriya monastery. It is a part of a volcano and it is made of lava rock. The beautiful monastery is 370 meters in height and rises from the lava rocks. The shape of this monastery is elliptical just like the rock on which it has been built.