MANZUSHIR MONASTERY
The Manzushir Monastery is located at the foot of Bogd Khan Mountain, which is not only a historical pilgrimage site in Mongolia but also one of the world’s first protected areas. In 1996, UNESCO decided to include it in the “World Biosphere Reserve Network,” and this decision was officially confirmed in 1997. In 1733, the first Donkhor Manzushir Khutagt of Khalkha Mongolia, Agvaanluvsanjambaldanzan Lama, along with seven monks, went on a pilgrimage and discovered the “White Old Man” carved from white stone and the “Naydan” Buddha carved from jasper. Believing that a sign of blessing had occurred, they set up a shrine at the base of Tulgat, an old man’s burial site, and with offerings of 800 lan of money from the Buddha’s followers, the first temple was built, which was completed in 1747. This marked the beginning of the monastery.
Manzushir Monastery, which had existed for about 300 years at the foot of Bogd Khan Mountain, was one of the major monasteries in Mongolia from the 18th to the early 20th century, although only the ruins of the monastery remain today. The summer residence of Manzushir Khutagt, the “Seruun Lavrin,” was rebuilt by the Agency for the Restoration of Historical and Cultural Monuments between 1989 and 1991, and the Religious Museum was opened to the public in 1992.
In this museum, visitors can see photos from the 1920s of the monastery, a model showing the location of the temples and buildings, religious artifacts, and images of Buddha that were carved into the rocks behind the monastery. Manzushir Monastery suffered severe damage during the Great Purge that affected Mongolia, and the monastery was destroyed. As a result of the purge, the monastery with a 290-year history was left abandoned, and only the Seruun Lavrin temple was rebuilt and is now open to the public as a museum.
If you are considering traveling to Mongolia, leave it to a local travel agency with an English tour operator and English-speaking guides. Specialized tour staff familiar with Mongolia planned and arranged a Mongolian trip according to customers’ requests and budgets by incorporating experience and the latest information. Please make your own “private tour”. Our company is a Mongolian local travel agency Shine Zuuch Travel established in 2005 as a nomadic country, Mongolian sightseeing travel company and boasts 19 years of track record.
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