The Ongi Monastery is a scenic wonderland situated next to the Ongi River in the Saikhan-Ovoo district of the Dundgobi province. It actually comprises two monasteries: the Barlim Monastery located on the north bank of the Ongi River, and the Khutagt Monastery on the south bank of the river.
Ongi Monastery was built in the 1660s. At its peak, it boasted four universities and over thirty temples, all managed by more than one thousand monks. However, the purges of 1939 by the Communist Party of Mongolia devastated this region. Over two thousand monks were killed, and others were taken captive, with some forced to serve in the army.
Ongi Monastery
The area where the two monasteries once stood was reduced to ruins. Thanks to the democratization of Mongolia, three monks who had once studied at Ongi Monastery decided to return and restore the ruins. Visitors can now see a museum and even visit a restored temple. The area is particularly beautiful at sunset, with breathtaking views of the Ongi River flowing past green meadows and mountainous terrain. This place is a photographer’s delight, and I managed to capture some great pictures of the monastery and the surrounding hills.
The Stalinist and Communist purge of 1939 left the place in ruins, with monks slaughtered and temples vandalized. The Ongi River provides the area with a tranquil and silent atmosphere, making it feel very peaceful to be here.
