Bogd Khan Winter Palace - Pride Collection of the Last Emperor

While visiting Mongolia in your to-do list make sure you keep Bogd Khan Winter Palace as a top priority. Built around 1893 and 1906, the palace has two parts that you need to look out for, The Summer Palace with seven temples and pagodas, well preserved Chinese-styled place of worship. The Winter Palace a two style European architecture that reminds you of Czarist Russia.

Located in Zaisan Street, Ulaanbaatar, The Bogd Khan Winter Palace is 3.2 km (about 2 miles) away from the city centre. A taxi from Ulan Bator to The Winter Palace of the Bogd Khan will cost around 7,500 MNT or a 7 bus (300 Tugriks per trip). You need to pay T2, 500 (about USD$2) for the entry pass to the Bogd Khan Winter Palace Museum.

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You will be charged for photography. Taking photos of the displays without a pass will be noted by security personnel and there are CCTV cameras throughout the grounds. Wear good walking shoes as a lot needs to be covered by foot.

Maintain an amiable disposition with the locals. Carrying your own water bottle is recommended for safety. Be careful about your personal belongings, it's always wise to be safe.

The Winter Palace is beautiful so don't miss it as it houses exquisite antique collections of furniture and items used by the last King and Queen. The palace is just a few miles south of Chinggis Khaan Sq. so you can take a taxi. Visiting time on normal days is from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. every day of the week.

The Bogd Khan Winter Palace, also known as the green palace, was built between 1893 and 1903, by the last Mongolian emperor Bogd Khan, the last Jebtsundamba. It is one of the few historic attractions in Ulaanbaatar in that escaped destruction from the hands of the Soviet and Mongolian communists. Important for its historical relevance as this is the place where king, Jebtzun Damba Hutagt VIII also known as the eighth Living Buddha lived or Bogd Khan spent 20 years. The palace was built between 1883 and 1903.

Famous for the Gate of Peace, the flamboyant temple and rich collection in the personal library, sculptures and famous Taras made by Mongolian first Bogd, Zanabazar. The collection in the Palace Museum exceeds 8,000 exhibits. The state has certified 72 of the unique and others are priceless artefacts.

Away from the noisy humdrum, ornate arches embellished with moulded tiling and painted timbers are a visitor‘s treat. Foot lanes formed on unkempt grasses take you to about 8 different display houses with Buddhist art specimens of statues, paintings, and embroidered silk tapestries.

Besides, the museum is well preserved with Mongolian style temple structures along with 19th-century manor-style housing complex.

Bogd Khan loved unusual and interesting things. Local merchants and shops entertained his hobby and brought things for him. Thus, a huge collection grew in the Bogd Khan Winter Palace, which is currently stored in the palace museum and includes thousands of exhibits, including paintings on canvas and fabrics, sculptures, musical instruments, religious objects, the thrones of the khan and his wife, furniture and household items.

On the first floor of the museum stands the coach of Bogd Khan, and in the left-wing, there is a wonderful yurt made of leopard skins. Exquisitely decorated 150 leopard skins, combined with gilded ephemera distinguish the difference of the wealthy classes with the life of the ordinary Mongolian during the period of the declaration of independence.

Cultural art elements depicted in forms of figurines of god and tankas in papier-mache are also a part of the Place Museum.

Bogd Khan's pet elephant’s jewelled imported regalia, works of the 20 silk embroiderers devoted to for the royal court, ebony furniture, inlaid with jewels in all its magnificence, a British horse cart, gifts from the Qing Chinese dynasty. Murals painted by famous contemporary monk and artist, B. Sharav all add to the charm on the Bogd Khan Winter Palace.

The museum is divided into 12 parts including applique, sculpture, religious objects, wood carving, stuffed animals collection, clothes, furniture and architecture. All exhibits are divided into a high-level category, valuable category and original category. Exhibits of high-level category include gilded bronze sculptures.

Summer Palace is a wooden building in the Chinese style of 1893-1903. Due to the fragility of the material, only the central part of the building, which consists of seven temples, has survived.

Your visit to Ulaanbaatar will remain incomplete without a tour to Bogd Khan Winter Palace. A little knowledge about the place is a huge plus but even if you are going just like a tourist, you will enjoy the glorious offerings and the rich collection of the Palace Museum.

Further Reading:

Most Famous Mongolia Tourist Attractions You cannot Miss