It consists of several buildings. The main building underwent thorough reconstruction in 1991 and 1992. It once housed a huge Buddha statue which disappeared in 1906 and is supposed to be in Russia. This building is at present not used for public religious services. Southeast of the main temple there is a smaller compound within the Gandan monastery where religious services are held.
People come here for prayer, meditation and sacrifices.
The monastery compound was not built in one step. This small structure which belongs also to the new monastery houses a huge prayer mill. In the background on the left side the entrance to the Foreign Student's dormitory of the National University can be seen. Inside the building was more or less destroyed as can be seen from the second picture which shows the staircase between the 2nd and 3rd floors. A tour through this Museum can be warmly recommended to everybody.