MONASTERIES IN ULAANBAATAR

Around the start of the 19th century, over 100 temples (sum) and monasteries (khiid) served a population
of only about 50,000 in Ulaanbaatar. Religious historians estimate that maybe over 50% of the population
at the time were monks or nuns. During the Stalinist purges of the late 1930s, most of the city's temples
and monasteries were destroyed. Several thousand monks and nuns were murdered, while many more
fled or abandoned their Buddhist life. Only since the early 1990s have the people of Mongolia started to
openly practice Buddhism again.

 The Bogd Khaan Winter Palace Museum - Built between 1893 and 1903. It was the residence
and monastery of Mongolia’s last Bogd Khaan (religious and governmental leader), Javzan Damba
Hutgat VIII. Bogd Khaan lived in this palace for 20 years and when he died (in 1924) the communist
government prohibited any ongoing reincarnations. Contains religious and cultural items from the 17th
century to the beginning of 20th century.

 Gandan Monastery - Largest monastery and temple complex in use in Mongolia which was built
in 1810, partly destroyed and reconstructed 1990. It contains one of the biggest standing Buddha in Asia
(26m high).

 The Choijin Lama Museum - Formerly a monastery and temple complex, includes a collection of
masks used for the ceremonial Tsam dancing.

 Part of Gandan Khiid, Cesar Sum, at the junction of Khuvisgalyn Orgon Choloo and the western
part of Ikh Toiruu, is named after the mythical Tibetan king. The lovely temple is a fine example of
Chinese-influenced architecture. It is a popular place for locals to request, and pay for, puja (a blessing
ceremony).

 Tasgany Ovoo, about 300m behind Gesar Slim, is worth a look if you haven't yet seen an ovoo,
a sacred pyramid-shaped collection of stones. A 12m-high Buddhist monument is planned for the top of
the hill, which is also known as Zaany Tolgoi, or Elephant's Head.

 On the way to Gandan Khiid, the new Lamrim Sum (Stages of the Path Temple) has a small
temple with statues of Tsong-khapa, the Tibetan Buddhist reformer, and Sakyamuni, the historical
Buddha.

 The Pethub Stangey Choskhor Ling Monastery also known as the Bakula Rinpoche
Temple was founded in 1999 by the Indian ambassador, himself a reincarnate lama from Ladakh. The
monastery is used mainly as a centre for Buddhist teaching.

 Dashchoilon Choijin Lama Museum was originally built at another location in 1890, but was
destroyed in the late 1930s. The monastery was recently moved into three huge concrete gers that once
formed part of the State Circus. The monastery is now used by over 100 monks. You can get to the lane
running past the monastery from Baga Toiruu - look out for the orange and brown roof.

 Otochmaaramba Khiid can be easily seen from the north-eastern bend of Ikh Toiruu. Although
not as interesting as the others, it's still worth a visit. The monastery is the location of the Manba
Datsan traditional medical clinic and training centre, which reopened ten years ago.

 In the north-eastern suburbs of Ulaanbaatar, Dambadarjaa Khiid, built in 1765, was once home
to 1200 monks. Only the ruins of a few of the 30 small temples have been restored, but it is worth a look.
The only way to get there is by taxi.
 MUSEUMS IN ULAANBAATAR.
In Mongolia there are some 40 museums, including those in the provinces. After the early 1990s, many
museums have been renamed and many new items added to their exhibits. The major museums of
Mongolia include the State Central Museum, Museum of National History and National Gallery.

 The National Museum of Mongolian History - Exhibits of the museum show the history and
culture of Mongols from ages as early as the Stone Age and up to the modern days.

 The Museum of Natural History - historical and ethnological exhibits. Opposite of the National
Museum of Mongolian history.

 The Choijin Lama Museum - Formerly a monastery and temple complex, includes a collection of
masks used for the ceremonial Tsam dancing.

 The Bogd Khaan Winter Palace Museum - Built between 1893 and 1903. It was the residence
and monastery of Mongolia’s last Bogd Khaan (religious and governmental leader), Javzan Damba
Hutgat VIII. Bogd Khaan lived in this palace for 20 years and when he died (in 1924) the communist
government prohibited any ongoing reincarnations. Contains religious and cultural items from the 17th
century to the beginning of 20th century.

 The Zanabazar Museum of Fine Art - exhibits a great collection of paintings and sculptures,
among which are some rare religious items such as tangkas and Buddhist statues. Modern paintings and
other art for sale.

 Museum of Mongolian costumes. The aim of the museum is twofold: to publicize traditional
costumes to tourist and foreigners and to educate young Mongolian about traditional clothes in the hope
that more young people will wear the garments. New information's and new pictures!!! (2008)

 National modern art gallery. Mongolian National Modern Art Gallery (MNMAG) was separated
from the Fine Arts Museum of Mongolia in 1989, and it launched its independent operation to make the
public familiar with Mongolian modern fine/visual art works.

 The Natsagdorj Museum celebrates Mongolia's most famous poet and playwright, Dashdojiin
Natsagdorj, who was an ardent nationalist. The museum is said to be built on the exact site where
Natsagdorj lived. It's between the Monastery - Museum of Choijin Lama and the northern entrance of
Nairamdal Park, but was closed at the time of research for remodelling.

 The Victims of Political Persecution Memorial Museum. This new museum consists of a
series of haunting displays chronicling the bloody communist purges of the 1930s - an aggressive
campaign to eliminate ecounter - revolutionaries. During the campaign, intellectuals were arrested and
put on trial, sent to Siberian labour camps or shot. Mongolia lost top writers, scientists and thinkers.

 The Ulaanbaatar City Museum is the green Russian-style building next to the Wrestling Palace.
It has a few interesting black-and-white photos of early Ulaanbaatar and an old map of the original ger
settlement, though not much else. It's open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

 If killing innocent animals is your thing, visit the Hunting Museum, on the street leading to
Gandan Khiid.

 The Railway Museum, near the International Railway Ticketing Office, may satisfy train buffs.
Other train-spotting options include the old engines parked in front of the Jiguur Grand Hotel.
 The Mongolian Military Museum is at the eastern end of Peace Avenue - you'll need to take a
taxi to find it.

 The Theatre Museum was founded in 1991 on International Day of Theatre. It is one of the
vocational museums that show the development of theatre in Mongolia. Photographs and biographies of
those who stood at the inception of theatre in Mongolia, historic documents, books and scripts are
displayed for visitors.
The Theatre Museum is worth-while if you're interested in the dramatic arts - the collection of puppets is
wonderful. The museum is on the 3rd floor of the Palace of Culture (it's entrance is on the northern side of
building); open daily except Monday and Tuesday.

 International intellectual museum New!!! 2009

The museum’s collection includes many Mongolian puzzle toys and world famous, rare and precious
exhibits. The museum is a manufacturer of Mongolian puzzle toys, logic games, hand crafted products
and souvenirs and it exports most of its products abroad. The museum has exhibited over 80 international
exhibitions and fairs in 50 countries.
Time table: From Monday-Saturday 10.00 am-18.00pm .
Address: Ulaanbaatar, Bayanzurkh district, in front of East Center, Mongolia.

 Museum of geology. (Mongolian University of Science and Technology)

The museum was established in 1969.More than 4000 mineral deposits and occurrences comprising
different minerals have been discovered all over the country and on display totals 3000 in all. The
museum has geological structure of Mongolia and history of Mongolian mean manufacture.
The museum implementing joint projects of mineral resources, undertakes educational multifaceted
activities including joint workshops training of geology-mineralogy and advertising.

GENERAL INFO OF MONGOLIA

Landlocked Mongolia is located between Russia to the north and China to the
south, deep within the interior of eastern Asia far from any ocean. The country
has a marked continental climate, with long cold winters and short cool-to-hot
summers. Its remarkable variety of scenery consists largely of upland
steppes, semideserts, and deserts, although in the west and north forested
high mountain ranges alternate with lake-dotted basins. Mongolia is largely a
plateau, with an average elevation of about 5,180 feet (1,580 metres)
above sea level. The highest peaks are in the Mongolian Altai Mountains
(Mongol Altain Nuruu) in the southwest, a branch of the Altai
Mountains system.
The Mongols have a long prehistory and a most remarkable history.
The Huns, a people who lived in Central Asia from the 3rd to the 1st
century BCE, may have been their ancestors. A united Mongolian state of
nomadic tribes was formed in the early 13th century CE by Genghis Khan, and
his successors controlled a vast empire that included much of China, Russia,
Central Asia, and the Middle East. The Mongol empire eventually collapsed
and split up, and from 1691 northern Mongolia was colonized
by Qing (Manchu) China. With the collapse of Qing rule in Mongolia in
1911/12, the Bogd Gegeen (or Javzandamba), Mongolia’s religious leader,
was proclaimed Bogd Khan, or head of state. He declared Mongolia’s
independence, but only autonomy under China’s suzerainty was achieved.
From 1919, nationalist revolutionaries, with Soviet assistance, drove out
Chinese troops attempting to reoccupy Mongolia, and in 1921 they expelled
the invading White Russian cavalry. July 11, 1921, then became celebrated
as the anniversary of the revolution. The Mongolian People’s Republic was
proclaimed in November 1924, and the Mongolian capital, centred on the
main monastery of the Bogd Gegeen, was renamed Ulaanbaatar (“Red
Hero”).
From 1921 until the end of the 1980s, Mongolia was a one-party state closely
tied to the Soviet Union. It received technical, economic, and military
assistance from the Soviet Union and generally followed Soviet guidance in
political and economic matters and in the building of a socialist society.
However, beginning in 1990, Ulaanbaatar was the site of demonstrations that led to
Mongolia's transition to democracy and market economy in 1990. On December 10, 1989, protesters
outside the Youth Culture Centre called for Mongolia to implement perestroika and glasnost in their
full sense.

Forces for change in Mongolia ended the monopoly of political power by the
communists in favour of free multiparty elections, coalition government, a new
constitution, greater cultural and religious freedom with more emphasis on
Mongol national traditions, a neutral position in international relations, and a
transition to a market economy. The communist Mongolian People's Revolutionary
Party government resigned in 1990. The provisional government announced Mongolia's first free
elections, which were held in July. The MPRP won the election and resumed power

MGL HISTORY

 Was invaded by Manchuria when Mongolia was divided into three parts, and Manchuria
finished invading Mongolia in 1755. Mongolia was under their rule for more than 200
years.
 Declared independence from Manchuria in 1911. The eighth Jebtsundamba (1869–1924)
was elevated to theocratic ruler, called Bogd Khan.
 tripartite Kyakhta agreement of 1915 (between Russia, China, Mongolia), Mongolia's status
was changed to mere autonomy
 The Republic of China led by Chinese warlord Xu Shuzheng invaded Mongolia in 1919, and
forced the Mongolian nobles and clergy to renounce autonomy completely
 With the help of Baron Ungern and his troops, Mongolia restored the Bogd Khan to the
throne and cleared the city of Chinese troops in 1921
 However, at the same time Baron Ungern was taking control of Urga, a Soviet-supported
Communist Mongolian force led by Damdin Sükhbaatar was forming up in Russia, and in
 March they crossed the border. Ungern and his men rode out in May to meet Red Russian
and Red Mongolian troops, but suffered a disastrous defeat in June.
 Declared independence in 1924, adopted first constitution.