5 Curious Sacred Places to Visit One Day
Regardless of whether you are a religious person or not, there are a number of very important temples around the world, whether for their history or for the beautiful architectural forms and works kept inside. Thus, the people of Discovery News have created a supercurious list of sacred places, dedicated to the most diverse creeds and built in unusual places. Check out:
Xuan Kong Si Hanging Monastery
Located on Mount Heng Shan, China, the Hanging Monastery was built over 1500 years ago on the walls of a gorge. It is over 50 meters high and a series of wooden pillars serve to keep it in place. Several bridges, walkways and stairways provide access to the various pavilions, and the monastery's main supporting structure is hidden within the rock.
Wat Phra Dhammakaya Temple
More like a huge alien ship than a religious temple, the image building is located in Thailand. Dedicated to Buddhism, Wat Phra Dhammakaya was completed in the 1980s, and is known to have been the site of the world's largest ordination with the presence of 100, 000 monks.
Chimi Lhakhang Temple
Built in 1499 in the city of Punakha, Bhutan, this exotic Buddhist temple is dedicated to Lama Drukpa Kuenley, considered a fertility god and affectionately known as "the divine evil man."
The nickname came from the flamboyant philosophies of Kuenley, who was famous for his bizarre behavior and his crush on drinking and women. So much so that the llama is represented in the form of a penis, and its "image" can be found adorning doors and facades of various buildings across the country.
Meteora Monasteries
Meteora Monasteries form the second largest temple complex in Greece and, because they are located on top of huge cliffs that reach a height of up to 600 meters, they are also known as “Airborne Monasteries”. The buildings were occupied by hermit monks, and until 1920 the access was made by cranes.
No one knows for sure when they were founded, but it is believed that their construction began in the 11th century. Today there are only six buildings left, but originally the complex consisted of more than 20 temples.
Westvleteren Abbey
This curious abbey located in Belgium is not only famous for the spirituality of the local monks. In fact, one of the main attractions of Westvleteren is the brewery inside which, from the hands of the priests themselves, produces a Trappist beer of excellent reputation.
