Seto Machendranath temple, close to Durbar Square, Kathmandu, Nepal. Pagoda style gilt roofed temple in a monastic courtyard now housing shops and market stalls.

Novice monks line up in front of monastic building at the new Karma Theckhling Monastery, built in traditional Sikkim style, Ravangla (Rabongla), Sikkim, India, Asia

Frontage of Convent of San Bernardino of Sienna, Valladolid, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

The Monastery, Alcobaca, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Portugal, Europe

Western Monastery, Tsuen Wan, New Territories, Hong Kong, China, Asia

The Monastery, Alcobaca, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Portugal, Europe

Western Monastery, Tsuen Wan, New Territories, Hong Kong, China, Asia

The Franciscan Monastery, Dubrovnik, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Dubrovnik-Neretva county, Croatia, Europe

Aerial drone panoramic view of the Alcobaca Monastery (Alcobasa Monastery), UNESCO World Heritage Site, a Catholic monastic complex, Alcobaca, central Portugal, Eurpe

Monastery of Alcobaca, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Alcobaca, Oeste, Portugal, Europe

Ribat, monastic fortress viewed from the roof, Medina, Sousse, Tunisia, North Africa, Africa

class, Buddhist College at Ganlu Temple, Jiuhuashan, Mount Jiuhua, mountain of nine flowers, Jiuhua Shan, Anhui province, China, Asia

class, Buddhist College at Ganlu Temple, Jiuhuashan, Mount Jiuhua, mountain of nine flowers, Jiuhua Shan, Anhui province, China, Asia

Ceiling frescoes in the largest monastic library (1766) in the world at Admont Abbey, Benedictine monastery in Liexen, Styria, Austria, Europe

Ceiling frescoes in the largest monastic library (1766) in the world at Admont Abbey, Benedictine monastery in Liexen, Styria, Austria, Europe

Dionysiu Monastery, Greek Orthodox monastery on Mount Athos (autonomous monastic state), Chalkidiki Peninsula, Greece

Wutai Shan monastic site, Mount Wutai, Unesco World Heritage Site, Shanxi, China, Asia

Library of the Strahov Monastery, Prague, Bohemia, Czech Republic, Eastern Europe

Wutai Shan monastic site, Mount Wutai, Unesco World Heritage Site, Shanxi, China, Asia

Benedictine monastery on the island of St. Maria in Veliko Jezero, Great Lake, National Park Mljet, Mljet Island, Dubrovnik-Neretva, Dalmatia, Croatia, Europe

Ornate pillar in the Wutai Shan monastic site, Mount Wutai, Unesco World Heritage Site, Shanxi, China, Asia

Rheinau - towers from the monastic church - Kanton Zurich, Switzerland, Europe.

Interior, stalls, choir of the monastic church, Maulbronn Monastery, Cistercian Abbey, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kraichgau, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany, Europe

Wutai Shan monastic site, Mount Wutai, Unesco World Heritage Site, Shanxi, China, Asia

Wutai Shan monastic site, Mount Wutai, Unesco World Heritage Site, Shanxi, China, Asia

Bebenhausener Pfleghof former monastic building, Tuebingen, Swabian Alb, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany, Europe

Wutai Shan monastic site, Mount Wutai, Unesco World Heritage Site, Shanxi, China, Asia

Wutai Shan monastic site, Mount Wutai, Unesco World Heritage Site, Shanxi, China, Asia

Schloss Ettersburg Castle with the monastic church near Weimar, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Classical Weimar, Thuringia, Germany, Europe

Buddha statues in the Wutai Shan monastic site, Mount Wutai, Unesco World Heritage Site, Shanxi, China, Asia

Sheela Na Gig, White Island, Lough Erne, County Fermanagh, Ireland

Ulster History Park, Omagh, County Tyrone, Ireland

Rock Of Cashel, Cashel, County Tipperary, Ireland

Devenish Monastic Site, Devenish Island, Lower Lough Erne, County Fermanagh, Ireland

Dragon On A Cistercian Abbey Ceiling, Clare Island, County Mayo, Ireland

Kilmacduagh Monastery, Kilmacduagh, County Galway, Ireland

Rock Of Cashel, Hore Abbey, Cashel, County Tipperary, Ireland

Round Tower At Turlough, Co Mayo, Ireland

BULGARIA Rila Nativity Church from balcony through arch Rila Monastery. Travel Tourism Holiday Vacation Explore Recreation Leisure Sightseeing Tourist Attraction Tour History Historic Historical Nativity Church Religion Religious Building Architecture Architectural Tranquility Tranquil Calm Peaceful Christianity Orthodox Holy Divine Christian Theology Pray Prayer Worship Worshipping Worshiping Faith Bulgaria Bulgarian East Eastern Europe European Calendar Vivid Vibrant Rila Monastery Monastic Ornate Intricate UNESCO World Heritage Site Rilski Museum Summer Bright Sunny Sun Monument National Arches Arch Arched Balcony Blue Sky Stripes Stripe Striped Symmetry Symmetrical Graphic Banister Dome Frame Framed Framing Eastern Europe

Hand crafted and painted door in Buddhist Monastery, Sikkim, India