Are You Eager to Know the Top 22 Monasteries on Earth?

Life in a monastery is usually regulated by community rules that control the living style of the residents who practice celibacy and possess trivial or no private belongings. The source of livelihood of the inhabitants living within its boundary can be met by selling agricultural goods, donations, rental money, investment profits, or by deposits from other institutions of the religion (the traditional support). These monasteries are known to be as Most beautiful monasteries in the world.

Let’s explore the world’s awesome monasteries

• Santa Maria de Montserrat Monastery, Spain:
  Situated in the Montserrat Mountain near Barcelona in Catalonia, it is a stunning rock formation that is seen even from a distance. The backdrop of the mountain is magnificent as Montserrat means jagged mountain in Catalan and that is formed from a type of sedimentary rock.

• Yumbulagang Monastery, Tibet:
  Located on a hill on east of the Yarlong river in Naidong county near Lhasa; this is the first palace with a history of over 2000 years. This beautiful edifice is decorated with painted walls and murals depicting the history of Tibet. Yumbulagang refers to the palace of mother and son in Tibetan language.
• Tibet Potala Palace, Tibet:
  Standing on Marpo Ri hill above the Lhasa valley, this is the greatest edifice in Tibet. There is also a holy cave here as per the legend that is the home of the Bodhisattva Chenresi (Avilokiteshvara).

• Meteora Monastery, Greece:
  Located on the top of rocky peaks in Thessaly, this was discovered in the 14th century embellished by the Cretan painter Theofanis o Kris in the 16th century. Listed as the World Heritage by UNESCO, the Meteora holds six monasteries.
• Monastery of the Holy Trinity, Central Greece:
  Perched on the northwestern edge of the Thessaly Plain near the Pineios river and Pindus Mountains, it is an interested cliff formation.

• The Monastery of Varlaam, Greece:
  Again standing in Meteora in Thessaly, this was first the home of a monk named Varlaam who constructed the chapel of the Three Hierarchs and some cells in 1350 A.D. Later in 1518, the brothers Nectarius and Theophanis built the current chapel on the former’s ruins.
• The Monastery of Roussanou, Greece:
  Situated in Thessaly, it is standing riskily on the tip of a narrow rock. Named after the first hermit to live here, very little is known about this edifice. It was founded in 1380 by the monks Nicodemus and Benedict.
• Hozoviotissa Monastery, Greece:
  Situated in the beautiful island of Amorgos, this is the 11th century edifice dedicated to the Grace of Panagia, the Virgin Mary who is the guardian of the island. A popular belief holds here that her idol came here on a boat with no men from Palestine.

• Monastery Grigoriou, Greece:
  Situated in the ascetic state of Mount Athos, this edifice is in the wonderful environs devoted to Saint Nicholas. Founded in the 14th century, it stands 7th in the hierarchical order of 20 Athonite monasteries and is one of the most well maintained monasteries. Its catholicon built in 1768 A.D., the church’s walls were adorned by the sacred monks Gabriel and Gregory in 1779 A.D.
• Taktsang (Tigers Nest) Monastery, Bhutan:
  Erected on the edge of a 3120 feet high cliff in Paro valley, this is the most sacred pilgrimage spot in Bhutan. According to the legend, Guru Rinpoche came here from the Himalayas of Tibet on the tigress in the 7th century to meditate in a cave for three months that marked the advent of Buddhism in the nation.

• Sumela Monastery, Turkey:
  Situated at the base of a sheer cliff opposite the Altindere valley in Macka of Trabzon Province, it is also called the Meryem Ana. The monastery has 72 rooms and a rich library.
• Cave Monasteries of Cappadocia, Turkey:
  Cappadocia is well mentioned in the Bible for hearing the Gospel from Galileans and that they were the God-fearing Jews. The monasteries is on the highest peak – The Natural Rock Citadel of Uçhisar – that is honeycombed by such rich architecture
• Sigiriya, Srilanka:
  Located in the central Matale District, the Sigiriya is the molten rock created out of a dead volcano and is so high that it is visible from miles and any direction. Its structure is oval with a flat top that slants slowly.
• Kye monastery Spiti, India:
  Perched atop a hill near the Spiti River in Himachal Pradesh, this is most repeatedly visited by the Buddhists. Originally belonging to the 1000 A.D., it has faced many attacks that had led to many renovations. This is now given a shape of an irregular outline looking as a fort instead of a monastery.

• Madonna del Sasso, Switzerland:
  Located in Locarno, Switzerland, the stunning sight here is of the Franciscan Santuario della Madonna del Sasso (means rock) church above the town on a wooded crag. According to the legend, the Virgin emerged in front of a local monk, Brother Bartholomeo da Ivrea while walking in the woods.
• Mar Mousa Monastery, Damascus:
  Located close to the Nabk town at 80 km north of Damascus in the Syrian Mountains, this active edifice belongs to the 6th century famous for its stunning old frescoes and calm vibes. Monks here produce their own food, breed livestock, and vend products to locals for maintaining the monastery. Currently, Paolo, an Italian Syriac monk runs this sacred edifice.
• Monastery of St Martin du Canigou, Southern France:
  This is a wonderful edifice in the amazing environs in the Pyrenees on the Canigou mountain not far from the Spanish border. Built in 1009 and formerly inhabited by Benedictine monks, the monastery was restored many times.
• Thiksey Monastery, India:
  Perched atop a hill in the Indus Valley to the east of Leh in Ladakh, this edifice is the home of a temple Lakhang Nyerma dedicated to Goddess Dorje Chenmo and many sacred shrines. One can also look for rich artifacts and relics.
• Khor Virap Monastery, Armenia:
  Standing in the Ararat plain close to Turkey, this is the famous tourist destination. It was at this place where Gregory the Illuminator spent 13 years of imprisonment. He later converted the King Trdat III to a Christian in 301 A.D that marked the advent of Christianity as the official religion of Armenia.

• Ling Jiou Mountain Monastery, Taiwan:
  Perched on a mountain above Fulong on the northeast coast, this is a Buddhist centre erected in 1983 with breathtaking views of mountains and the Pacific Ocean. The captivating Buddha Eye Gate invites you to the edifice exhibiting Tibetan architecture and pillars with religious symbols.
• Phodong Monastery, India:
  Situated in Sikkim at 28 km from Gangtok, this edifice was built in the 18th century and has been rebuilt. Do view the ancient mural paintings and has 260 monks.

• St. Bartholoma, KonigSee, Germany:
  Situated in the far southeast corner on a peninsula washed aground by the ice stream, this edifice holds a pilgrimage church and the former castle.