Choijin Lama Temple Museum - Ulaanbaatar - Mongolia

 

The Choijin Lama Temple Museum is a sensory overload place.
It is a historic art filled Buddhist monastery complex.  Not far from Sukhbaatar Square, and about 10 minutes walk from our hotel. As is common practice in Mongolia, ticket price was $NZ25 for the camera pass, as well as $NZ10 for entrance fee.

The Buddhist monastery complex consists of six temples originally occupied by the brother of the ruler the Eighth Bogd Jetsun Dampa Khan, Choijin Lama Luvsankhaidav, who was the state oracle and 'Precious Wisdom and Clear Devotion' Khutugtu at the time. The complex was begun in 1904 and completed in 1908.

The "Evil Subduing Ceremonial Gate" that leads to the main Temple

The entrance to the main Temple building.

The Main Temple features an 18th-century gilt statue of Buddha Sakyamuni with a statue of Choijin Lama Luvsankhaidav on the Buddha's right.

 

In addition, the temple boasts a copious collection of religious instruments, thangka paintings, silk embroideries, wood carvings, statues, and a biggest collection of cham dance masks.

The annex to the temple contains temple, the Zankhang Temple and a central square in which Choijin Lama Luvsankhaidav performed Oracle trance rituals.

The Zuu Temple, dedicated to the Buddha Shakyamuni features papier-mache sculptures of Buddha in the past, present, and future. The 16 arhat disciples of Buddha appear on the temple walls with four Maharajas protectors shown sitting in caves on either side of the door.

The Temple of the Meditational Deities was closed.

The last temple we visited was, the temple of amugulang or peace, is dedicated to the first Mongolian reincarnation of Boghda Jevzundamba, Undur Gegeen Zanabazar, (1635-1724)

The entrance/exit which is the Temple of Maharajas

Allow a couple of hours to visit, it is a sensory overload, and don't forget the shield wall as well.