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Erdenezuu Monastery was built on the site of the old Mongolian capital Kharakhorum using some of the building materials of the ruined city and is the oldest, as well as the largest Buddhist monastery in Mongolia. Khalkha Mongolian ruler Abtai Sain Khan, a descendant of Genghis Khan’s golden generation and grandfather of Zanabazar - the first Jebtsundamba Khutuktu, ordered the construction of the Erdene Zuu Monastery in 1585 after he visited Tibet to meet with the 3rd Dalai Lama. Abtai Sain Khan brought Gombogur Buddha ( Sita Mahakala) as the main deity of Erdenezuu Monastery when he returned from Tibet and is still the monastery’s main shrine. By the summer of 1586, the first temple had been constructed, which is a small blue temple in the middle of the monastery compound, but not open to the public.
The waterfall falls from 24 m lava cliffs when the Ulaan River confluence the Orkhon River. Therefore, the waterfall is called differently such as Ulaantsutgalan or Orkhon Waterfall or Orkhonii Khurkheree. The Ulaantsutgalan waterfall is one of the picturesque sights in the historically significant Orkhon River Valley, which requires bumpy driving through the lava covered scenic valley full of nomads and their animals.
The waterfall locates 495 km from Ulaanbaatar, 135 km from Kharkhorin, and 30 km from the nearest town Bat-Ulziit of Uvurkhangai province.
84390-hectare Khogno Tarni National Park was designated to protect taiga, steppe, and semi-desert plants and ecosystem. The Khogno Tarni National Park features different natural zones and sceneries such as rugged Khogno Khan Mountain with its pine and birch covered valleys, mountain steppes, hilly steppes, grasslands, and semi-desert including 80 km long Mongol sand dunes reaches 9-10 km at its width.
Ikh Mongol Mountain in the national park marks the central point of Mongolia and the first foundation of the modern capital city Ulaanbaatar was established here followed by 28 times movement until it settled the present-day location.
Tovkhon is one of the oldest Buddhist Monasteries in Mongolia and a famous Pilgrimage center, which built on the 2312 m rocky top of Shiveet Ulaan Mountain hidden deep in the Khangai Mountain.The monastery was first named Dubkhen meaning “creation temple” and later turned to Tovkhon.
The monastery is accessible both from the eastern slope and western slope of the mountain. A return hiking takes 2.5 hours through scenic trails of coniferous tree-covered mountain, plus some sightseeing time. A sturdy 4WD can drive the steep road up about 20 min or you could hire a horse. Though, hiking to the monastery is the best and the safest way.
The Khuisiin Naiman Nuur or Eight Lakes were formed by volcanic eruptions centuries ago and are a part of the 11500 hectares Khuisiin Naiman Nuur Nature Reserve.
These scenic lakes are accessible on horseback or hiking from the northern side. The Eight Lakes are called Shireet, Mukhar, Khaliut, Bugat, Khaya, Duruu, Khuis, and Onon located 500 m to 3 km to each other.
The area extremely beautiful surrounded by coniferous tree-covered mountains and the forest clearings have multitudes of wildflowers, is a famous horse-riding destination in central Mongolia.
Ugii is a beautiful freshwater lake among the mountain steppes and grassy lands of central Mongolia. The lakes’ location is convenient to reach or combines your journey with famous attractions and sites of central Mongolia; 360 km west of Ulaanbaatar, 80 km northeast of Kharkhorin, 95 km northwest of Elsentasarkhai semi-desert, 130 from Tseserleg town of Arkhangai province. Ugii Nuur is the nearest town to the lake, approximately 25 km.
Ugii Lake is a perfect place for leisure holiday lovers, weekenders, and bird watchers. Regular travelers enjoy traditional dwelling ger stay in the vicinity of the lake, hiking, horse riding, fishing, boating, information center visit, and some common bird watching.
Khagiin Khar is a glacial lake in the depths of Khan Khentii Strictly Protected Area in the Baga Khentii Mountain range. The 2.5 km by 1 km lake lies at 1817 m above the sea level, surrounded by coniferous forests. An average depth of the lake is 11 m while it reaches 25 m at its deepest. Reflection of the surrounding coniferous tree-covered mountains in the lake water makes the lake more beautiful. As the lake is only accessible by foot, horse or helicopter, the way to the lake and its surrounding remained pristine. Therefore, the lake is called “Secret beauty.” Its inaccessibility allows the wild animals such as red deer, elk, roebuck, musk deer, brown bear, wolf, lynx, and wolverine have left peacefully in the wild without danger of people.
55 m by 38 m earth mound surrounds the monument ensemble. The archeologists revealed that Ungut Monument was an offering site for a nobleman after the number of archeological excavations.
There are 30 man stones, their both hands carved as put on their chest while facing the stone enclosure, which is a symbol of respect. 13 wooden pole bases, building materials, and roof tiles, etc were found during the excavation brought to the conclusion that the Ungut Monument was an offering site. Except for the man stones and different stone figures, there are more than 550 balbal stones stretches 2 km to the sunrise direction.
Located within the forest of Khan Khentii Protected Area, 38 km northeast of Gorkhi Terelj National Park and 140 northeast of Ulaanbaatar at an altitude of 2100 m above the sea level in the south of Undur Saridag Mountain. The Gunj Temple was built in 1740 by Efu (a title of a man who married with Qing princess)Dondovdorj to commemorate the death of his first wife, the youngest of 6 daughters of Qing Emperor Kangxi. There were 4-5 temples in 70m by 40 walls. Unlike the other temples and monasteries, the communists did not destroy the Gunj/Princess Temple during the 1930s purge, although it has been neglected over the years and robbed.
The complex has 6 different camps and tribes, located at a distance of 1-3 kilometers from each other, where you can experience the way of living and working in the 13th century. It is needed to drive between the camp and sometimes hiking over rocky and uneven surfaces. Therefore, make sure your shoes are suitable for the experience. The area that surrounds the park is rugged with picturesque open valleys day time and the nights are amazing with countless bright stars. As the complex imitates the 13th century, there is no internet, shower, phone reception (there is G-mobile signal at certain point) and electricity to disturb you enjoy the nature, nomad living and stargazing. The view is the best when you travel in summer.
Hustai National Park is located 100 km southwest of capital Ulaanbaatar city, covering over 50,000 hectares of area. More than 50% of the land is mountain steppe, which lets its visitors feel what is the real mountain steppe is. The Hustai protected area was established in 1993, a year after the first successful reintroduction of wild horses or Przewalski horses in their wild homeland. The wild horse name Przewalski came after Russian Geographer (Polish origin) Nikolay Przhevalsky, who first discovered the wild horse during his central Asian research in 1878.
The only still-living wild ancestor of the domestic horses, the wild horse is called Takhi in the Mongolian language; those once roamed through Mongolian vast-open territory became extinct in the wild by the end of the 1960s
Gorkhi Terelj National Park is located 65 km northeast of Ulaanbaatar by paved road. High granite stone mountains with forest-covered northern slopes, multitudes of wildflower meadows along with the spectacular shape rocks formed by wind is a favorite scenery for the visitors. Fast-flowing rivers and streams make the national park more beautiful. An average altitude of the 293.168 ha national park is 1600 m above sea level and the highest point is 2664 m Avkhan mountain. The national park is one of the most visited national parks due to its close location. There are numerous ger camps and resorts in the tourist zone before the Terelj River. The rest of the protection zones start after the Terelj River and become less touristy, less inhabited with pristine nature.
The gigantic steel equine statue mounted by Genghis Khan himself is the largest statue of an equestrian in the world. This 40 m tall statue is located on a hillside on the bank of the Tuul River in an area called Tsonjin Boldog and connected to capital Ulaanbaatar by 54 km paved road. Tsonjin Boldog was chosen according to the legend that Genghis Khan found a whip in this area. In Mongolia, people believe that man finding a whip is a sign of fortune, good destiny, and occasion. The statue faces east, the direction of Genghis Khan's birthplace, and the sunrise. If you stretch your eyes to the east, you will see a small statue of his mother greeting him.
You will be at the land of vast steppes will be seen meeting 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.
Gun Galuut Nature Reserve is a relatively less-traveled area compared to the touristy national parks near Ulaanbaatar and suitable for nature lovers, wildlife lovers, and bird watchers. The imposing Baits and Berh mountains are habitats for the big-horned wild mountain sheep Argali.
