AIMAG MUSEUM

It is undoubtedly one of the most interesting central museums in Mongolia, as much for the buildings as for the collections it offers. It traces the history of the region, with rooms devoted to the nomadic way of life of the seventh century, religion and local crafts. Note the important collection of musical instruments, as well as objects of everyday life in the steppe, and objects of worship. Like all provincial museums, it also shows the local fauna and flora, with the help of stuffed animals.

The museum is housed in the beautiful monastery of Zayan Gegeen. Built at the end of the 16th century and enlarged at the end of the 17th century, it was fortunately spared during the purges against the clergy in 1937, and is in itself a must-see. Consisting of five temples and housing up to 1,000 monks in its heyday, the monastery owed its salvation only to its conversion into a warehouse during the communist era, and then into a museum. It was restored in 1951. It would have been founded by the monk Zayan Gegeen, who gave it his name. This monk is also said to be the originator of the city of Tsetserleg itself. It is said that he was reincarnated three times. The bodies of the three Zayan Gegeen are supposed to be buried in the monastery.

Behind the museum, above the city, is a small renovated temple, Galdan Zuu, which offers a nice view of Tsetserleg and the surrounding mountains. The steps are steep but worth it! Some rocks behind the temple bear religious inscriptions.