Erdene Zuu Monastery, Kharkhorin

The largest and the oldest surviving Buddhist monastery in Mongolia, Erdene Zuu Monastery stands as an impressive World Heritage Site. Completed in 1586 by Abtain Sain Khan who embraced Buddhism as a state religion, this fortified monastery features long brick walls with 108 white stupas, a brick main temple painted white with gilded medallion ornament,s and Chinese-style tipped pavilion roofs with green tiles. Closed in 1937 and reopened as a museum in 1965, the monastery became religiously active in 1991. Watch monks performing their daily rituals and observe the panorama of the endless steppe from the monastery. Make Erdene Zuu Monastery a centerpiece of your Kharkhorin vacation itinerary, and find what else is worth visiting using our Kharkhorin day trip app.