One of Mongolia’s historic Buddhist institutions, Zuun Khuree Dashchoilin Monastery has launched a special program for visitors as part of efforts to promote religious and cultural tourism.

Established in 1990 following the revival of religious freedom in Mongolia, the monastery is one of the country’s prominent Buddhist centers. Located in Ulaanbaatar City, it was built on the historical foundations of the former Zuun Khuree, a major Buddhist complex that existed before the 1930s religious purges. Today, it serves as both a place of worship and a center for Buddhist education, preserving traditional rituals, scriptures, and cultural practices while introducing Mongolia’s Buddhist heritage to younger generations and international visitors. 

The monastery has begun cooperating with tour operators to offer tourists a deeper insight into Buddhist traditions and heritage. Visitors can explore religious artifacts, statues, and temple halls while also taking part in unique cultural experiences, including sharing tea with monks, discussing Buddhist teachings, preparing and offering lamps, making prayer beads, and receiving blessings.

Monk Ts.Altankhuu said the services have attracted considerable interest from foreign visitors seeking authentic cultural experiences. The monastery has also been regularly organizing religious and cultural events aimed at both tourists and the general public to promote greater understanding of Mongolia’s Buddhist heritage.

As part of its efforts to promote Buddhist studies and preserve historical records, Dashchoilin Monastery will host an international academic conference on August 8 focusing on written sources of the peoples of Central Asia. The event is being organized in cooperation with the Institute of Language and Literature of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences, the Institute for Mongolian, Buddhist and Tibetan Studies of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and the Research Institute for Buddhism and Culture.