9. Phugtal Monastery, Ladakh, India
Located in the Zanskar region of Ladakh, the monastery is a unique construction of mud and timber. It is built at the entrance of a cave on the cliff-face of a lateral gorge of a major tributary of the Lungnak (Lingti-Tsarap) River. From a distance, the monastery looks like a giant honeycomb.
This is the only monastery that can be reached by foot. The altitude and limited options for food make it a little difficult for visitors to adapt to.