Amarbayasgalant Monastery, Mongolia

Amarbayasgalant Monastery

Mongolia · Selenge · 1100 m

Description

Amarbayasgalant is one of the three great monastic centres of Mongolia and the most complete of them, standing alone in the Iven valley below Mount Büren-Khaan. The Manchu emperor Yongzheng had it built between 1727 and 1737 to hold the remains of Zanabazar, the first Bogd Gegeen and the finest sculptor the country produced. Its plan is strictly symmetrical in the Chinese manner, unlike almost anything else in Mongolia. Around a tenth of the buildings survived the purges of 1937. A gilded Buddha and a stupa stand on the hillside above.

Length of stay

Recommended length of stay: 1 to 2 days (optimal 1 day)

Travel season

Best time to visit: June – September

  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May
  • Jun
  • Jul
  • Aug
  • Sep
  • Oct
  • Nov
  • Dec

Highlights

  1. Amarbayasgalant monastery complex
  2. Symmetrical Manchu-era temple halls
  3. Zanabazar shrine and relics
  4. Monks at morning chanting
  5. Gilded Buddha on the hillside above
  6. Iven valley and Mount Büren-Khaan
  7. Stupa hill walk behind the monastery
  8. Ger camp in the valley

Map view

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