Erdene Zuu Monastery
Эрдэнэ Зуу хийд
Built in 1585 with stones from the ancient city of Kharkhorin, this is Mongolia’s oldest surviving Tibetan Buddhist monastery, enclosed by a wall of 108 white stupas.
Erdene Zuu Monastery was founded by Abtai Khan in 1585. It is the oldest surviving Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Mongolia and the core of the Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape, a World Heritage Site. Its wall, about 400 metres square, is topped by 108 white stupas. Inside the courtyard, three Sino-Tibetan style halls house Buddha statues, thangkas and masks. The Lavrin Temple on the west side still has lamas reciting sutras. Entry to the courtyard is free. Admission to the halls costs about 5,000 to 10,000 tögrög, and photography costs extra. Requesting an English-speaking guide is recommended.
Opening hours
Approx. 09:00–18:00 (summer)
Nearby sights
- Turtle Rock
- Kharkhorum Museum
- Phallic Rock
- Ruins of Karakorum
- Mongol Empire Monument
- Orkhon River Valley
- Shankh Monastery
- Kharbalgas (Ordu-Baliq)