Gunjyn sum(Temple of princess)

car on a road

31

Dec
2016
Gunjyn sum(Temple of princess)
Posted By : Admin/562

            This place in a zone of natural reserve of Khentii Aimag, is 120km east from Ulaanbaatar and could be reached passing Gorkhi Terelj, moving northeast after crossing Terelj River. While going upwards along swampy road east of the Baruunbayan, concentrated rocks known as “Khuh Chuluu” will appear. After passing these rocks there is a densely forested area. This area is a naturally beautiful surrounded by pine-tree forest.

In 1699 Manchu princess came to Mongolia becoming a queen of Mongolian noble, Dondovdorj. She left a valid will before her death in 1740; this will said that “I got married with a Mongol man and lived throughout my life with him, so I became a Mongolian. Therefore, please let me lay to rest in a Mongolian territory”. Princess’ servants from Sunchin tribe have been protecting the area around her grave since that time. Until 1930 her sacred burial hadn’t been destroyed.

But, when excavation began in 1948, it had already been affected by the robberies. Grave remains consist of 6 main parts, a stone monument, and an establishment protecting the grave, Bogd gate, a fortress, a sacred burial and a grave. Princess tomb is inside the sacred burial. The establishment protecting the grave has its own fortress inside the bigger fortress. Height of the fortress is 2,5m, width is 70m same as its length and covering area is 4900 sq m. The thickness of the wall is equal to 4 bricks placed side by side. In front section inside the fortress there is 10m-high, 6m-wide Bogd gate which consists of several columns. The sacred burial was placed near this gate.