New on 500px : Paradise. by ArtLeavesAMark by ArtLeavesAMark

As beautiful as they come. Situated in the heart of Spiti valley in the Himalayas’ is Kee monastery, which is not just a place with surreal backdrops but also the home to over 250 monks. Located at 4166m, it is over 1000 years old and has had a history of invasions. I had the opportunity to live with the monks for 8days, I distinctly remember it as one of the most pure experiences I have had.

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New on 500px : In Pursuit of Happiness by annishaikh1990 by annishaikh1990

Buddhist Monks playing Inside Lamayuru Monastery
Lamayuru or Yuru Gompa is a Tibetan Buddhist Gompa in Kargil District, Western Ladakh, India, situated on the Srinagar – Kargil – Leh road 15 km east of the Fotu La, at a height of 3,510 m.

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New on 500px : Mtskheta Svetitskhoveli Cathedral by No_Smoking by No_Smoking

Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (Georgian: სვეტიცხოვლის საკათედრო ტაძარი, svet’icxovlis sak’atedro t’adzari; literally, “the Living Pillar Cathedral”) is a Georgian Orthodox cathedral located in the historical town of Mtskheta, Georgia, 20 km (12 mi) northwest of the nation’s capital of Tbilisi.

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New on 500px : Meteora, Greece by enroc by enroc

In Meteora—”rocks in the air”—sandstone spires rise from the plain of Thessaly like tall lumps of clay on a potter’s wheel. Seeing the area as a religious retreat, monasteries sprung up here, beginning in 1336. At one time there were 24; today, 13 remain and six are open to the public. The area was added to the World Heritage List in 1988.

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New on 500px : Tatev Monastery by markoukkola by markoukkola

Image of Tatev monastery (9th centry) made to look like painting.

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New on 500px : Meteora by giordah by giordah

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New on 500px : Barley Fields in front of Chemrey by Angshu by Angshu

Clinging like a swallow’s nest to the sides of a shay conical hill, the magnificent Gompa of Chemrey sees very few visitors because of its location – tucked up the side valley that runs from below Hemis, to the Chang-la pass into Pangong. If one isn’t having one’s own vehicle, then be prepared to do some walking to get there. It takes around fifty minutes to follow the dirt track down to the river and up to the monastery after the Leh -Thak Thok bus drops one off beside the main road.

This is the view of the Chemrey Conpa as seen from the freshly sowed barley fields.

Chemrey Monastery is a 1664 Buddhist monastery, approximately 40 kilometres (25 mi) east of Leh, Ladakh, northern India. This monastery of the Drugpa (Red Hat) sect or monastic order in located in eastern Ladakh. It dates back to the 17th century. Today, the Ladakh Chemrey Gompa houses around 20 monks of the diminishing Drugpa community, along with their young novices.

Samsara is a 2001 independent Indian/Italian/French/German film which tells the story of a Buddhist monk’s quest to find Enlightenment was shot near Chemrey.

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New on 500px : Prayer Wheels @ Rumtek Monastery by banerjeesantanu by banerjeesantanu

Prayer Wheels @ Rumtek Monastery , Sikkim

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New on 500px : Symmetry by david1966 by david1966

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New on 500px : Solovki by Kordan by Kordan

Solovki tonight. Panorama 5 photos.

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