The stone walls remaining from the ruins of the ancient capital Karakorum were transported and used to build the current Erdenezuu Monastery. In 1580, the Khan Altan Khan, together with his younger brother Tumenhen noyon, met with the Third Dalai Lama and, following his advice, restored a temple from the old Karakorum city located at Takhai ruins, thus laying the foundation for the monastery. Between 1586 and 1674, the Three Hundred Temple complex and the Rigsum Gombo temple were constructed; from 1701 to 1705, the Ochirdari temple, Avid temple, and the Great Stupa complex were built; and from 1771 to 1792, the Tsogchin Ikh Dugan and Lavrin temples were erected.
In 1796, Erdenezuu Monastery underwent its first major renovation, led by the seventh throne-holder monk Dagvadarjaa and carried out by the Chinese firm Yun-da-a. During this renovation, the ruins of the old Takhai fortress walls were used as the foundation to erect 50 stupas. From 1802 to 1813, nobles, princes, monks, and devoted believers funded the construction of 56 additional stupas between the previously built ones, completing the fortress wall. Today, the surrounding fortress wall features 108 stupas and stretches 420 meters from end to end.
In 1782, the Bodh Murin school was established with 50 monk students. Mongolian nobles and aristocrats considered it a matter of honor to have their own temple within the fortress walls, leading to the construction of many temples such as the Duke Tushiet Khan’s temple, Noyon Tseveenjav’s temple, and Ochirdari temple. By 1792, the monastery had expanded to include 62 temples, about 500 buildings, and housed some 10,000 monks.
Currently, 18 temples remain. Among the original structures still standing are the Three Hundred Temples, the Hundred Temple, the Great Stupa, and the Seruun Lavrin temple. Inside the monastery courtyard, stone monuments discovered at the Karakorum ruins are preserved. Behind these stands the Dalai Lama’s temple, built in 1675 in honor of the Tibetan Dalai Lama, exhibiting statues such as the 13-headed Mahakala, 6 incarnations of the Dalai Lama, and statues of the High Saint Zanabazar. On both sides of the courtyard are the Khurden temples. Behind these temples, inside a special fortress wall, are two mausoleums: one for Altan Khan and the other for his son, Tushiet Khan Gombodorj.
Behind the mausoleums lie the Three Hundred Temples. These temples were constructed entirely without using a single nail, with wooden joinery and overlapping walls. This design served two purposes: to insulate against heat and cold, and to facilitate ritual circumambulation. The Three Hundred Temples were used for non-assembly worship.
Erdenezuu Monastery Temples
The Baruun Zuu (Western Temple) was commissioned by Altan Khan, his son Gombodorj, and the chief queen of Erhii Mergen Khan. At the altar, statues of the Buddha’s previous incarnation Odser, the current Buddha Shakyamuni, and the future Buddha Maitreya are enshrined. On the right wall of the temple, there is a mural depicting Bogd Zonkhov with his disciples, while the left wall shows Buddha with his disciples. The Gol Zuu (Main Temple) was built by Tushiet Khan Zungen and the esteemed officials. On either side of the entrance are ten protective deities, one Lhaman Buddha, and the main sacred statue of Erdenezuu, the Gombogur Buddha. At the altar are statues of the hermit Manal, the youthful Buddha, and the Avid Buddha. The temple also houses standing statues of two of Buddha’s disciples, Modgoljibuu and Shaaribuu, the Sun God Nyam, the Moon God Davaa, and the Eight Wisdom Kings. On the main altar table are bronze, gilded, embossed, and cast statues created by the First Bogd Zanabazar. The second floor of this temple is known as the “Land of a Thousand Buddhas of the Good Times,” representing deities descended from the heavens.
The Zuun Zuu (Eastern Temple) was built by Erhii Mergen Khan, his son Gombodorj, and Tushiet Khan’s wife Khandjamts. The altar holds statues of Avalokiteshvara (Jangraisag), the child Buddha, and Bogd Zonkhov. The right wall depicts Buddha, Manal, and 35 Dunsig (protector deities), while the left wall displays Bogd Zonkhov and his disciples. The main altar also holds models of the eastern temple carved from red agate wood, as well as gilded, embossed copper, bronze cast, and wooden sculptures, including Bodhisattva and protective deities.
Below the Three Hundred Temples, on the western side, lies the Tsamba Temple. This three-chamber temple housed four monks per chamber who performed teachings and prayers. The first chamber enshrined statues of treasures known as Ganzai, Damdinsamduv, and Jigjid Buddhas. The second chamber held Avalokiteshvara, the lord of water spirits Luvenshalbuu, Jamsran, Lhaman, Mahakala, the hunter’s protector deity Vandanshavara, and Gongor Buddhas. The third chamber was dedicated to Erlik Nomun Khan, the principal deity of secret mantras Demchig, Gombogur’s Jinkhor, Ochirdari, Shangbol’s Shangod, Baldanlam’s consort Sendom, one of the 75 Mahakalas Gombogur, and the Tsamba Buddhas. Among Mongols, worshipping Tsamba Buddha is believed to make one’s affairs flow like a spring in summer, and therefore Tsamba receives offerings and respect.
Opposite the Tsamba Temple, on the eastern side, is the Ayush Temple. The first chamber displays murals and paintings on cloth and earth depicting Jigjid, Manal, Avid, Khayankharvaa, Damdinsamduv, the Fifth Dalai Lama, and Baldanlam Buddhas, along with statues and offerings representing the five human senses, eight religious offerings, and seven royal treasures. The second chamber similarly holds offerings and statues of Otoch Manal, Damdinsamduv, and Damdindorlig Buddhas. The third chamber features fierce deities of the Red Sect mantra tradition such as Narkhajid, Ochirdari, Ayush, and the three deities of Longevity, who grant long life and health.
On the left side of the Three Hundred Temples’ special fortress wall stands the Golden Stupa of Worship, a large white stupa built in 1799 in honor of the Fourth Bogd Gegen. Inside are over 70 Bodhi stupas, more than 2,500 small statues (tsats), and 100,000 Buddha images and other religious ritual items. The stupa is 13 meters tall.
Next to it is the Lavrin Temple, a three-story temple restored between 1969 and 1973. This temple is a pure Tibetan-style architectural monument containing Buddha statues, portraits, murals, embroidered Buddhas, Tsam dance costumes, trumpets, bells, vajras, and drums.
The large open space in the center of Erdenezuu is known as Öljii Hutagt Square, where Altan Khan’s residence once stood. Later, in 1658, a large round yurt called Bat-Öljiit was built here for the Mongol nobles’ Khalkha assembly. The yurt had a diameter of 45 meters, 35 walls, 1,700 rafters, and was 15 meters high, accommodating 200 people. Four banners representing four aimags (provinces) flew on poles outside the residence. A small pond called the Sacred Lake was created by drawing water from the Orkhon River via a narrow canal.
Inside Erdenezuu’s fortress courtyard was a space for various Buddhist ceremonies such as Tsam dances. The courtyard was divided into six large tribes, with 108 Tsam deities performing dances. The monastery fence was built with interlocking black wood without a single nail. Apart from defense against internal and external enemies, the fence also served to restrict entry of horses, livestock, and crowds during religious rituals and Tsam dances.
Erdenezuu’s temples and buildings hold famous and beautiful works by 17th-century Mongolian artists, sculptors, painters, and blacksmiths, including paintings, patterns, carvings, statues, cast Buddhas, stupas, cauldrons, ceremonial vessels, bells, vajras, precious stone-inlaid mandalas, Tsam dance costumes, and ceremonial robes. The Government of Mongolia has registered 18 artifacts from Erdenezuu Monastery in the National Treasury as invaluable cultural treasures. According to UNESCO’s book “Mongolian Historical and Cultural Heritage,” Erdenezuu is the only monastery built according to traditional Mongolian urban planning and is architecturally comparable to the palace buildings of Karakorum city. Erdenezuu Monastery remains a major tourist destination year-round, attracting over 20,000 visitors annually from both Mongolia and abroad.