Bruno Pugh
Some monasteries seem to defy gravity, clinging to sheer cliffs and floating above misty valleys. Built in impossible places, they have drawn seekers and adventurers for centuries. Are they feats of faith, engineering, or both? Check ‘em out!
Monasteries Of Meteora (Greece)
Balanced on towering rock pillars, Meteora’s monasteries seem to defy logic. Centuries ago, monks hauled stones up by rope and basket, crafting a sanctuary in the sky. These silent, sacred structures still stand, appearing weightless—suspended between earth and the heavens.
Hanging Monastery Of Xuankong Si (China)
Some say the wind alone holds Xuankong Si in place. Built into a vertical cliffside, this 1,500-year-old marvel seems to float, its wooden beams anchored into the rock. Standing beneath it, you can’t help but wonder: was this divine inspiration or sheer architectural audacity?
Paro Taktsang: The Tiger’s Nest (Bhutan)
Legend says a Buddhist master flew to this hallowed place on the back of a tigress. Paro Taktsang clings to the mountainside today, its golden rooftops peeking through the mist. The only way up is a grueling hike—one that pilgrims and travelers alike say is worth every breath.
Sumela Monastery (Turkey)
From a distance, Sumela Monastery looks like an illusion—an apparition floating against the cliffs of the Pontic Mountains. Inside, frescoes glow with color, whispering stories of devotion and endurance. It is a place of solitude and spectacle—an evidence of faith in the face of gravity.
The Perilous Ascent To Taung Kalat (Myanmar)
A monastery built atop a volcano? Taung Kalat rises from an extinct plug like a stairway to the gods. Exactly 777 steps separate you from its summit, where mischievous monkeys await, and panoramic views stretch beyond imagination.
The Mystery Of Phugtal Monastery (India)
Carved into a Himalayan cliffside, Phugtal Monastery looks less like an artificial structure and more like a hidden city sculpted by nature. Reaching it requires trekking through rugged terrain, but those who arrive find a spiritual retreat untouched by time.
Monastery Of Ostrog (Montenegro)
Ostrog Monastery stands defiantly against the rock face as if fused with the mountain. Pilgrims from all faiths journey here, drawn by stories of miracles and healing. From a distance, it appears impossible—yet it has endured for centuries, watching over the valley below.
Katskhi Pillar (Georgia)
One man. One monastery. One towering pillar of limestone. Katskhi Pillar is home to a lone monk who has lived in isolation for decades, committed to prayer atop a 130-foot rock. It’s a place where devotion transcends the physical, reaching toward the divine.
Montserrat Mountain Sanctuary (Spain)
Jagged peaks cradle Montserrat Monastery, a spiritual refuge hidden among surreal rock formations. Legends whisper of a divine light that led monks here centuries ago. Today, visitors come for pilgrimage and panoramic beauty, standing at the sky’s edge.
Thiksey Monastery (India)
Rising in tiers like a giant staircase to enlightenment, Thiksey Monastery dominates the Ladakh environment. Its whitewashed walls gleam under the sun, and within, monks chant ancient prayers that echo through the mountains. At dawn, the sight is otherworldly—a floating fortress of faith.