The first temple of Gandantegchinleng Monastery was established in 1835 by the Fifth Jebtsundamba, the highest reincarnated lama of Mongolia. In the following years temples for daily service, veneration of Avalokiteshvara and colleges of Buddhist philosophy, medicine, astrology and tantric ritual were established. In the beginning of the 20th century Gandantegchinleng Monastery was the centre of Buddhist learning in Mongolia. Many prominent Buddhist scholars in Mongolia as well as in Buddhist world were educated and trained by its various colleges and their works on Buddhist philosophy, linguistics, medicine, astrology and tantric practice became the most authoritative and accurate Buddhist texts. During 1930s the socialist government adopted a policy of banning all religious activities in Mongolia. As a consequence all monasteries were closed and monks were executed, jailed and disrobed all over Mongolia. In 1938, Gandantegchinleng Monastery was closed, but reopened in 1944 as the only functioning monastery during the socialist regime. After the democratic change took place in 1990 Buddhism regained its full right of worship. Gandantegchinleng Monastery has, as being the Centre of Mongolian Buddhists, been striving to propagate peaceful teaching of Lord Buddha among family and society. In the whole country 140 monasteries and temples have been (re)established and many sacred statues were reconstructed so far.
The Present-day Monastery
Currently Gandantegchinleng Monastery has over 900 monks; a Mongolian Buddhist University (established in 1970); three colleges of Buddhist philosophy; a Medical and Astrological College; a Kalachakra temple; a Jud Tantric College and an Avalokiteshvara (Migjid Janraisig) temple.
The monastery complex consists of Zanabazar Buddhist University, three temples for Buddhist service and veneration of Avalokiteshvara, three Buddhist Colleges of Buddhist Philosophy, College of Medicine and Astrology and two Tantric College. The brief introduction of above mentioned temples and colleges are given in the below.
The Zanabazar Buddhist University was founded in 1970 and concentrates on Buddhist Studies and Indo-Tibetan Studies. Not only Mongolian students from all over Mongolia but also foreign students study in Zanabazar Buddhist University.
Temples
1. Gandan temple is the first temple in Gandantegchinleng Monastery and was established in 1835. Grand services take place in this temple.
2. Vajrapani temple was established in 1940 and daily services are performed here.
3. Avalokiteshvara temple was built in 1912 and the icon of this temple is the Boddhisattva Avalokiteshvara (Migjid Janraisig) with a height of 26,5 metre that was rebuild in 1996
Colleges of Buddhist Philosophy
1. Dashchoimphel was established by II Jebtsundamba and follows the tenet of Gunchen Jamyan Shadba, Tibetan monk scholar of Gelugpa tradition.
2. Gungaachoiling was established in 1809 and follows the tenet of Banchen Sodnamdagva.
3. Idgaachoinzinling was established in 1910 and follows the tenet of Sera Jebtsunba.
4. College of Medicine and Astrology trains students in Mongolian traditional medicine and astrology.
5. Jud Tantric College and Kalachakra Tantric College prepare students in Buddhist tantric ritual as well as knowledge of tantric practice.
Natural History Museum
When the first national museum was established in Mongolia in 1924, the base of natural historical museum was found by consisting the principal sections of the exhibitions with the choicest exhibitions of Mongolian Nature. When the national central museum was located in present location in 1956, it has been enriching its exhibitions and expanded as a big natural department, which has various kinds of geographical, flora, fauna and paleontological exhibits. The government Resolution, which to classify the museums in different fields like as the developed countries, was passed and the national central museum was abolished in 1991. Since 1992, a new museum was established in the place of national central museum with the purpose of being the leader natural central museum for the further development, getting foreigners enjoyed in international level, showing the geological history such as locations of planets and earth establishment and formations and show the biology characteristics of earth central zone and named as Museum of Natural History. Natural history involves historical process of 4.7 milliard years of that is very long term from the origin of the world until the origin of plant, animal and human. Thus our museum shows the briefness of these events by exhibitions and contributes knowledge to peoples mind. The museum consists of: – Mongolian geography, ancient volcanoes, stones from the volcanoes – Earth origin, planet studying meteorites – Geological history, useful resources, minerals – Ancient and contemporary botany – Land fauna /mammals, birds, fishes, insects, reptiles, amphibious/ – Very ancient plant and animals /paleontology/ – Human origin Museum colleagues always enrich their treasures, exhibitions, renovate the exhibition halls and improve the museum settlement so that the museum became a big museum, which has the capable to attract foreign and domestic visitors. The museum is one of the big museum of Mongolia that has the 40 halls with 2700 square meters, 12000 exhibits and more than over 50 thousand visitors visit to the museum each year and exhibition marshrut lasts about 1.5-2.0 hours. The museum is studying and advertising museum, which introduces natural history, its appearance movements and developments to the audiences by theoretical and objects researching.
International Intellectual museum
The museum’s collection includes many Mongolian puzzle toys and world famous, rare and precious exhibits. The museum is a manufacturer of Mongolian puzzle toys, logic games, hand crafted products and souvenirs and it exports most of its products abroad. The museum has exhibited over 80 international exhibitions and fairs in 50 countries.
Choijin lama’s museum
Choijing Lama Temple Museum is a unique showcase of religious art and the history of Buddism in Mongolia. This museum is a gem of the historical and cultural and cultural heritage of the previous century. The significance of Choijing Lama temple ensures that we must seek to maintain it in its original form. This classic work of our masters of the 17,18 and 19 centuries has many masterpieces to show to our visitors from abroad. Mongolian architects erected the temple between 1904 and 1908 in honor of the influential Lama Lubsanhaidav who was declared main protector of religion nad state Oracle of Mongolia. In some senses choijing acted as a shaman: where he differed was in his representation of the states as opposed to individuals. He was the 8th Bogdo Khan`s brother and he was born in 1871 in Tibet. He invited special teachers from Tibet to train Choijing lama to become a state Choijing, who then made a vow to protect the religion of his teachers. The monastery was active until 1938. According to the degree of the Peoples Khural, November 1941, the monastery was included in the list of historical and cultural monuments and was taken charge by the Committee of sciences in 1942. It was then turned into a museum. The museum is an ensemble of Buddhist architecture and consists of 5 temples and 5 arched gates. The works of the national clever masters of painting and sculpture are of great interest. In the main temple there is the sculpture of Choijing Lama and the embalmed mummy of his teacher. It also contains the great coral mask of Begtse, created under the direction of protectors using over 6000 pieces of coral. Yadam temple and Amgalan temple contain rare artifacts made by the famous Mongolian artist and sculptor, Zanabazar. In total our museum has over 5000 items out of which 12 are unique nad 200 are particularly valuable. Between 1995 and 2000 our museum has toured many countries including the USA, France. Japan, South Korea and Holland. We have displayed over 100 items. We separated from bogd Khan museum in January 2000 and we have been working independently from this time to develop the Choijing Lama temple.
Bogd Zanabazar
Also known as Undur Gegeen Zanabazar and Bogd Jivzundamba (1635-1723), was the grandson of Avtai Sain Khan and a direct descendant of Ghinggis Khan. Zanabazar was the First Resplendent Saint of Mongolia, most noted for making an inestimable contribution to the development of the Mongolian fine arts. Identified as the Khalkhyn Gegeenten (Holy Saint) at the Danshig Festival of Shireet Tsagaan Nuur in 1641 Zanabazar undertook religious studies in Tibet as a young child, and received the title of First Khalkh Incarnation of the Bogd Jetsundamba. Upon return to his homeland, Zanabazar began to play an active role in the construction of monasteries and temples in the Mongol styles with influences from East Asia. In addition, Zanabazar produced a series of sculptures classified today as belonging to the style of the “Zanabazar school”, characterized as hollow yet seamless brass castings expressing the ideals of philosophy, beauty and mercy. Examples of such works exhibited here are the “Dhyani Buddhas”, “White Tara”, and “Bodhi Stupa”. Zanabazar created the ideogram “Svayambhu”, meaning ‘self-sprung’ in 1686, from which Mongolia’s first script was derived. Today the state symbol of Mongolia was intended to express the idea “may the Mongol nation exist by its own right”. The Svayambhu symbol and alphabet are displayed here. Zanabazar earned his place in art history by innovating the static artistic model of eastern and Buddhist works through combining religious and traditional folk arts by replicating the human figure, enriched by the traditional Mongol concept of beauty in his representations of deities.
Fine Art Museum
The Fine Arts G. Zanabazar Museum was founded in 1966. The museum is renowned for the works of G. Zanabazar (1635-1724), which include the statues of Sita Tara, the Five Dhayani Buddhas and the Bodhi Stupa. The Fine Arts Museum was named after Gombodorjiin Zanabazar in 1995. It has 12 exhibition galleries covering the arts from ancient civilizations up to the beginning of the 20th Century. Initially opened with over 300 exhibits, the Museum rapidly enriched the number of its objects, with the modern arts becoming a separate division in 1989 as an Arts Gallery. The Museum displays the artistic works of Mongolian masters of the 18-20th Centuries, coral masks, thangkas, as well as the famous paintings of B. Sharav entitled “A Day in Mongolia” and “Airag feast”. The Museum contains 13000 objects. The exhibition hall regularly hosts the works of contemporary artists. The G. Zanabazar Museum has been successfully cooperating with UNESCO for the improvement of the preservation of priceless exhibits and for training of the Museum staff. The tour of the museum begins at the 2nd floor, guiding through the following topics.
Bogdking’s palace
This palace known as The green palace was built between 1893-1903 during 10 years by Mongolian masters and dedicated to the YIII Bogd gegeen, the head of lamaist religion & last khan of Mongolia.In 1911 there was formed The Bogd khan state and the YIII Bogd gegeen assumed political authority over Mongolia as the Bogd khan or “Holy King” and continued to govern as a constitutional monarch from the time of the Mongolian People’s Revolution in 1921 until his dearth of illness in 1924. After Bogd khan dearth in 1924 it was turned into museum Bogd khan palace was founded as the first National historical museum of Mongolia. In 1954 was founded The state central museum and the Bogd khan palace museum became the branch museum. Since 2000 the museum is activiting as Bogd khan palace museum. Now the Bogd khan palace museum consists of seven Summer Prayer temples and the winter palace. The collections of the museum include unique and valuable objects related to Mongolia’s political, religious, and artistic history from the 17 to early 20-th centuries: bronze castings, silk paintings, mineral paintings, and paper icons made by well-known artists and artisans of the period, among others the first Bogd Javzundamba Zanabazar and his school; as well as objects owned and used by the YIII Bogd Javzundamba and his wife queen Dondogdulam, including royal clothing and equipment, gifts from domestic and foreign guests or representatives, and items purchased by the king for his own diversion. The collection of the museum is consists of a great number of original objects and works of art from the Bogdo khan palace and is divided into 12 parts: sculpture, scrolls paintings/thangka/, applique, wood carving, religious objects, clothes, furniture, decorative arts, collection of stuffed animal, special collection, support collection and architecture.. Also all exhibits is divided into: high level category, valuable category and original category. Nowadays we have 68 exhibits of high level category and 23 exhibits of valuable category. The number of these categories will be increasing. Exhibits of high level category includes gilded bronze sculptures made by the famous master Zanabazar and school of Zanabazar, thangka paintings from the XIX-XX centuries, the painting shown the capital city of Mongolia 1912 made by Jugder, original paintings made by founder of Mongolian modern painting B.Sharav and expensive clothes of khan and queen.
Gandan monastery
It is the biggest Buddhist monastery of Mongolia. Most Buddhist Monasteries in Mongolia were destroyed during the communist regime, which lasted until 1990. One of the only to survive was Gandan Monastery, being used as a showcase for visitors. It’s official name is Gandantegchinleng Khiid, translates into Mahayana Island of Perfect Rejoice, with Island being a generally used metaphor for monastery. Gandan is the largest and most important monastery of Mongolia, with over 900 monks. -Inside is Megjid Janraisag temple, there is huge a statue of Megjid Janraisig (the lord who looks in every direction). It is about 26.5 meters tall and is covered by a huge number of precious stones.
Sukhbaatar square
It was built in 1946 for the 25th anniversary of the Revolution, represents the young revolutionary hero on the back of a rearing horse, pointing to the rising sun and summoning his people to fight. It was Sukhbaatar, a military general, who rode to Russia with secret note stashed in his riding whip, seeking the assistance of Lenin to help rid Mongolia of the Chinese. On the monument are carved words attributed to him after driving Chinese from Mongolia, “If we, entire people, unite in common effort and common will, there is nothing in the world that we can not achieve, learn and succeed in”. State Ceremonial Palace was established in 2006 in front government house of Mongolia, at the Sukhbaatar Square under the auspice of work to celebrate 840th anniversary of Genghis khan’s birth in 2002 and 800th anniversary of establishment of Great Mongolian Empire. An ancient tradition of begging the land for the foundation was used. According to this tradition, a pitcher which contains 88 objects collected from famous places, was laid to set the foundation in order to calm ground spirit. These 88 objects includes samples of water, soil, plants from Deluun Boldog, Genghis khan birth place, Onon River and Three lakes where Genghis khan spent his childhood, State worshipped Burkhan Khaldun mountain, Blue Lake where title of Genghis khan conferred to him, Karakorum, ancient capital city Mongolian Empire etc. In front of Ceremonial Palace, there are statues of Genghis khan and Uguudei, his third son, Khubilai, a grand son of him, Muhuila and Boorch who were his honest heroes.
Buddha Garden
This Golden Buddha (23 meters tall) garden was recently built and offered by the Tibetan Lama Gurdava Rinpoche.
The Revolutionary Mongol Tank brigade monument
The Revolutionary Mongol Tank brigade monument has been moved to the bottom of Zaisan Memorial. It was built for 25th anniversary of the Mongol tank brigade, which, with money from the people of Mongolia, was presented to USSR in 1942 as part of the war effort against Nazi Germany.
Zaisan Hill
Located to the south of Ulaanbaatar, the Zaisan Memorial – erected on 50th anniversary of the Communist Revolution-serves to honour the Soviet and Mongolian soldiers who died in the fight against Nazi Germany. At the top of the cement column, the emblem of hammer and sickle can be seen side by side with the Soyombo, the national emblem of Mongolia. Next to the monumental statue of soldier, a mosaic composition on a large circular panel in reinforced concrete illustrates the theme of friendship between Mongol and Soviet peoples. In the center of it, large granite bowl holds an eternal flame. The fact that this flame no longer operates is perhaps symbolic what became of the friendly Mongolian-Soviet relations. From the top of the memorial, a good view can be had over the capital.
13th Century National Park
“13th Century National Park” is located in Erdene country, Yol mountain 96km from Ulaanbaatar. The goal of “13th century” national park is build and establish real-time micro kingdom to make the lively feeling for its guests during their stay by genuinely providing true environment of the way of living and working of the 13th century. Visitors can enjoy annual celebrations, customs such as making felt cover for ghers, sling wool, sacred ceremony to praise flag, heaven by sacrificing, wedding, weeping camel, mare milking, sealing folks and organizing three games of men. Here the guests can dine with Khans and Queens visit the residents of lords and learn to write in Mongolian scripts and play in horse-headed fiddle /Morin khuur/. “13th Century National Park” consisted with six camps and tribes provide the service to the tourists.
Chinggis khan statue complex
“Chinggis khan statue complex” is located 54 km from Ulaanbaatar among beautiful natural scenery on the bank of river Tuul, in the place called “Tsonjin Boldog”, memorial place connected with historic events. It’s one of the biggest advantages of the project, if comparing the location of other historical sightseeing, places, located not less than 300 miles rough drive. The statue in total is 40m high from surface erected at about 10 m high foundation and surrounded by columns. Far sighted Chinggis Khaan holds a golden whip in his right hand. Recreation area, restaurants and souvenir shops will be located in the column surrounded base of the Statue and from here visitors will ascend to the exhibition hall using elevator at the back of the horse. The visitors will walk to the head of the horse through chest and back neck of the horse, where they can have farseeing and good panorama view over the complex area. The main area will be surrounded by “gher” camp, designed and arranged like the pattern of the horse seal that were used by the 13th century Mongol tribes. In these “gher” camps tourists can have a night out at this spot.
Bogdkhaan Mountain
By some accounts, Bogd Khan Mountain is the world’s oldest nature reserve. The massive forested bulk that shadows the southern outskirts of Ulaanbaatar has been revered and protected for more than two centuries, and perhaps much longer than that. In 1996, UNESCO designated it World Biosphere Reserve, citing that in the 12th and 13th centuries the king of Khereid tribe banned logging and hunting on the mountain, and declared it a holy site. In 1778, an official document from the Manchu government which then ruled Mongolia called it “The most picturesque and unique” and decreed that ceremonies in honor of the mountain be made twice each year, with offerings of incense and silk. The mountain is now Strictly Protected area whose boundaries encompass some 42.000 hectare with additional 26000 hectares in buffer and transition zones. It is at the southwest end of the Khentii Mountain Range. Its highest peak is Tsetsee Gun which is 2268 m high above sea level, one of the four holy peaks of the capital. The peak is covered mostly with Siberian Larch (Larix sibirica). Bogd Khan occupies a transition zone where northern taiga forest meets mountain forest steppe, which in turn gives way to the dry steppe of Central Mongolia. Over the half mountain is forested by larch, spruce, stone pine, cedar and birch. Trees grow primarily on north-facing slopes while southern slopes are covered in steppe grass and bare rocks. The biology inventory lists more than 500 vascular plants species, 47 mammals, 4 reptiles, 2 amphibians, and over thousand insects. Red Deer, Musk Deer, Siberian Deer, Siberian Ibex and Wild Boar also Common Buzzard, Woodpecker and Stork are recorder here.
Tonyukuk Monument
It is located in the east of Ulaanbaatar, near Nalaikh town. This is memorial complex with burial tomb devoted for Tonyukuk, wise minister of Turkish three kings. This memorial complex concludes two stone monuments that were created when he was alive and real story of him was written on it and nine granite human-shaped stones.
Manzushir Monastery
The ruin of Manzushir monastery locates at 43 km from Ulaanbaatar in the front side of Bogdkhaan Mountain. This monastery situated in stunning larch forest. It was established by saint monk, Luvsanjambaldanzan who is reincarnation of Manzushir monk in 1733 and its peak home to 350 monks and 1000 families, the entire complex was reduced to ruin by anti-religious violence in 1937. The last chief monk Tserendorj was executed with 50 other monks. His portrait stands in a place of honor in the only structure on the site to be rebuilt, a former summer quarters. It used to be famous religious center that had power to grant highest Buddhist rank for the monks. Also architectural design and style of the monastery was so wonderful.
Aryapala Meditation and Initiation Center
Aryapala Meditation and Initiation Center was built by the Mongolian Believers Association. They wanted to create a place where people could learn about Buddhism and practice meditation. Construction of the Aryapala Temple and other buildings began in 1998 and finished in 2004. The temple is auspiciously located with a forest in front of it and steep, sharp peaks which host fierce protector-deities behind it. Three water sources, one of them a powerful medicinal spring, are nearby. These conditions fulfill the requirements for a meditation and initiation center. This large stone face above Aryapala. Temple supports the Water Spirits of the White Direction and the Spirit Owners of the Land. On it are the Buddhist mantra Om Mani Padma Hum and the Power of Ten Symbol.
Turtle Rock
Among the better known sites, Turtle Rock is the most prominent. Viewed from the east, it looks like an ancient tortoise-a symbol of wisdom, longevity, and good fortune. The rock is 24 meter high.
Gorkhi Terelj National Park
It is one small but spectacular valley cradled by gentle mountains and studded with unusual rock formations. It is nearest and most visited tourist attraction place located at 60-70 km from Ulaanbaatar. The green rolling meadows match perfectly the smooth shapes of the granite crags, ridges and monoliths that attract thousands of visitors each year. Gorkhi Terelj National Park is one small but spectacular valley cradled by gentle mountains and studded with unusual rock formations. This diverse wild landscape comprising 293.200 hectares of mountains, river valleys, wetlands, forest, rocky summits and flower spangled meadows. The mountains of Gorkhi-Terelj are the southern sentinels of the Khentii range, a tangle of high, rugged country extending 160 km north to Siberian border. It is truly one of the outstanding natural treasures of Mongolia. The biology inventory includes 50 species mammals such as brown bears, wolves, lynx, wolverine, sable, red deer, moose, Siberian roe deer and musk deer and 250 bird species including steppe eagles, golden eagles, cinereous vultures, demoiselle cranes, ever-present black kites, western marsh harriers, Eurasian hobby, Amur falcons and endangered saker falcon. There are more than 1200 vascular plants. Several habitat zones come together here. Arctic tundra on the high mountains, coniferous taiga on north-facing slopes, Euro-Siberian forest steppe and Manchurian –Daurian steppe in the valleys combine to create Khentii’s characteristic steppe and meadow ecosystem.
Khustai National Park
This is 50000 hectares beautiful national park established by government in 1993. Khustai National Park located at 95 km west of Ulaanbaatar. The National Park has unique landscape that features mountain steppe and steppe, also there are sand dunes representing Gobi of Mongolia and river wetlands. Hustai National park has 450 species of vascular plants, 200 of which are medicinal. There are about 46 species of mammals including red deer, roe deer, wild boar, white tailed gazelle, gray wolf, Eurasian lynx, red fox, steppe fox, Eurasian lynx, red fox, steppe fox, manul cat and polecat. Besides, there are also 148 species of birds such as demoiselle crane, cinereous, vulture, black stork, great bustard and great spotted wood-pecker. On the territory of Hustai National Park and its buffer zone there are many historical monuments exist like; monuments ensemble of Ungut –famous with its large number of man like figures, which belongs to 6-8 century AD and many other sepultures, rectangular tombs and the ruin of old monastery. Here Prezwalski wild horse has being bred since 1992 by implementation of joint Dutch-Mongolian project. At the beginning of 19th century, Russian scientist Prezwalskii found and discovered wild horse in Mongolia and name it Prezwalski wild horse in the world science. Mongolia is mother land of wild horses and spread through other parts of the world.
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