Tövkhön Monastery, Buddhist monastery in Övörkhangai Province, Mongolia
Tövkhön Monastery is a Buddhist complex perched on a mountain in the Khangai range, comprising temples, meditation caves, and stone structures arranged on the slopes. The setting sits at approximately 2600 meters elevation surrounded by pine forest.
Established in 1648, the monastery endured destruction in the late 1600s and again during the 1930s, which profoundly shaped its physical and spiritual character. These upheavals determined what visitors can see today.
The monastery holds deep meaning for local people as a place where a great scholar and artist once spent decades in spiritual practice. Today it remains a site where visitors can sense the ongoing reverence for this historical figure.
The walk to the monastery goes uphill through pine forest for about 2.5 kilometers from the parking area, though horses or 4x4 vehicles can reduce the hiking effort. Weather changes quickly at this elevation, so bring appropriate layers.
Two original temples and stupas from the 1600s have survived intact through the centuries, offering a rare glimpse of what stood before later destructions. Sacred wells carved directly into the solid rock beneath the site are said to have healing qualities that locals still recognize today.
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