Five Holy Sanctuaries Built in Precarious
Places
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KOMUNITAS BLOGGER UNIVERSITAS SRIWIJAYA
As if to prove to themselves and the entire world their faith in gods would protect them in any
circumstances, holy men throughout the years have built their sanctuaries in some of the
most precarious locations on Earth. Perched on top of cliffs, or hanging on the side of high
mountains, here are five of the world’s most incredible sacred sites:
Sumela Monastery – Turkey
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One of Turkey’s most visited tourist attractions, Sumela Monastery is built on the side
of a steep cliff, at an altitude of 1200 meters. It was built during in 386AD, during the reign of
Theodosius I, by two monks who, according to legend, found a miraculous icon of the Virgin
Mary, in one of the mountain’s caves.
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Sumela had a very turbulent history, it fell into ruins more than once, but it was restored and
expanded every time. Its current form dates back to the 14th century, when due to its growing
popularity, it was granted imperial funds by emperor Alexios III and Sultan Mehmed II. The
monastery was finally abandoned in 1923, during the population exchanges between Greece
and Turkey and currently functions only as a tourist attraction.
Meteora - Greece
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Meteora (Greek for “suspended rocks”) is one of the most important religious
sites in the world and a must-see attraction in Greece. It numbers six monasteries, built on
natural rock pillars up to 550 meters tall. Although experts haven’t been able to
determine when the monasteries of Meteora were built, evidence shows monks have been
living here since the 11th century AD.
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There were originally 20 monasteries, built by monks and pilgrims seeking to escape from
the invading Turks, but only six remain standing today. Constructing a monastery on giant
sandstone pillars is a seemingly impossible task even in modern times, but the monks
managed to build them using extremely long ladders tied together and rope systems. The
ropes were replaced only “when the Lord let them break”. In the early 19th
century, steps were carved into the rock making the entire complex considerably more
accessible.
Nowadays, each of the six monasteries is inhabited by fewer than ten people and they
mostly act as museums and tourist attractions. Five of the Meteora Monasteries are
inhabited by monks and one by nuns.
Tiger’s Lair Monastery – Bhutan
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Perched on the side of a cliff, at 3,120 meters above sea level, Tiger’s Nest
Monastery overlooks the beautiful Paro valley, in Bhutan. The history of this incredible holy
site is tied to the destiny of Guru Rinpoche, one of the most important historical figures of
Buthan. Legend has it one of Guru’s consorts transformed herself into a tigress and
carried him on her back all the way from Tibet. They landed on a cliff near Paro where Guru
Rinpoche entered a cave and meditated for three months. Tiger’s Nest Monastery is
built in this holy place.
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Tiger’s Nest Monastery, also known as Paro Taktsang, was built sometime in the 8th
century, at 900 meters above Paro Valley. Locals believe the workers were aided by dakinis,
magical beings who carried up the building materials. The monastery was damaged during a
fire in 1998 and it took the renovation team until 2005 to restore it.
Hanging Temple of Hengshan - China
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Literally hanging on the side of Mount Heng, 75 meters above ground, the temple of
Hengshan is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Datong province. Built during
the Late Northern Wei Dynasty, over 1,500 years ago, by a monk named Liao Ran, the
Hanging Temple has passed the test of time and gravity, sustained only by a few wooden
poles.
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This amazing display of architecture is comprised of 40 chambers dug into the cliff and linked
together through a network of tunnels. Its uniqueness comes not only from its incredible
location, but also from the fact that it hosts three religions, Buddhism, Taoism and
Confucianism.
Phuktal Monastery - India
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High up in the Himalaya Mountains, on the edge of a cliff, lies one of the most breathtaking
monasteries in the world. Built in the 12th century, in a honeycomb style, Phuktal (Phugtal)
Monastery is home to 70 Gelug (Yellow Hat) Buddhist Monks. It’s only reachable by
foot, with the nearest road a three-days-trek away.
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Phuktal Monastery is located under the entrance of a large grotto, close to a natural spring. It
is amazing how a structure built out of mud bricks, wood and stones has lasted so long in
such a harsh environment, where temperatures sometimes decrease to 35 degrees Celsius.