Karakorum was the power centre and capital of Gengis Khan’s Mongolian Empire. Karakorum’s old city was left to fall, when Kublai Khaan moved the capital to present day Beijing. Today, little remains of the once grand old capital. The Khans who governed showed great tolerance to all religions allowing mosques, Christian churches and Buddhist monasteries to be built almost side by side.

Nearby you can marvel at the green and red roofed temples of Erden Zuu Monastery. Erden Zuu was Mongolia’s first Buddhist temple and its name translates as “Hundred Treasures.” The temple was abandoned to Manchurians troops who damaged the site. Restorations have been attempted many times, most recently halted during the Stalinist purges. Despite its turbulent past the temple complex still retains its intended calming atmosphere.