Gandantegchenling Monastery
Gandantegchenling Monastery
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Historic Sites • Architectural Buildings • Religious Sites
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29 within 10 kms
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- Frank T64 contributionsGet Special Intention Prayed ForOn our visit it was quite busy with local worshippers. There was a service in progress and we watched from the rear of the temple. There were a lot of old and young monks taking part. Felt free to write a special intention on a piece of paper and hand it to one of the celebrants for a nominal fee who will pray over it and burn the paper. There is a massive Buddha statue inside. The building is more like a complex than a singular temple.Visited July 2022Travelled as a coupleWritten 5 July 2022
- marstar0109Seoul, South Korea300 contributionsOne of the highlights of my Ulaanbaatar visitAfter visiting I said to my guide that visiting Ulaanbaatar only in order to see this monastery is worth it. The 26.5m statue inside it is just spectacular. There is this amazing, mysterious atmophere about the inside of this place, the chanting in the background, the smell of wood, the dark interior... I simply loved it. The whole complex has a few buildings, one of them is this much more modern one, which is also an interesting place to see. Overall I recommend a visit!Visited January 2023Written 29 January 2023
- SummerasalifestyleMalibu, California2,832 contributionsAlways go to a church, temple or monastery…I always try and go to such places. Guessing it might be good for my soul in the here or here after. Amazing architecture that’s beautiful and historical balanced by the newer stuff. Yes yes yes About $10 usd.Visited July 2023Written 23 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
646 reviews
Excellent
248
Very good
277
Average
96
Poor
17
Terrible
8
Lee K
Prairie Village, KS1,034 contributions
Jun 2023 • Friends
Built in 1838, this is the largest and most important center of Buddhism. Beautiful buildings and ornate statues. We were able to hear the morning chants and meet with a monk.
Written 31 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Summerasalifestyle
Malibu, CA2,832 contributions
Jul 2023
I always try and go to such places. Guessing it might be good for my soul in the here or here after.
Amazing architecture that’s beautiful and historical balanced by the newer stuff.
Yes yes yes
About $10 usd.
Amazing architecture that’s beautiful and historical balanced by the newer stuff.
Yes yes yes
About $10 usd.
Written 23 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
marstar0109
Seoul, South Korea300 contributions
Jan 2023
After visiting I said to my guide that visiting Ulaanbaatar only in order to see this monastery is worth it. The 26.5m statue inside it is just spectacular. There is this amazing, mysterious atmophere about the inside of this place, the chanting in the background, the smell of wood, the dark interior... I simply loved it. The whole complex has a few buildings, one of them is this much more modern one, which is also an interesting place to see. Overall I recommend a visit!
Written 29 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Happy Trails
Tucson, AZ50 contributions
Dec 2021
At one time this was a great monastery.The building itself remained a"showpiece" after communist purges of the early 20th C that destroyed all other monasteries SInce 2006 Gandan has gone from bad to worse. Monks follow few rules. . Now you have to watch your purse when you visit. "Monks" here might be actors or outright grifters accepting donations that go to them, not for students or upkeep of the monastery. It is a lovely place to visit as a historical relic, but there are better more reputable sacred monasteries that have been rebuilt that will not steal from you.
Written 2 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Noah Harry
Rochester, NY11 contributions
Aug 2022
Really amazing place to visit and see Buddhist artworks. Also, the new big temple is worth to visit when you are in Ulanbatar
Written 11 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PortlyPenguin
Sterling, VA47 contributions
Sep 2022
this entire complex of Monasteries is beautiful... walk around, go in and see everything.. talk to people
Written 3 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Frank T
64 contributions
Jul 2022 • Couples
On our visit it was quite busy with local worshippers. There was a service in progress and we watched from the rear of the temple. There were a lot of old and young monks taking part. Felt free to write a special intention on a piece of paper and hand it to one of the celebrants for a nominal fee who will pray over it and burn the paper. There is a massive Buddha statue inside. The building is more like a complex than a singular temple.
Written 5 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GlobeTrotting55015
Brisbane, Australia136 contributions
Jun 2022 • Friends
We visited on a particularly busy day but we’re still able to walk around the complex and monastery. Quite peaceful despite the many visitors this day
Written 2 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
chaletaria
London, United Kingdom540 contributions
Sep 2019
This is the most important monastery in Ulaanbaatar and mostly saved from the Soviet-inspired religious purges. Worth a visit. No signs etc, so take a guide book or brush up on Tibetan Buddhism (as this is the most practised in Mongolia)
Written 25 May 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John OF
The Hills Shire, Australia13 contributions
Jan 2020
An interesting complex in the middle of Ulaanbaatar where one is able to go upstairs and photograph the 26.5m high Buddha in the main temple for an extra fee.
Written 20 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gregory W
United States416 contributions
What are your favorite things to do/see in Mongolia? A group of three of us are taking the train from Moscow to Beijing. We like to get off the beaten path. Trip is Sep & Oct 2018
80GlobalTraveler30
Shenzhen, China244 contributions
I hope others respond as well, as my time did not allow traveling the fullest extent of the country.
In town (UlaanBaatar), you only need a day to get the main sights. I recommend the national museum - very detailed, much information, and quite educational. Just west of Chenggis Khan Square.
You need to organize some trip that includes a ger. You'll be hitting the end of tourist season so the crowds won't be as bad and the temperature may even be 'pleasant.' Nights, however, can be quite cold in the mountains. A ger holds in the heat quite well and only chills down once the fire goes out. With enough layers you'll stay plenty warm.
Terelj is beautiful with the fall colors, so be sure to see that. If you're fascinated by deserts, visit the Gobi.
As I look at all the options, you have a wide assortment of other choices. Hopefully others will add to this and make your decision easier. (As I mentioned earlier, I'm limited!)
Overall, I found the people fantastic! Enjoy!
jtflyer
Singapore, Singapore8 contributions
Hello Tripadvisor community,
Is Gandantegchenling Monastery opened at night?
Thanks!
Jérémie
amoregor
Moscow, Russia16 contributions
Hi, Jeremie. I visited the Monastery last autumn, and it seemed to me that the territory is opened all night long, because I didn't see any big fence. It looked like a part of the city, some kind of a Buddhist quarter. Although all the temples are closed at night, I guess, but it is not 100% info. Good luck!
vivientamhk
Hong Kong, China
How much is for an adult ticket and a person above aged 12?
AnneManila
Manila236 contributions
We didnt see the sign at the temple door so we didnt buy a ticket. My husband said, it is only a donation but we didnt give either.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Gandantegchenling Monastery
- We recommend booking Gandantegchenling Monastery tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 15 Gandantegchenling Monastery tours on Tripadvisor
- Hotels near Gandantegchenling Monastery:
- (0.20 km) Town Yard Hostel and Tours
- (0.53 km) Danista Nomads
- (0.34 km) Sunpath Mongolia Tour & Guest House
- (0.80 km) Zaya 2 Hostel
- (0.35 km) Good Karma Hostel
- Restaurants near Gandantegchenling Monastery:
- (0.11 km) Gandan Zoog
- (0.32 km) Gobi Cave Turkish Restaurant
- (0.37 km) Molly Malone's Irish Pub and Restaurant
- (0.37 km) Saranban Korean Restaurant
- (0.44 km) The Temple Restaurant at Nomado