Winter Palace of Bogd Khan

Winter Palace of Bogd Khan
Built between 1893 and 1903, the Winter Palace of Bogd Khan was the home of the Mongolia’s last king Javzun Damba Khutagt VIII. This complex of temples and houses contains a number of Buddhist artworks and the private collection of the Bogd Khan, composed of gifts from rulers and kings from all over the world. The artworks displayed here were made by the top Mongolian, Tibetan and Chinese master-sculptors of the 18th and 19th centuries and represent the gods of the Buddhist pantheon.

Read More

Erdene Zuu Monastery

Erdene Zuu Monastery
In 1586 when the Mongolian Khan Abtaisai returned home from his long pilgrimage to Tibet, he founded the first Buddhist monastery for it?s beauty it was named Erdene Zuu or Hundred Treasures. Erdene zuu was the first Buddhist monastery in Mongolia It is surrounded by a monumental wall with 108 stupas measuring 400×400 meters. Each of the four sites of the wall has a tower gat. In 1792 there were 62 temples. 500 buildings with about 1000 lamas inside the surrounded wall. It houses considerable historical and cultural values statues of deities, ritual masks and costumes, canvases on religious motifs, samples of mural and ceiling painting, articles, made by crafts men. Erdene-Zuu’s temples were destroyed by the anti religious campaign of Stalin of the 1930s and an unknown number of monks killed. The monastery remained closed until 1965 when it was permitted to reopen as a museum.

Read More

Kharkhorum resort
Kharkhorum is a destination not to be missed for those visiting Mongolia. In the 13th century it was the capital of the Mongolian Empire. This town is close to Erdene Zuu monastery, built in 1586 using the stones from the ruins of Kharakhorum. It was the first Buddhist center in Mongolia and it housed 10,000 lamas(monkis) in 62 temples. In 1930’s it was badly damaged by the Stalinist purges and only since 1990 has become an active monastery again. Two Turtles Carved from rock marked the boundaries of the complex. Nearby is Shanhiin Hiid(monastery) and Orkhon waterfall. Because of its proximity to Ulaanbaatar, Erdene Zuu and Kharakhorum can easily be a part any trip.

Read More