Buddhist monasteries are usually located in remote places far from the hub-bub of cities and towns.
It takes more than a mild determination to reach them, but some of these are decidedly inaccessible.
They still look formidable and requires hundreds of meters of vertical trekking.
You better have a good pair of legs if you plan on visiting one of these.
They continued to flourish until the 17th century.
In the 1920s there was an improvement in the arrangements.
Steps were cut into the rock, making the complex accessible via a bridge from the nearby plateau.
A mule track leading to it passes through pine forest that is colourfully festooned with moss and prayer flags.
On many days, clouds shroud the monastery and give an eerie feeling of remoteness.
Sumela Monastery
The Sumela Monastery is built into the rock cliffs of the Altmdere Valley in Turkey.
At an altitude of about 1,200 metres it is a major tourist attraction of Altndere National Park.
During its long history, the monastery fell into ruin several times and was restored by various emperors.
It reached its present form in the 13th century after gaining prominence during the reign of Alexios III.
It lay empty for decades before being partially restored and returned to life as a museum.
They are evenly distributed and well balanced in height.
Today, it is one of the main tourist attractions and historical sites in the Datong area.
