The above photo is taken from a hill and has a view of the Erdene Zuu Monastery. Nikon D4, Lens: 24-70mm f/2.8G, Focal Length: 48mm, Focus Mode: AF-C, AF-Area Mode: Dynamic, 9 points, Aperture: f/10, Shutter Speed: 1/250s, Exposure Mode: Programmed Auto*, Exposure Comp.: -0.3EV, Metering: Matrix, ISO 100, Copyright: Wolfgang Kaehler
Kharakhorum was built by Chinggis Khan’s son, Ogodei, to serve as the capital of the Mongol Empire. Forty years after its construction, Kharakhorum was abandoned. The Erdene Zuu Monastery was built from Kharakhorum’s ruins in the 16th century. It is Mongolia’s largest monastery and a place of Buddhist activity for centuries. Erdene Zuu’s temples are richly decorated with spectacular Buddhist art. It is surrounded by 400 meters wall with 108 stupas. At its’ height, the monastery housed over 60 temples and 5000 monks. During the communist period a lot of the temples were destroyed.
If you are interested in a future trip to Mongolia, please email me: [email protected]

The walls with stupas of the Erdene Zuu Monastery.
Nikon D4, Lens: 24-70mm f/2.8G, Focal Length: 70mm, Focus Mode: AF-C, AF-Area Mode: Dynamic, 9 points, Aperture: f/10, Shutter Speed: 1/400s, Exposure Mode: Programmed Auto*, Exposure Comp.: -0.3EV, Metering: Matrix, ISO 100, Copyright: Wolfgang Kaehler

Buddhist monks at the Erdene Zuu Monastery.
Nikon D4, Lens: 24-70mm f/2.8G, Focal Length: 66mm, Focus Mode: AF-C, AF-Area Mode: Dynamic, 9 points, Aperture: f/10, Shutter Speed: 1/160s, Exposure Mode: Programmed Auto*, Exposure Comp.: -0.3EV, Metering: Matrix, ISO 100, Copyright: Wolfgang Kaehler

A Mongolian man is turning prayer wheels.
Nikon D4, Lens: 24-70mm f/2.8G, Focal Length: 38mm, Focus Mode: AF-C, AF-Area Mode: Dynamic, 9 points, Aperture: f/6.3, Shutter Speed: 1/160s, Exposure Mode: Programmed Auto, Exposure Comp.: -0.3EV, Metering: Matrix, ISO 100, Copyright: Wolfgang Kaehler

Scarfs at the entrance door to the Erdene Zuu Monastery.
Nikon D4, Lens: VR 70-200mm f/2.8G, Focal Length: 122mm, Focus Mode: AF-C, AF-Area Mode: Dynamic, 9 points, Aperture: f/8, Shutter Speed: 1/60s, Exposure Mode: Programmed Auto*, Exposure Comp.: -0.3EV, Metering: Matrix, ISO 100, Copyright: Wolfgang Kaehler

When we woke up the next morning, it had snowed. On the way to our next camp, we stopped at the Erdene Zuu Monastery to take more photos.
Nikon D4, Lens: 24-70mm f/2.8G, Focal Length: 27mm, Focus Mode: AF-C, AF-Area Mode: Dynamic, 9 points, Aperture: f/11, Shutter Speed: 1/200s, Exposure Mode: Programmed Auto, Exposure Comp.: -0.3EV, Metering: Matrix, ISO 100, Copyright: Wolfgang Kaehler