Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Mongolia Ulaanbaatar Gandantegchinlen Monastery

Gandantegchinlen Monastery

Established hundreds of years ago, Gandan remains the premier Buddhist monastery in Ulaanbaatar.

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Added By
David Koppers
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Gandantegchinlen Monastery   Marcin Konsek / Wikimedia Commons
  DavidK / Atlas Obscura User
Battsagaan Grand Assembly Hall   DavidK / Atlas Obscura User
  DavidK / Atlas Obscura User
Avalokitesvara   DavidK / Atlas Obscura User
  Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Gandantegchinlen, or Gandan as locals and visitors alike refer to it, was once one of the only permanent buildings in this city of tent-dwelling nomads. It served as the main Buddhist temple here until the communist era when religion was suppressed and most Buddhist temples in Mongolia were destroyed.

The monastery was originally established in the early 19th century outside of Khüree (now known as  Ulaanbaatar). Its name translates as ”the great place of complete joy.” The monastery complex is made up of a number of shrines, temples, and assembly halls.

Gandan was closed in 1939 during the anti-religious persecutions in Mongolia, and many of its buildings were razed. In 1944, the monastery was reopened, and for nearly 50 years it was the only active monastery in the country.

Since the 1990s, Gandan has been rehabilitated in stature and reopened to worshippers. After much recent renovation, it is worth visiting to experience the current role of Buddhism in Mongolia. The addition of the Battsagaan Grand Assembly Hall adjacent to the main temple adds to the grandeur of the complex.

Inside the main temple stands Avalokitesvara, the tallest indoor standing Buddha statue in the world at 26 meters (85 feet). The statue is known locally by it’s Tibetan name, Chenrézik. Walk clockwise to see the hundreds of smaller statues that surround the temple interior.

Related Tags

Temples Buddhism Monasteries

Know Before You Go

Photography is allowed and there is no longer an entrance fee.

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Mongolia's Summer Danshig Festival

Desert skies, festivals, and wild horses in Mongolia.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

DavidK

Edited By

Max Cortesi, Michelle Cassidy

  • Max Cortesi
  • Michelle Cassidy

Published

July 6, 2023

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.lonelyplanet.com/mongolia/ulaanbaatar/attractions/gandan-khiid/a/poi-sig/434810/357066
Gandantegchinlen Monastery
Ulaanbaatar, 16040
Mongolia
47.923114, 106.894984
Visit Website

Nearby Places

Centre of Shaman Eternal Heavenly Sophistication

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

miles away

Natural History Museum of Mongolia

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

miles away

Beatles Monument

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Ulaanbaatar

Ulaanbaatar

Mongolia

Places 12
Stories 1

Nearby Places

Centre of Shaman Eternal Heavenly Sophistication

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

miles away

Natural History Museum of Mongolia

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

miles away

Beatles Monument

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Ulaanbaatar

Ulaanbaatar

Mongolia

Places 12
Stories 1

Related Places

  • Chhokangparo, Nepal

    Tsum Valley

    A remote area dotted with Buddhist temples and monasteries.

  • One of the halls adorned with contemporary Buddhist art.

    Bangkok, Thailand

    Wat Sutthi Wararam

    Displaying religious art made almost exclusively in modern styles helps set this Buddhist temple apart from the myriad others in Bangkok.

  • A buddhist altar with a golden seated buddha flanked by flowers and oranges.

    Morrison, Colorado

    Compassionate Dharma Cloud Monastery

    A Buddhist monastery tucked away in the mountains of Colorado.

  • Choijin Lama

    Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

    Choijin Lama Monastery

    The monastery survived the Communist revolution in Mongolia as a religious museum.

  • Mahakal Mandir

    Darjeeling, India

    Mahakal Mandir

    At this unique temple in Darjeeling, Hindu and Buddhist practices co-exist harmoniously.

  • Temple des Mille Bouddhas

    La Boulaye, France

    Temple des Mille Bouddhas (Temple of One Thousand Buddhas)

    On the grounds of a former estate in Burgundy stands an elaborate temple that is modeled after the first Tibetan Buddhist monastery.

  • Gumi, South Korea

    Dorisa Temple

    Known as the birthplace of Korean Buddhism, this temple features an ancient, five-story stone pagoda.

  • An interior view of Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery.

    Singapore

    Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery

    The largest monastery in Singapore is home to a crematorium, a college, and one of Asia’s largest indoor Buddha statues.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.