Aryabal Meditation Temple
Арьяабал бясалгалын төв
A small temple on a hillside in Terelj. The path climbs past 144 wooden signs inscribed with Buddhist sayings, crosses a suspension bridge, and ascends 108 steps to a temple on a cliff, with a view of the whole Terelj valley from the terrace.
Aryabal Meditation Temple is on a hillside about 4 kilometers northeast of the Turtle Rock in Terelj National Park. It is a small Tibetan Buddhist meditation center built in 2004 and dedicated to Avalokiteshvara. The temple itself is modest, but the hiking path and the views are the best part of Terelj. From the parking lot, follow the valley trail for about 1.5 kilometers. Along the path stand 144 wooden signs with Buddhist sayings in Mongolian and English. Then you cross a suspension bridge and climb 108 steps, which symbolize nirvana, to reach the temple built on a cliff. The whole walk takes about 30 to 40 minutes. The terrace in front of the temple overlooks the Terelj valley, the granite hills and the scattered ger camps. Inside, the murals depict the life of the Buddha, and a huge prayer wheel stands in the courtyard. An entry fee of about 3,000 to 5,000 tögrög is collected at the entrance. Getting there: it is a 10-minute drive from the Turtle Rock. Most two-day tours schedule it for the morning of the second day. If you drive yourself, park by the road. Note: the steps are steep, so older people and children should take it at their own pace. The hillside has no shade, so in summer protect yourself from the sun and drink plenty of water. Take off your hat inside the temple, keep quiet, and keep silent when monks are meditating. The path is slippery after rain.
Opening hours
About 09:00–18:00
Nearby sights
- Turtle Rock
- Genghis Khan Equestrian Statue
- Gorkhi-Terelj National Park
- Sky Resort Ulaanbaatar
- Manzushir Monastery & Bogd Khan Mountain
- Narantuul Market
- 13th Century Complex
- International Intellectual Museum