Kharkhorin

 

Kharkhorin Village:

Kharkhorin is the village of Uvurkhangai Province in Mongolia. The sum population is around 13,496.  Its location marks the easternmost foothills of the Khangai Mountains, where they meet the rolling steppe of central Mongolia. Kharkhorin's principal sources of income are tourism and agriculture. Water from the Orkhon River serves to irrigate crops on the large plain east of the town. Kharkhorin is located in the Khangai-Khentii mountainous region, in the eastern part of the Khangai mountain range, at an altitude of 1540 meters above sea level. According to the 2004 surface water census, there are 7 lakes in Kharkhorin soum, including Shar Burd, Tsagaan, Azar, and Duut, 27 permanent streams, 13 dried rivers, 48 springs, and 4 springs.

    Historical Kharkhorum 

The great Mongol Empire's legendary city was founded by the order of Genghis Khan in 1220 in Orkhon Valley. His son Ogoodei built the city and raised around it a surrounding wall with four doors in 1235. Genghis khan’s inheritors except for Khubilai Khan governed the country from this city until Khubilai Khan settled his capital in Beijing. It was not only the capital of the vast Mongolian Empire, but the epic center of trade along the Silk Road, and a cultural melting pot bridging east and west. Any religion was harmonized in one place and many monasteries, churches, and mosques were established. 

Unfortunately, Kharakhorum was completely destroyed by vengeful Ming troops in 1380 after collapsing of the Yuan dynasty. A few relics remained, notably two granite turtles, the base of a palace, some stone lions, two columns, and a few traces of an irrigation channel. Today the only information known about the rise and prominence of Kharakhorum comes from the notes and stories of travelers who visited the city during its peak years. Famous travelers and historians such as William De Rubruk, Plano De Carpini, Rashid Ad-Din, and Marco Polo provided marvelous descriptions of Kharkhorum. The site is protected since 1961 by the government. In the ruins of Kharkhorin, archaeologists discovered 230 coins coming from around ten different countries.

 

Attractions at Kharkhorin

   Erdenezuu monastery

     The oldest Buddhist monastery of Mongolia, Erdene Zuu Monastery was established in 1586 on the ruins of ancient Kharkhorin city by the order of Prince Avtai Sain khan, who is a direct descendant of Genghis khan, Zanabazar’s grandfather and leader of Khalkha Mongolia.  By 1792, it had grown to 62 churches, about 500 buildings, and 10,000 monks. This monastery nearly destroyed, in 1939, under the name of the Stalinist purge.
     Nevertheless, three temples and the outer wall with the stupas remained intact; the temples became museums in 1947. Good times came and after the democratic revolution in 1990, religious freedom was restored and monasteries became active again. Today, 18 churches remained active and there are three main temples and other some smaller temples, 2 tombs which were dedicated to Avtai sain Khan and his son Tusheet khan Gombodorj and the biggest stupa in Mongolia named “Golden stupa”. 
    Three main temples are called West zuu, Middle zuu, and East zuu. Zuu means the respectful name of Buddha. Those three temples have Buddha’s different images like past time Buddha, future time Buddha, present time Buddha. These temples have a double wall, for encapsulating warm and cool and kind of praying named “Goroo”. Erdenezuu monastery is surrounded by a thick, concrete wall of 420 meters (1312 feet) square on each side, with 108 stupas /108 is a sacred number in Buddhism/. The monastery was recorded on the UNESCO World Heritage List in the category “cultural landscape of Orkhon Valley”. 

Interesting facts: 
In 1792, it housed 62 temples, Mongolian lords tried to have their own named temple inside of the wall of the monastery because it means they have a high reputation.
Also in 1658, the biggest ger consists of 35 walls, 1700 long pole and could contain 200 people, was built up at the middle space of monastery wall. 
This monastery is one of the most popular tourist attractions of Mongolia. Around 20 thousand people visit the temple per year.

 


google maps for free
Accommodations
In Kharkhorin
Activities
In Kharkhorin
  • Visiting Nomad Family
  • Visiting a museum
similar contents
Orkhon waterfall

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Maecenas a massa consequat, ullamcorper metus at, porta neque. Quisque dapibus enim nec dui vulputate finibus.

Ugii lake

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Maecenas a massa consequat, ullamcorper metus at, porta neque. Quisque dapibus enim nec dui vulputate finibus.

Elsen tasarkhai sand dunes

Elsen tasarkhai sand dunes

Why travel with us?

Travel by heart

When you travel with us you make a meaningful contribution to the environment and support of the local communities.

Best customer service

We know how important and special your holiday is and will be there from the time you enquire to the day you go back home after your trip to make sure it surpasses your expectation

Best tour plans

Our clients' satisfaction is our priority. Our itineraries are designed just for you. including carefully curated experiences, handpicked expert guides and quality vehicles.

Total Flexibility / Free Cancellation

Free date changes and cancellations up to 31 days before departure on most trips.