{"id":9044,"date":"2020-04-30T00:03:23","date_gmt":"2020-04-30T00:03:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mircorp.com\/?p=9044"},"modified":"2021-04-08T19:45:52","modified_gmt":"2021-04-08T19:45:52","slug":"beginners-guide-to-mongolia-monasteries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/beginners-guide-to-mongolia-monasteries\/","title":{"rendered":"Beginner\u2019s Guide to Mongolia\u2019s Magnificent Monasteries"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Mongolia<\/a> holds a special place in the hearts of adventurous travelers<\/strong>, who come back with tales of its vast steppe, rugged mountains, clear glacial lakes, and vivid blue skies. But beyond its natural outdoorsy appeal, it is also a land of deeply spiritual people. The country\u2019s shamanistic traditions may be better known to the world, but Buddhism has played just as important a role in shaping Mongolian history and culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mongolia, Monasteries, and Monks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In the \u201cLand of the Nomads,\u201d Buddhist monasteries were often the only permanent structures<\/strong> and one of the few cultural repositories of the arts. Borrowing traditions from their Tibetan<\/a> neighbors, Mongolians soon developed their own unique practices and began incorporating them with existing shamanistic beliefs. By the end of the 19th<\/sup> century, more than 1,200 monasteries were spread across Mongolia<\/a>, and about one third of the male population were monks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Flowers bloom at Erdene Zuu in Kara Korum, Mongolia. Photo credit: Peter Guttman<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Mongolia\u2019s Monasteries: History and Traditions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

After Mongolia<\/a> became a Communist state, Joseph Stalin and his Mongolian counterpart, Khorloogiin Choibalsan, demolished hundreds of Buddhist temples during the Soviet purges of 1937-1938.<\/strong> Only a handful of temples and relics survived, and thousands of monks were imprisoned, executed, or \u201creeducated\u201d into society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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108 stupas surround Erdene Zuu Monastery. Photo credit: Douglas Grimes<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Since the Mongolian Democratic Revolution of 1990, Buddhism has seen an incredible revival<\/strong>. Monasteries are being rebuilt and restored, and a once-lost religious and cultural heritage is slowly being rediscovered. With their bold colors, richly detailed paintings, and sweet smell of incense, stepping inside one of these sacred places offers a glimpse into the past and a chance to witness a side of Mongolian history and traditions that few have the opportunity to see.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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For those traveling to Mongolia, a visit to a monastery is a must. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are four must-see monasteries in the \u201cLand of the Nomads\u201d:<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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1. Gandantegchinlen<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Built in 1838, Gandantegchinlen (often abbreviated to just \u201cGandan\u201d) means \u201cGreat Place of Complete Joy,\u201d and grew to become Mongolia\u2019s principal center of Buddhist education<\/strong>. At one time the monastery housed nine colleges and over 5,000 monks. Badly damaged during the Stalinist purges, Gandan reopened in 1944 as a showpiece for foreign visitors \u2013 it was the only temple allowed to function during the Communist regime. In 1990, it was revitalized and restored as the country\u2019s Buddhist headquarters.<\/p>\n\n\n

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