Khogno Khan National Park

In the early 17th century one of the Tüsheet khans, rulers of Mongolia, a son of the Avtai Sain Khan, who founded Erdene Zuu, built at least one temple at the southern base of the mountain. Reportedly Zanabazar, who had been enthroned as the first Bogd Gegen of Mongolia at Shireet Tsagaan Nuur, about 40 km south of here, initiated the construction of more temples and finally a monastery was established. Zanabazar dedicated this monastery to one of his teachers, Erdene-Tsorj, and eventually the complex became known as Erdene Khamba Khiyd. During Zanabazar’s lifetime there were at least ten temples here at two different sites, one at the end of the current-day road and another about a 30-minute walk north. At the farther site was built the so-called Ovgon Temple (Old Man’s Temple), supposedly a much scaled-down model of the Potala in Lhasa. Soon after, the temple was destroyed by Galdanboshgit invaders in the 17th century.