Ulaanbaatar
formerly Urga or Niislel Khureheh, capital and largest city of Mongolia. It is situated on the Tuul River on a windswept plateau at an elevation of 4,430 feet (1,350 m). The city originated as a seasonal migratory abode of the Mongolian princes and in 1639 finally attained permanence on the present site with the construction of Da Khure Monastery. This building became the residence of the bodgo-gegen, high priest of the Tibetan Buddhist religion (to which the Mongols adhere), and remained as such for about 200 years. Da Khure became known to the Russians as Urga and developed as a trade centre between China and Russia. In 1911, when Outer Mongolia declared itself independent, the city was renamed Niislel Khureheh (“Capital of Mongolia”). In 1921 it was occupied by troops of Mongolia’s revolutionary leader, Damdiny Sühbaatar, and the Soviet Red Army. When Mongolia was declared a people’s republic in 1924, the city was renamed Ulaanbaatar, which means “Red Hero.” With Soviet help, a new city was planned, and its central feature was Sühbaatar Square, site of a Neoclassic government building, a history museum, and the national theatre. The city is also the site of the National University of Mongolia (1942), several professional and technical schools, and the Academy of Sciences of Mongolia. Ulaanbaatar is the main industrial centre of Mongolia. An industrial complex produces a variety of consumer goods. There are cement, iron, and brick works; footwear and garment factories; vehicle-repair works; food-processing plants; and other factories. A railroad and an international airport connect the city with China and Russia. The scenic wooded peaks of the Hentiyn Mountains extend to the northeast of the city. Pop. (2000) 760,077; (2007 est.) 1,031,200. Source: www.britannica.com
formerly Urga or Niislel Khureheh, capital and largest city of Mongolia. It is situated on the Tuul River on a windswept plateau at an elevation of 4,430 feet (1,350 m). The city originated as a seasonal migratory abode of the Mongolian princes and in 1639 finally attained permanence on the present site with the construction of Da Khure Monastery. This building became the residence of the bodgo-gegen, high priest of the Tibetan Buddhist religion (to which the Mongols adhere), and remained as such for about 200 years. Da Khure became known to the Russians as Urga and developed as a trade centre between China and Russia. In 1911, when Outer Mongolia declared itself independent, the city was renamed Niislel Khureheh (“Capital of Mongolia”). In 1921 it was occupied by troops of Mongolia’s revolutionary leader, Damdiny Sühbaatar, and the Soviet Red Army. When Mongolia was declared a people’s republic in 1924, the city was renamed Ulaanbaatar, which means “Red Hero.” With Soviet help, a new city was planned, and its central feature was Sühbaatar Square, site of a Neoclassic government building, a history museum, and the national theatre. The city is also the site of the National University of Mongolia (1942), several professional and technical schools, and the Academy of Sciences of Mongolia. Ulaanbaatar is the main industrial centre of Mongolia. An industrial complex produces a variety of consumer goods. There are cement, iron, and brick works; footwear and garment factories; vehicle-repair works; food-processing plants; and other factories. A railroad and an international airport connect the city with China and Russia. The scenic wooded peaks of the Hentiyn Mountains extend to the northeast of the city. Pop. (2000) 760,077; (2007 est.) 1,031,200. Source: www.britannica.com
Chinggis Square
The Sukhbaatar square’s name has changed to Chinggis square in 2013. Locates in the center of the Ulaanbaatar city, it surrounds Mongolian most old and most new buildings such as Government Palace, City hall, Mongolian Stock Exchange, Opera and Ballet house, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Blue Sky hotel. There are 2 statues, one of is Chinggis khan’s statue, who was the founder of Mongol empire before 800 years ago, and Sukhbaatar’s mounted statue, who was one of the leaders of Mongolian People’s Revolution on 1921 against Qing dynasty. Today, the square is still the scene of major state ceremonies, cultural events, and exhibitions. Heads of state of foreign countries and honored guests generally pay respects in front of the statue of Chinggis. Source: http://visit2mongolia.mn
The Sukhbaatar square’s name has changed to Chinggis square in 2013. Locates in the center of the Ulaanbaatar city, it surrounds Mongolian most old and most new buildings such as Government Palace, City hall, Mongolian Stock Exchange, Opera and Ballet house, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Blue Sky hotel. There are 2 statues, one of is Chinggis khan’s statue, who was the founder of Mongol empire before 800 years ago, and Sukhbaatar’s mounted statue, who was one of the leaders of Mongolian People’s Revolution on 1921 against Qing dynasty. Today, the square is still the scene of major state ceremonies, cultural events, and exhibitions. Heads of state of foreign countries and honored guests generally pay respects in front of the statue of Chinggis. Source: http://visit2mongolia.mn
Gandan Monastery
is a Tibetan-style Buddhist Monastery. Its name means ”the big place of the complete joy”. Nowadays, many hundreds of monks live there. It houses a 26,5-metres (87 feet) high statue of Megjid-Janraiseg. Megjid-Janraiseg is a bodhisattva, a sage who leads the men on the way of Truth. He represents compassion. The fifth Javzandamba, who was the highest lama in the hierarchy of the Mongolian clergy, created this monastery in 1809 under the name of Shar sum (“the yellow monastery”). It was located in the centre of Ulan-Bator. In 1838, it was moved at his current location on Dalkha Hill, and took its current name. Then it became the main religious centre of Tantric Buddhism in Mongolia, and many schools (Buddhism, astrology, medicine) were created as the time went by. In the 1930’s, the communist system of Mongolia, under the insistent pressure of Staline, led to the destruction of more than 900 monasteries and to the slaughter of more than 10.000 Buddhist lamas, but Gandantegchinlen monastery was one of the few monasteries that avoided its own destruction. It was closed in 1938 and five temples of the monastery were destroyed. The other ones were used as places for welcoming the Russian officials or as cowsheds. In 1944, after a petition signed by many lamas, the monastery opened again and was even allowed to work as a Buddhist monastery, but with small number of lamas and under the strict control of the communists. The fall of the communist system in 1990 in Mongolia led to the end of the restrictions of cult and allowed the monastery resuming its activity. Gandan Monastery started an ambitious program of restoration of the cult all across the country. Today, there are ten active datsans and temples inside the monastery, where about 900 lamas live. Source: www.mongolia-trips.com
is a Tibetan-style Buddhist Monastery. Its name means ”the big place of the complete joy”. Nowadays, many hundreds of monks live there. It houses a 26,5-metres (87 feet) high statue of Megjid-Janraiseg. Megjid-Janraiseg is a bodhisattva, a sage who leads the men on the way of Truth. He represents compassion. The fifth Javzandamba, who was the highest lama in the hierarchy of the Mongolian clergy, created this monastery in 1809 under the name of Shar sum (“the yellow monastery”). It was located in the centre of Ulan-Bator. In 1838, it was moved at his current location on Dalkha Hill, and took its current name. Then it became the main religious centre of Tantric Buddhism in Mongolia, and many schools (Buddhism, astrology, medicine) were created as the time went by. In the 1930’s, the communist system of Mongolia, under the insistent pressure of Staline, led to the destruction of more than 900 monasteries and to the slaughter of more than 10.000 Buddhist lamas, but Gandantegchinlen monastery was one of the few monasteries that avoided its own destruction. It was closed in 1938 and five temples of the monastery were destroyed. The other ones were used as places for welcoming the Russian officials or as cowsheds. In 1944, after a petition signed by many lamas, the monastery opened again and was even allowed to work as a Buddhist monastery, but with small number of lamas and under the strict control of the communists. The fall of the communist system in 1990 in Mongolia led to the end of the restrictions of cult and allowed the monastery resuming its activity. Gandan Monastery started an ambitious program of restoration of the cult all across the country. Today, there are ten active datsans and temples inside the monastery, where about 900 lamas live. Source: www.mongolia-trips.com
Bogd Khan’s Palace
one of the most important monuments of Mongolian history and architecture. It was built between 1893 and 1906 and is composed of two parts: The Summer Palace has seven temples and pagodas; it’s a magnificent well-preserved Chinese-styled place of worship; The Winter Palace is a two-storeyed European-styled building built by Russian architects. For about twenty years, the Winter Palace had been serving as winter residence for the eighth Buddhist leader of Mongolia. The door of the main temple is dedicated to the eighth Bogdo, leader of State and Church. It’s the last residence that still exists among the four residences where the last Bogdo Khan lived. The Palace was nationalized in 1924 then restored in 1961 and transformed in museum in 1974 under the name of Bogd Khan Museum. Bogd Khan Museum houses a big part of the political and religious history of Mongolia between 17th and 20th centuries, and also artefacts created by the most important masters of that period, notably Zanabazar. More than 8000 objects are shown in the museum, 72 of them have a State certification because they’re unique or have a priceless value. Are notably shown : Sculptures from Zanabazar, among them 21 from the famous Taras; a collection of personal objects belonging to the last Bogd Khan and his wife, notably a jacket in yellow brocade, decorated with about 22000 small pearls, and of course, his crown; a large collection of Buddhist art objects. Have a particular view on the paintings of Marzan Sharav that show with humour and irony Mongolians’ dairy life scenes in the last century; a collection of the presents the foreign dignitaries have offered, for example golden boots, or a chair that played music when someone at on it, both offered by Nicholas 2 of Russia; a coat made with the skin of 80 foxes, that the Manchu king Enkh-Amgalan offert to Zanabazar. It’s decorated with 61 pieces of coral and 800 pearls; a hat made with the leaves of a santal tree, that was offered to Bogd Khan Zanabazar by the fifth Dalai Lama; a yurt covered with the skin of 150 snow leopards; In the Summer Palace, we essentially can see old statues of deities; a tent houses statues of birds, animals, and one of a horseman. Each year, two religious rituals take place in the Bogd Khan Palace; during them the spirits of sky and water are worshiped. Source: www.mongolia-trips.com
one of the most important monuments of Mongolian history and architecture. It was built between 1893 and 1906 and is composed of two parts: The Summer Palace has seven temples and pagodas; it’s a magnificent well-preserved Chinese-styled place of worship; The Winter Palace is a two-storeyed European-styled building built by Russian architects. For about twenty years, the Winter Palace had been serving as winter residence for the eighth Buddhist leader of Mongolia. The door of the main temple is dedicated to the eighth Bogdo, leader of State and Church. It’s the last residence that still exists among the four residences where the last Bogdo Khan lived. The Palace was nationalized in 1924 then restored in 1961 and transformed in museum in 1974 under the name of Bogd Khan Museum. Bogd Khan Museum houses a big part of the political and religious history of Mongolia between 17th and 20th centuries, and also artefacts created by the most important masters of that period, notably Zanabazar. More than 8000 objects are shown in the museum, 72 of them have a State certification because they’re unique or have a priceless value. Are notably shown : Sculptures from Zanabazar, among them 21 from the famous Taras; a collection of personal objects belonging to the last Bogd Khan and his wife, notably a jacket in yellow brocade, decorated with about 22000 small pearls, and of course, his crown; a large collection of Buddhist art objects. Have a particular view on the paintings of Marzan Sharav that show with humour and irony Mongolians’ dairy life scenes in the last century; a collection of the presents the foreign dignitaries have offered, for example golden boots, or a chair that played music when someone at on it, both offered by Nicholas 2 of Russia; a coat made with the skin of 80 foxes, that the Manchu king Enkh-Amgalan offert to Zanabazar. It’s decorated with 61 pieces of coral and 800 pearls; a hat made with the leaves of a santal tree, that was offered to Bogd Khan Zanabazar by the fifth Dalai Lama; a yurt covered with the skin of 150 snow leopards; In the Summer Palace, we essentially can see old statues of deities; a tent houses statues of birds, animals, and one of a horseman. Each year, two religious rituals take place in the Bogd Khan Palace; during them the spirits of sky and water are worshiped. Source: www.mongolia-trips.com