Erdene Zuu monastery

Mongolia / Ovorhangaj / Arvajheer /
 fortification, monastery, UNESCO World Heritage Site, buddhist temple
Although in no way the oldest Buddhist monastery in Mongolia, Erdene Zuu (Mongolian: Эрдэнэ Зуу) was the most important for many centuries following the rise of the Chinggis Khaan Dynasty. Originally constructed in the 13th century by the Sakya School masters who became the official Mongol court tutors following the visits of Sakya Pandita and Chogyal Pakpa to the courts of Godan and Khublai Khaan, when Buddhism became the nation religion of the Mongol Empire, it stood as the crown jewel of the ancient city of Karakorum, that had been built by Chinggis Khaan as the capital of his newly established empire. It is part of the World Heritage Site entitled Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape.
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erdene_Zuu_monastery
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   47°12'5"N   102°50'35"E
This article was last modified 5 years ago