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Soum Guide · Dundgovi Aimag

Saikhan-Ovoo

Сайхан-Овоо

Dundgovi soum on the Ongi river, home of the twin Ongi monasteries.

Population (2025)
2,041
In Mongolian
Сайхан-Овоо сум

Overview

About 18 km south of the village of Saikhan-Ovoo, the two complexes of Ongi Monastery face each other across the Ongi river. Founded in 1660, Ongi became one of Mongolia's largest monasteries, with more than 1,000 monks and four Buddhist colleges.

Both complexes were destroyed in 1939, when more than 200 monks were killed. Rebuilding began in the 1990s, and the first new temple opened in 2004.

What to See

  • Ongi Monastery: the Khutagt and Barlim complexes and the rebuilt temple
  • The memorial stupa to the monks killed in 1939

Visiting

  • Tracks are unpaved; travel by 4x4 with a driver. Ongi is often visited on the way to or from the southern Gobi.

Sources