Among the skyscrapers and shopping malls, there sits a white building and a temple in a small clearing. The mountain stands behind it, protecting the city. Not far behind is the mighty Tuul River. The white building is by todays standards, a modest building. The temple is beautiful, but dwarfed by the 6-story mall nearby. However, if you were a lucky visitor to Ich Khirie, as Ulaanbaatar was known then, you would be standing near the largest building in town, if you could even get close enough. This is the home of the Bogd Khan.
“Nomads on horses” is what comes to mind of many upon hearing the word “Mongolia”. Indeed, nomadic culture is engrained into every part of Mongolian lifestyle and culture. Mongolians have been nomads for thousands of years, sustaining their life on Central Asian plateau by relying on their domesticated livestock. Today, about 30% of the country`s population is still leading nomadic lifestyle all over the country, and as there are not many truly nomadic cultures left on earth, Mongolia has become an unique destination to visit for many tourists.
There are a few ways to visit Mongolia, but leave your boats at home. Mongolia is a landlocked country in Central Asia, so unless you plan on transporting it over land, you’re going to have a hard time. The two main options are overland routes or taking a flight. That doesn’t mean that getting here has to be a slog. Here are some Mongolian travel tips to help you have a pleasant journey.
With four seasons, and located north of China and south of Russia, travelers may wonder what the weather in Mongolia is like. There are four seasons, and each of them bring an interesting new vibe to the country. In a country as large as Mongolia, there are bound to be variations in the Mongolian climate. Each region and season can have variations, but in general there is always something to do no matter when you decide to visit Mongolia. Here are some tips to help you to choose the best time to visit Mongolia.
We tried to travel to the Orkhon waterfall that first summer I visited Mongolia. It seemed a short distance from Karakorum and we asked about swapping out the customary visit to the Erdene Zuu Monastery for a day trip to the waterfall. However, our guide and driver were quick to say that this was not a possibility as the road to the waterfall was, in their words, “a very bad road.”
Surviving two destructions and centuries of rejection, Erdene Zuu is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Mongolia, probably in East Asia. The building of the temple was ordered by the Abtai Sain Khan- grandfather of Zanabazar the Great when the Tibetan Buddhism was declared as the main religion of Mongolia in 1586. For Mongolians, who employed nomadic lifestyle, this kind of building or generally anything that stays in one place was not that common. So, the temple has naturally become the religious center, thus the heart of the Mongolia. The geographical situation was carefully thought out too, it’s built in Kharkhorin- near the old city of Karakorum.
Before human beings came to Eurasia, many varieties of horses roamed in herds over the vast steppes of the continent. In vast herds, with complex societies and feeding on the seas of grass, they lived and died for centuries. Eventually, mankind roamed in and developed a relationship with one particular species. Humans started to domesticate equus ferus around 4000 BCE.
After another thousand years, this species, equus ferus, started to become more widespread. They outcompeted the other wild horse species, and one by one, they went extinct. The domesticated horse was the last horse standing. Except for one species. A hardy, little black and tan horse called Przewalski’s horse, or the takhi, managed to survive in what is now Mongolia.
When you first arrive into Ulaanbaatar, the incredible open spaces around the airport already provide a spot for epic pictures. However, throughout Ulaanbaatar (UB), there are several places where you can make your friends jealous about your travels. These spots all feature either beautiful nature, hip interior design, or amazing local art.
Mongolia reopened to foreign travelers from 10 countries as of June 1, including those from the U.S., Turkey, UAE, Greece, Kyrgyzstan, India, Egypt, Thailand, Indonesia, and Brazil. Here, we've outlined flight schedules for June — including the entry requirements for foreign travelers.
If you’re an avid adventurer headed for Mongolia, you should be excited to hear that there are a slew of outdoor activities and exciting excursions for you to take part in while you’re there. Whether you’re into mountains, deserts, or water sports, you certainly won’t be bored on a trip to Russia’s southern neighbour! You might not know a lot about your options for exploring during your travels to this country, so we’ve taken it upon ourselves to find the best 5 adventurous things to do in Mongolia. Here, you’ll find an array of attractions that will turn your experience into a memorable one. Read on for some helpful suggestions for adventuring through Mongolia!
11 20, 2011
