Choros Erdeniin Galdan, a Dzungar-Oirat Khan of the Dzungar Khanate, is the fourth son of Erdeni Baatur Hongtaiji, founder of the Dzungar Khanate.
Galdan's mother Amin-Dara was a daughter of Güshi Khan, the first Khoshut-Oirat King of Tibet and fourth Wênsa Zhügu.
As a youth, Galdan had been sent to Lhasa to be educated as a lama under the fifth Dalai Lama.
When Galdan heard that his eldest brother, Sengge, had been murdered by a half brother, Tseten, he had renounced his status as a lama and quickly returned to the Irtysh Valley to avenge his brother's death.
Galdan had been granted the title, Hongtaiji, in 1671 by the Dalai Lama.
After victory over Ochirtu Khan, the Dalai Lama had given Galdan the highest title of Boshughtu Khan.
During Galdan's rule, Dzungaria embraces Eastern Turkistan and parts of Central Asia, which he conquers by 1679.
He is the founder of Kobdo city, which is his military garrison.