Asral

Ulaanbaatar

LoginSave

Located in the northwest corner of the city, Asral is an NGO and Buddhist social centre that supports impoverished families. Its main aim is to stop disadvantaged youths from becoming street children. It also provides skills and jobs for unemployed women; an on-site felt-making cooperative Made in Mongolia (www.madeinmongolia.net) turns out some lovely products to purchase.

Asral encourages travellers to visit the centre. You can meet the felt-makers, learn to make felt products (workshops from US$20), buy items from its shop or volunteer. The centre is always looking for English teachers or gardeners to work on a small farm in Gachuurt or at its felt-making branch in Dundgov aimag in the Gobi region.

The Buddhist arm of the organisation has classes on Buddhism and meditation, although for now these are only offered in Mongolian. In summer, a high Tibetan Lama, Panchen Otrul Rinpoche, visits the centre and provides religious teachings.

The centre is in the 3/4 district opposite the Gobi Sauna, slightly off the main road. It's best to call before you visit. Take trolley bus '3,4 Horoolo' from Peace Ave to the last stop and continue walking for 300m. Asral is a two-storey cream-coloured building on your right.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • National Museum of Mongolia.

    National Museum of Mongolia

    2.44 MILES

    Mongolia’s wonderful National Museum sweeps visitors from the Neolithic era right to the present day. It’s UB's only genuine blockbuster sight, offering…

  • The Choijin Lama Temple Museum is a Buddhist monastery in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

    Choijin Lama Temple Museum

    2.65 MILES

    This temple museum smack in the middle of downtown Ulaanbaatar was the home of Luvsan Haidav Choijin Lama (‘Choijin’ is an honorary title given to some…

  • View of the Winter Palace of the Bogd Khan, now a museum, located in southern Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

    Winter Palace of the Bogd Khan

    2.7 MILES

    Built between 1893 and 1903, this palace is where Mongolia’s eighth Living Buddha, and last king, Jebtzun Damba Hutagt VIII (often called the Bogd Khan),…

  • Zaisan memorial in the south of Ulaanbaatar.

    Zaisan Memorial

    3.65 MILES

    Built by the Russians to commemorate 'unknown soldiers and heroes' from various wars, the Zaisan Memorial features stirring socialist realism imagery with…

  • Zanabazar Museum of Fine Arts

    Zanabazar Museum of Fine Arts

    2.17 MILES

    This fine-arts museum has a superb collection of paintings, carvings and sculptures, including many by the revered sculptor and artist Zanabazar. It also…

  • International Intellectual Museum

    International Intellectual Museum

    3.67 MILES

    This museum contains an intriguing collection of puzzles and games made by local and international artists. One puzzle requires 56,831 movements to…

  • Gandan Khiid monastery, Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia

    Gandan Khiid

    1.48 MILES

    Around the start of the 19th century more than 100 süm (temples) and khiid (monasteries) served a population of about 50,000 in Urga (the former name of…

  • Mongolia, Ulan Bator, Sukhbaatar square

    Sükhbaatar Square

    2.56 MILES

    In July 1921 in the centre of Ulaanbaatar, Damdin Sükhbaatar (the ‘hero of the revolution’) declared Mongolia’s final independence from China. A square…

View more attractions

Nearby Ulaanbaatar attractions

1. Chinggis Khan Waxworks Museum

1.43 MILES

If you're in the area to visit the cashmere outlets, this Madam Tussauds'–style wax museum is worth a look to see realistic figures of Chinggis Khan,…

2. Gandan Khiid

1.48 MILES

Around the start of the 19th century more than 100 süm (temples) and khiid (monasteries) served a population of about 50,000 in Urga (the former name of…

4. Wildlife Museum

1.56 MILES

The Wildlife Museum (formerly known as the Hunting Museum) is on the 2nd floor of the Baigal Ordon (Nature Palace) on the street leading to Gandan Khiid…

5. Tasgany Ovoo

1.7 MILES

Atop a steep hill, peaceful Tasgany Ovoo is worth a look if you haven't yet seen an ovoo, a sacred pyramid-shaped collection of stones. The views up top…

6. Badma Ega Datsan

1.73 MILES

Belonging to Gandan Khiid, Badma Ega is a small, ramshackle place on a busy intersection. While Badma Ega is the original name for the temple, many know…

7. Bakula Rinpoche Süm

1.76 MILES

The Bakula Rinpoche Süm was founded in 1999 by the late Indian ambassador, himself a reincarnated lama from Ladakh. The Rinpoche’s ashes were interred…

8. Freedom Square

2 MILES

In front of the Central Museum of Mongolian Dinosaurs (the former Lenin Museum), Freedom Sq is UB's traditional gathering spot for political rallies and…