Highlight

Erdene Zuu Monastery

Erdene Zuu Monastery stands in the Orkhon River valley near Kharkhorin (Karakorum) in Uvurkhangai Province, and is one of the most important sites of Mongolian Buddhism. "Erdene" means "jewel" and "Zuu" means "Buddha", so the name can be read as "the Jewel Buddha".

Construction began in 1585, when Abtai Sain Khan of the Khalkha Mongols set out to spread Tibetan Buddhism across his lands. It is among the first large Buddhist monasteries in Mongolia, and it was built on the site of the old Mongol capital, Karakorum, reportedly reusing stone from the ruins.

Highlights

The compound is enclosed by a white wall about 400 m on each side, topped with 108 stupas set at regular intervals. The number 108 is the number of beads on a Buddhist rosary, and the line of white stupas against the steppe is a memorable sight.

At the centre stand three main temples known as the "Gurvan Zuu" (west, middle and east). Their vermilion walls and colourful roofs blend Tibetan, Mongolian and Chinese architectural styles and stand out against the open grassland. You will also see the Tibetan-style Lavrin Temple and the tall white Altan Suvarga, the "Golden Stupa".

Monks still hold daily prayers at Lavrin Temple, so you may hear chanting during your visit.

History and World Heritage status

At its peak the monastery had more than a hundred buildings. Most were destroyed during the religious purges of the late 1930s, and many monks lost their lives. A few temples survived and were protected as a museum in the 1940s. Worship resumed in 1990, and today the site is both a working temple and a museum. In 2004 it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape.

Visiting tips

Erdene Zuu is about 370 km west of Ulaanbaatar, roughly a 6-hour drive. Combine it with the Kharkhorin Museum, the nearby ruins of the ancient capital, the Orkhon Waterfall and Tuvkhun Monastery. It is a highlight of our Central Mongolia and World Heritage tours. Please dress modestly and follow the photography rules inside the temples.