Ongi Monastery
Онгийн хийд
The ruins of a Tibetan Buddhist monastery on the banks of the Ongi River. Crumbling walls from its destruction in 1939 stand alongside a small rebuilt temple. It is a classic overnight stop on the South Gobi loop.
Ongi Monastery sits on the banks of the Ongi River, on the border between Dundgovi and Arkhangai provinces. It was founded in 1660 and was once one of the largest monastery complexes in Mongolia, with more than a thousand monks and over twenty halls at its peak. It was destroyed during the great purges of 1939, and to this day, many mud-brick walls remain scattered across the hillsides on both sides of the river. After 1990, monks returned, rebuilt a small temple, and opened a small museum displaying excavated ritual objects and historical photographs. From the high ground of the ruins, you can look out over the Ongi Valley, which contrasts with the surrounding Gobi. It is often used as an overnight stop on the way back from the Gobi to Kharkhorin or Ulaanbaatar, and there are ger camps nearby. The museum charges a small admission fee, and its opening hours are irregular, so ask your camp to arrange a visit.
Opening hours
Open all day (temple museum approx. 09:00–18:00; hours may vary)
Nearby sights
- Moltsog Els
- Bayanzag Saxaul Forest
- Flaming Cliffs (Bayanzag)
- Khavtsgait Petroglyphs
- South Gobi Aimag Museum
- Dalanzadgad
- Yolyn Am
- Dungenee Am