Bogd Khaan Palace Museum

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
1893--1903
Every Bogd Khaan (head state and religious leader) had his own temple-palace in which to live and pray. Mongolia at one time had 700 such temples, but following the brutal Stalinist purges in 1937 only four temples were left, this one among them. The 10-building complex was built for Khaan VIII Bogd. During his rule, he erected a winter palace in 1903 and later a "Ceremonial Gate" to celebrate Mongolia's independence in 1911. The wooden buildings, constructed without nails, are a distinctive melding of Asian styles. They are grouped symmetrically along a traditional Asian north-south axis, and situated within two rectangular enclosures. Originally, green glazed tiles covered the roofs. When Khaan VIII died in 1924, the line of succession ended. Both the palace and the Nogoon Labin (Green Residence) are rapidly deteriorating. Rainwater has penetrated interiors, washing away paintings and finishes. Wooden columns and window frames are rotting. State funds and revenues from the on-site museum have allowed some restoration work to move forward, but at a pace too slow to ensure the temple's survival.

Listed in 1996 | 1998