Gandan Monastery
The monastery was constructed by order of the 5th Jebtsundamba Khutuktu in 1809. The first temple was the Gungaachoilin Datsan. Only one wooden pillar remains from this temple. In 1838, the Gandantegchenlin Temple was built along with the private residence of the Jebtsundamba Khutuktu. The 13th Dalai Lama stayed in the residence in 1904. In 1840, the Vajradhara Temple was built. In 1869, the Zuu Temple was built. In 1913, the tall Avalokiteśvara temple was built. In 1925, the temple for keeping the remains of the 8th Jebtsundamba Khutuktu was built. It is now the monastery library.
In the 1930s, the Communist government of Mongolia, under the leadership of Khorloogiin Choibalsan and under the influence of Joseph Stalin, destroyed all but a few monasteries and killed more than 15,000 lamas.
Gandantegchinlen Khiid monastery, having escaped this mass destruction, was closed in 1938, but then reopened in 1944 and was allowed to continue as the only functioning Buddhist monastery, under a skeleton staff, as a token homage to traditional Mongolian culture and religion. With the end of Marxism in Mongolia in 1990, restrictions on worship were lifted.a
Ulaanbaatar
Ulaanbaatar, the capital city, is in the central part of Mongolia on the bank of river Tuul. In 1639, it was founded to as the center of Buddhism in the country, and has since grown to reflect a mix of ancient tradition, Buddhist ritual and modern commerce and trade. It is the undisputed political, economic, and cultural center of Mongolia. The capital is administrated in six districts (Sukhbaatar, Khan-Uul, Chingeltei and Bayangol) and the three satellite towns of Nalaikh, Baga Khangai and Baganuur.
In 2014 Ulaanbaatar's population was estimated 1.250.000.
The history of Ulaanbaatar
The first foundation stone of the future capital of Mongolia dates back to 1639 at a place in present-day Arkhangai aimak. The history of Ulaanbaatar can be divided into two periods, one between 1639 and 1778, when it was moved from one place to another, and the other starting 1778, when it settled in the present site of Ulaanbaatar on the bank of the Tuul river. The first name was Orgoo (Palace) but now the city is called Ulaanbaatar (red hero).