Kharkhorin: Monastery History and Cultural Heritage
Accommodation in Kharkhorin
Several historical perspectives come together in Kharkhorin: Erdene Zuu Monastery, the Kharkhorum Museum, and two ruins of an ancient city in Bayangol Gorge. The broader landscape setting of the Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape in Uvurkhangai is another part of the picture. These local and regional themes can help you choose the focus of your trip.
Erdene Zuu: History and Construction
Erdene Zuu is the oldest surviving Mongolian Buddhist monastery in Uvurkhangai. It was founded in 1586 by Abtai Sain Khan. The figures recorded for 1792 also offer insight into its history: at that time, the monastery had 62 temples and 500 buildings; 18 temples remain today. It was placed under state protection in 1944.
One distinctive feature of its construction is that the temple buildings were built without nails; the wood was joined and fitted together. The founding year, historical figures for the monastery’s buildings, and its construction methods offer different ways to explore Erdene Zuu—from its history to the craftsmanship involved in joining the wooden parts.
Museum and Ancient Traces
The outdoor exhibition area of the Kharkhorum Museum includes a center for traditional Mongolian games. Educational activities for children and young people are held there. This adds the teaching of traditional games to the history of the monastery as a subject of interest.
Two ruins of an ancient city lie in Bayangol Gorge, close to the destination. They are 13 km north of the center of Kharkhorin. These two landmarks offer different historical perspectives: Erdene Zuu represents the history of a Buddhist monastery, while the ruins represent an ancient city.
The Broader Setting: Uvurkhangai and the Orkhon Valley
The 121,967-hectare Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape extends through the soums of Bat-Ă–lzii, Khujirt, and Kharkhorin in Uvurkhangai. It includes pastureland on both banks of the Orkhon and numerous archaeological remains dating from the 6th century. Mongolian nomads continue to use the grassland within the cultural landscape as pasture. Its historical context includes Kharkhorum, the capital of the empire of Chingis Khan in the 13th and 14th centuries.
Other historical landmarks in Uvurkhangai include Khar Balgas, the capital of the Uyghur Empire in the 8th and 9th centuries, and Tuvkhun Monastery, founded by Zanabazar in 1654. A path with stone steps cut into the rock leads to Tuvkhun Monastery. Baruun KhĂĽree, also called Shank Monastery, was founded in 1647 on the southeastern slope of Mount Shank in Kharkhorin soum. The cultural landscape administration also publishes a cultural tourism route within the World Heritage site.
Plan Your Hotel Stay Around Your Interests
If you are looking for a hotel in Kharkhorin, you can first choose a focus for your trip: Erdene Zuu and the museum are local landmarks, while the cultural landscape and other monasteries broaden the view to include Uvurkhangai.
For an overview of the wider trip: Kharkhorin.
