Choijin Lama Temple

Bogd Khan, the spiritual authority of Mongolian Buddhism, ordered the construction of the Choijin Lama Temple complex between 1904 and 1908. The structure was named after his younger brother, the Choijin Lama, Mongolia's custodian of Buddhist teachings. The Choijin Lama was Mongolia's official state oracle and lived at the temple until his death in 1918.

The Choijin Lama Temple is an interesting example of Chinese-style religious architecture. The complex's five temples were constructed with blue bricks, timber roofs supported by wooden pillars, and green tiles. Each temple was devoted to a different god. The main temple was where the Choijin Lama would enter a trance and deliver oracular pronouncements, which an attendant lama or monk would translate.

Mongolian Buddhism has witnessed a gradual comeback in recent years as part of a national drive to enhance Mongolian identity. The architecture and treasures of the Choijin Lama Temple complex are a one-of-a-kind resource and one of Mongolian Buddhism's last remaining ties to the past. The site was put on the 2020 World Monuments Watch to offer support and awareness to local and international efforts to establish a master plan for the site's protection in collaboration with the Mongolian Arts Council.

Location: WW79+W9J, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Opening hours: 10 AM - 4:30 PM every day except Sundays and Mondays
Phone number: +976 11 32 4788
Rating: 4/5, 367 Tripadvisor reviews