TOP DESTINATIONS OF CENTRAL MONGOLIA

TERELJ NATIONAL PARK

The park is situated 70 km northeast of Ulaanbaatar. It takes nearly two hours to drive from the capital. The Park lies at an altitude of 1600 meters and offers excellent hiking, horse riding, and rock climbing opportunities. The landscape is similar to the Alps.
It is a national park that began development in the 1960s and was officially designated in 1994. Inside the Park are protected animal ranges, including birds (250 species), moose, and bears. As developed for tourism, some Ger camps have car parking and electricity. Most tourist camps operate only during the summer season, and a few operate year-round.

Turtle Rock, known as Melkhi Khad by locals, is a massive rock formation shaped like a turtle. Turtle Rock is the primary image of the National Park. Besides that, you may discover many interesting rock formations in the vast Rocky Mountains of the Terelj.

CHINGGIS KHAN EQUESTRIAN STATUE COMPLEX

Mongolia reveres our king's wisdom rather than his conquests. Nowadays, you can see many tributes to Chinggis Khaan, a man of the millennium. One of them is a gigantic statue of Genghis Khan on the bank of the Tuul River. It is 40 meters tall and wrapped in 250 tons of gleaming stainless steel. The equestrian statue of Genghis Khan was built in 2008, on the occasion of the eight-hundredth anniversary of the foundation of the Mongolian Empire, in honor of its founder.

The people of Mongolia honored him by erecting the world's giant equestrian statue in his likeness. Located 34 miles from Ulaanbaatar, in an area known as Tsonjin Boldog, it's currently the tallest statue of a man on horseback worldwide. It stands on a 10-meter base, surrounded by 36 columns representing the 36 kings Mongolia experienced throughout its history, from the first, Genghis Khan, to the last, Ligden Khan. Sustainable travel

The statue is turned toward the East, the conqueror's place of birth. Visitors can ascend to the exhibition hall via an elevator at the back of the horse, then walk to its head, passing through its chest and the back of its neck, from where they can enjoy an excellent panoramic view of the complex area and the scenery beyond. Sustainable travel

HUSTAI NATIONAL PARK sustainable travel

The Mongolian Government declared Hustai National Park as a Specially Protected Area in 1993, one year after initiating the reintroduction project of the Takhi to the Hustain Nuruu. Sustainable travel

The Khustai National Park extends through the Khentii Mountains and includes the western edge of the Mongolian steppe at the boundaries of Altanbulag, Argalant, and Bayankhangai Soums of Tov province. The park is about 95 km west of the capital city of Ulaanbaatar. sustainable travel
Hustai has unique landscape features, including mountain steppes and dunes representing the Gobi of Mongolia, and river wetlands. The national park has 450 species of vascular plants and 200 medicinal plants. Sustainable travel

UGII LAKE sustainable travel

Lake Ugii is famous for its bird life. About 150 aquatic birds gather at Lake Ugii, including rare species such as the Cape Barren Goose, Spoonbill, Dalmatian Pelican, Cranes, and ducks. Here, you will come across a waterbird research station. sustainable travel

This bluish lake has an area where endangered migrating birds breed. Ramsar Convention has registered Ugii Lake in the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance as an important breeding and staging area for various waterfowl. Ugii Lake (Ogii Lake) is also renowned for fishing, including for Luce perch. It is 7 km long and 5 km wide. 50-80 tons of fish are caught annually. The lake is 1337 m above sea level, and at its deepest point, it reaches up to 15 m. Sustainable travel

This lake, fed by the Khugshin Orkhon, flows into the Orkhon River. Delicate sand and whetstone coast, the soft waves, and it is very convenient to have boat adventures. Also, it is enthusiastic about swimming, sunbathing, horse and camel riding, and hiking. The lake and Khar Balgas ruins can only be reached from the direct road linking Tsetserleg with Ulaanbaatar.

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ORKHON VALLEY NATIONAL PARK

The waterfall is situated in the historically significant Orkhon Valley, whose river flows an incredible 1120km to the north before joining the mighty Selenge River. Sustainable travel

Also called the Ulaan Tsutgalan River, the waterfall was formed by a unique combination of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes about 20,000 years ago. The fall is naturally most impressive after heavy rain. Sustainable travel

TUVKHUN MONASTERY sustainable travel

One of the most beautiful monastery complexes is situated on a forested rocky mountain on the border of the Uvurhangai and Arhangai provinces.
Enlightened, Bogd Gegeen Zanabazar chose the place to build a monastery in 1648 when he was 14 years old. He made his famous creations in the sanctuary. Sustainable travel

The construction of the monastery started in 1651. In 1688, because of Oirad and Khalkh, the soldiers of Oirad destroyed the monasteries.

In 1773, the monastery was restored. 1992 it was taken under state protection, and the government donated 68.4 million tugriks to rebuild the monastery. Sustainable travel
Today, there is an unusual formation of rocks called womb and cradle, symbolizing rebirth, besides four temples and two stupas. sustainable travel

a beautiful temple is located the top of a mountain.

13TH CENTURY CAPITAL KHARKHORUM & ERDENEZUU MONASTERY sustainable travel

Mongolia's ancient capital, Kharkhorin, Chinggis Khaan's fabled city, was founded in 1220 in the Orkhon valley at the Silk Road's crossroads. The Mongol Empire governed until Khubilai Khan moved it to Beijing. The symbolic ruins of Kharkhorin, massive walls (400 m in length) with 108 stupas, surround the first Buddhist monastery in Mongolia. Erdene Zuu Monastery was built in 1586. In 1792, it housed 62 temples and 10,000 lamas; since 1990, it has become an active monastery again.
Turtles carved from the stone marked the boundaries of the complex. Nearby, Turkish monuments and rock inscriptions were erected in the 8th and 9th centuries in memory of outstanding fighters for independence. 1220 Chinggis Khan decided to build the capital city of his vast Mongolian empire at Kharkhorum.

After Chinggis Khan's death, the building was completed by his son, Ogedei Khan, but Kharkhorum served as the capital for only 40 years before Kublai Khan moved it to what is now Beijing. Following the move and the subsequent collapse of the Mongolian empire, Kharkhorin was abandoned and then destroyed by Manchurian soldiers' hordes. Whatever was left was used to help build the Erdene Zuu monastery in the 16th century, severely destroyed during the Stalinist purges. The modern and dreary town of Kharkhorin was built in the same spot. Sustainable travel

MANZUSHIR MONASTERY

Manzushir Monastery is a perfect day tour area located in the south of the protected Bogd Khan Mountain, 45 km by road from Ulaanbaatar and 8 km northeast of Zuunmod town. Sustainable travel
Initially, the monastery was built for Manzushir, a Bodhisatva of wisdom, in 1773, amid the picturesque natural setting of a pine-covered valley dotted with boulders and curved by streams at an altitude of 1800 m. The monastery suffered the same fate as the other monasteries in Mongolia. It had 20 temples housed by 350 monks when it was destroyed during the communist purge in 1937. The main temple of the monastery was partially restored in 1990, but others remain in ruins. sustainable travel
Despite the monastery being in ruins, the surrounding nature remains beautiful. Two indestructible objects were a two-tonne huge bronze cauldron and Buddhist paintings on the rock behind the monastery museum. Except for the painting, you will have awe-inspiring views from the top of the rock.

The bronze cauldron was designed to cook food for 1000 monks in a single sitting, or, according to some accounts, to boil up to 10 sheep or two cows at a time. There is a small natural museum and a monastery museum displaying religious dance tsam masks, religious paintings (tanka), musical instruments, and a photo of the old monastery as it looked before the destruction.
Besides the Manzushir Monastery, the area is the starting point for a hike to Bogd Khan Mountain’s peak, Tsetseegun, at 2256 m. There are many trails to reach the Tsetsee Gun Peak, but the hike from Manzushir is the easiest, although it is also the longest. The hike requires one full day, from early morning until evening. Sustainable travel
The weather on the flat top of the mountain is cool and windy, sometimes with unpredictable summer thunderstorms. Therefore, bring food, water, hot tea, windproof clothing, and waterproof clothing in summer. From the top of the mountain, you will see ovoos (or cairns) and, in the distance, Ulaanbaatar. sustainable travel

UVGUN KHIID OR ERDENE KHAMBA MONASTERY

In the Mountain Khugnu Khan, there are ruins of a temple well known in the history of Mongolian Buddhist Monasteries and Monks, named Erdene Khamba Khiid.

The Mountain Khugnu Khan is a magnificent mountain area in Mongolia where you can experience the unique, picturesque natural scenery, encompassing a mixture of mountainous and fertile pastures, steppe, and the Gobi Desert, and home to two ancient, mythical, and significant monasteries. Also, you can explore ancient carved mounds. Initially, in the year 842, an atheist named Landram became the Khan of Tibet and started to destroy monasteries and massively murdered monks throughout the region.

According to an ancient legend, a monk named Lhalambaldorj managed to escape the massacre using his own wisdom and special methods. Then he came to and settled in a meditation monastery located in Khugnu Khan Mountain.

In 1612, a Mongolian monk, Erdenetsorj, built an additional main temple, 10 meters high, that resembled the structure of the 64-room Yamanda monastery, thereby creating a meditation monastery with 13 temples deifying the red deity known as Jamsran Buddha in the current Uvgun monastery. But in 1688, during the Khalkha and Oirad (majority and western Mongols) war, the monastery was destroyed, and all the monks were killed. Sustainable travel

In 1700, the monastery was relocated to a new site, with four sanctuaries, three temples, and 200 monks. In 1937, because of the communist regime, the monastery was destroyed again, and about 20 high-ranking monks were executed. Sustainable travel

Fortunately, today there are two small undestroyed temples and the "Five Khan" monastery walls on the mountain. Today, there are only the ruins. Erdene Khamba Monastery had two sections: the lower one called the Zaluu Khiid, and the upper one called the Uvgun Khiid.

The Erdene Khamba Monastery was destroyed during the Middle Ages feuds between Western and Eastern Mongolians (Dzungaria and Khalkh Mongolia) after the collapse of the Mongol Empire. Sustainable travel

The armies of the Dzungarian leader, Galdan Boshigt, noticed the golden roofs of the temples in the Mountain and massacred the partisan monks of the rival Zanabazar in 1640, killing them by tying their necks with a rope (this killing process is called khugnokh in Mongolia) as if they were goats and sheep. The Mountain was named after the great slaughter. sustainable travel

GUN GALUUT NATURE RESERVE sustainable travel

Gun Galuut Nature Reserve is a comparatively small area covering 20,000 hectares, established in 2003 to protect endangered species and their habitat. You will be in the land of vast steppes, where you will meet with the horizon, high mountains, rivers, lakes, and wetlands, just after 2.5 to 3 hours driving on 113 km paved roads and 17 km earth road to the east of Ulaanbaatar. Sustainable travel
Gun Galuut Nature Reserve is a relatively less-traveled area compared to the touristy national parks near Ulaanbaatar and is suitable for nature lovers, wildlife enthusiasts, and birdwatchers. The imposing Baits and Berh mountains are habitats for the big-horned wild mountain sheep, Argali.

Ikh-Gun and Ayaga Lakes, rivers, and wetlands are home to globally threatened bird species, including the Siberian white crane, white-naped crane, hooded crane, red falcon, black vulture, swan goose, black stork, and Asian pond heron, among others. sustainable travel
Currently, 63 mammal species, 81 bird species, three amphibians, and 38 fish species have been recorded in the Gun Galuut Nature Reserve.
The overnight tour to Gun Galuut Nature Reserve can be combined with a visit to the enormous statue of Genghis Khan and Gorkhi Terelj National Park. Gun Galuut has an eco-friendly ger camp where you can experience the nomadic dwelling ger stay. In addition to wildlife and nature, hiking, horse riding, visiting nomadic families, rafting on the Kherlen River, and fishing are options. Sustainable travel