Gandantegchinlen (Gandan) Monastery

Gandantegchinlen Monastery, often abbreviated as Gandan, is the central monastery of Buddhism in Mongolia, located in Ulaanbaatar. The first temple of Gandantegchinlen Monastery, originally named "Yellow Temple," was established in 1809 on Dalhyn Denj. In 1838, the Fifth Bogd Javzandamba Khutagt decreed the construction of the "Great City Mandal Temple," which is now known as Gandantegchinlen Monastery. In 1911, the Eighth Bogd Javzandamba Khutagt initiated the creation of a 26-meter (80 feet) tall golden statue of Migjid Janraisig Buddha, which was then enshrined.

During the period of political repression in 1938, the monastery was closed, and the statue of the Buddha was taken to the Soviet Union. In 1944, the monastery was reopened under the name "Worship Hall" and remained the sole Buddhist center in Mongolia under government control during the socialist era. After the transition to democracy, the statue of Migjid Janraisig was reconstructed and re-enshrined in 1996 with public donations.

Today, the monastery includes three colleges—Dashchoimpel, Gungaachoilin, and Idgaachoizinlin—as well as a Buddhist University, an Arts School, a Buddhist Middle School, and other schools such as Medicine, Astrology, Tantric Studies, and several datsans (monastic colleges). The architecture of Gandantegchinlen Monastery combines Mongolian, Sino-Mongolian, and Sino-Tibetan styles. As a major center of Buddhism in Mongolia, the monastery remains an important spiritual and intellectual hub for the Mongolian people. It has been registered as a protected cultural heritage site by the government of Mongolia.

In 2023, during the extended meeting of the administration of the Mongolian Buddhist Center—Gandantegchinlen Monastery, the resignation request of the 29th Chief Khamba Lama, Honored Cultural Worker, and Gavj D. Choijamts Lama was accepted. Following his recommendation, Buddhist University teacher and Lkharamba D. Javzandorj Lama was appointed as the 30th Chief Khamba Lama of the Mongolian Buddhist Center—Gandantegchinlen Monastery.