Bogd Khan Winter Palace
The preserved winter residence of Mongolia's last khan, with temples, his ceremonial ger and an eccentric collection.
Updated 20 October 2026
The Bogd Khan, the eighth Jebtsundamba Khutuktu, was the religious leader who became head of state when Mongolia declared independence in 1911, and this was his winter residence from 1893 until his death in 1924. It survived the destruction of the 1930s and became a museum, which is why it is one of the few complete pre-revolutionary complexes left in the capital: a set of temple buildings in Chinese style around courtyards, plus a two-storey European-style house. The collection is idiosyncratic and reflects the man: thangkas and religious sculpture including Zanabazar pieces, his ceremonial ger covered in the skins of one hundred and fifty snow leopards, gifts from foreign heads of state, stuffed animals from his private menagerie, and a set of ceremonial robes and boots.
History
The palace was built between 1893 and 1903 as part of the Green Palace, one of four residences of the Bogd Khan between the Dund and Tuul rivers, and it is the only one that survives. The complex has about 20 structures, including the Gate of Peace and Happiness and six temples, and the museum holds about 8,600 exhibits (Wikipedia, Winter Palace of the Bogd Khan).
What's there
- The temple courtyards - the surviving Chinese-style religious buildings.
- The snow leopard ger - his ceremonial tent covered in skins.
- Religious art - thangkas and sculpture including Zanabazar works.
- The European house - the two-storey residence with personal effects.
When to go
Year-round; the museum keeps regular hours and closes one or two days a week in winter. Mornings are quieter. The complex is largely unheated, so winter visits are cold.
What to expect
Buildings are unheated and can be very cold. Photography is charged extra and restricted in places. Labelling is limited in English. Some of the collection, particularly the taxidermy and the leopard-skin ger, is uncomfortable to modern eyes and is presented without much framing.
Nearby
Zaisan memorial and Bogd Khan mountain lie south; the city centre is north.
Key facts
Source: Wikidata, item Q1579833, read on 18 October 2026.
What to pack for Bogd Khan Winter Palace
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Warm base layers - Merino or synthetic against the skin - never cotton, which chills when damp. Find on Amazon
- Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
- Modest clothing - Shoulders and knees covered - the single most common requirement. Find on Amazon
- An insulated + windproof jacket - A down or synthetic layer under a hard shell handles most cold. Find on Amazon
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