This reconstructed monastery, an hour’s drive south of Sainshand, has grown up around the cult of Danzan Ravjaa, whom many locals believe was a living god. His image is sewn into a carpet that hangs in the main hall. The original monastery and three-storey theatre, built by Danzan Ravjaa in 1821, was destroyed in the 1930s.
From the monastery (turn left as you exit it), a path, and more recently a paved road, leads for 2km to a bell tower which you must strike three times to announce your arrival at the ‘energy centre', known as Shambhala . In 1853, Danzan Ravjaa told the local people that he would die in three years but they could forever come to this place and speak to his spirit. Indeed, he died three years later and the site was marked by an ovoo . Shambhala is now surrounded by 108 new stupas (‘108’ being a sacred number in Buddhism) and festivities are held here on 10 September.
