Karakorum

Our last stop on our journey around northern Mongolia was at Karakorum, which had been the capital of the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Our main focus there was the Erdene Zuu monastery, a huge complex with a variety of Buddhist temples inside its walls. Some parts of it were built over 900 years ago. It was one of the few monasteries in Mongolia that wasn't destroyed by the communists during their reign in the early part of the 20th century.Part of it is now a museum, while part is still an active monastery, where Buddhist monks do their daily prayers and devotions, and teach students their beliefs and practices.