Tsetserleg, also spelled Tsetserlik, Tsetserlig or Cècèrlèg, is the capital of Arhangay aymag, or province, in Mongolia. It lies at latitude 49.2667, longitude 94.8500, on the northeastern slopes of the Khangay mountains, 250 miles (400 km) southwest of Ulaanbaatar. It has a population of 18,519 (2000 census).
History
Tsetserleg is an ancient cultural and commercial centre. It was once the seat of a monastery, built by the First Khalkh Zaya Pandita, Luvsanperenlei (1642–1715) (who should not be confused with Zaya Pandita Namkhaijantsan (1599–1662)). This consisted of the main Guden Süm, the Right, or Summer Semchin Temple, and the Left, or Winter Semchin Temple, all built in the early 1680s. The sixth Zaya Pandita, Jambatseren, was killed by the Communists in 1932, and the main Guden temple was turned into a museum. There is a seventh Zaya Pandita, but he mostly lives in Ulaanbaatar, and visits only occasionally.
Facilities
Modern Tsetserleg has an airport (ZMTG/TSZ), with regular connections from and to Ulaanbaatar, a theatre, hotel, hospital, and an agricultural college. The main industry is food processing.
Famous People
References
- Don Croner's World Wide Wanders: Mongolia | Arkhangai | Tsetserleg
- 'Tsetserleg' Encyclopædia Britannica
