Kharkhorin, with a population of roughly 9000, was the biggest
town we came across outside of UB. It's built near the site of
the imperial capital of the Mongol Empire, Karakorum.
The entrance to Erdene Zuu Monastery in Kharkhorin.
It was the first Buddhist Monastery to be established in
Mongolia (ca. 1585). It was originally built with the stones
from the ruins of Karakorum and at its height had over
60 temples and 1,600 monks.
Stupas against the sky. The wall of the monastery has 102
stupas on it. 108 is a very auspicious number in Buddism,
so it makes me wonder what happend to the other six stupas.
The vacant space in the foreground was once alive with
activity and the living quaters of monks that called
Erdene Zuu home. In 1939 the Russians purged
the monastery (and many, many others), killing most
of the monks and leaving only three temples, the outer-wall
and the stupas.
One of the remaining temples within the monastery's walls.
Sarah and Hannah (Samuel's on my back at this point in
time) walking towards the remaining temples.
The remaining temple complex within the monastery's walls.
Samuel boy spinning prayer wheels at Erdene Zuu.
The monastery's western gate. The vacant land through the
doors was once the the site of Ögedei Khan's
Karakorum.
1 comment:
Awesome!
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