Cultural Short Tour with Kharkhorin-Erdene Zuu Monastery

​Explore Kharkhorin, the formerly great capital city of the Mongol Empire, which was built by Ugudei Khaan in 1235. The city was strategically located at the crossroads of traditional routes, creating a staging post for migrating nomads and merchants caravans. Foreign envoys and prominent clerics traveled to this city for an audience with Mongol khan.
Far after when the Hubilai Khaan moved t the capital to Beijing in 1264, Kharkhorin was raised to the ground by Manchu soldiers. However the bricks and stones from the ruins of this ancient city were used to build the Erdene Zuu Monastery nearby, so in that way, the old city lives on till today.

Erdene Zuu Monastery: The first Buddhist monastery in Mongolia, Erdene Zuu was established on the ruin of ancient Kharkhorin city in 1586 by Avtai Sain khan, probably the most ancient surviving Buddhist monastery in Mongolia. The monastery located in Kharkhorin sum, Uvurkhangai province. It is surrounded by a fortress wall-sized 420m on each side, with 108 stupas. In 1792, it housed 62 temples, Mongolian lords tried to have their own named temple inside of the wall of the monastery because it means they have a high reputation. Also in 1658, the biggest ger consists of 35 walls, 1700 long pole and could contain 200 people, was built up at the middle space of the monastery wall.

Three main temples are named west zuu, middle zuu, and east zuu. Zuu means the respectful name of Buddha. So we can see Buddha’s different images such as past time Buddha, future time Buddha, present time Buddha, his child image, adult image, old aged image, and his sapient pupils in these temples. These temples have double-wall, to encapsulate warmth and cool and kind of praying named “Goroo”. Today this monastery could become an active monastery again and open for local believers and visitors. This is one of the places where we can learn more about the religious and cultural traditions of Mongolia.