Mongolia – The Land of Blue Sky

Mongolia, one of the highest countries on the planet due to mountainous altitude, is the promising and unspoiled tourist destination in the plateau of Central Asia between Russian Siberia and China. More or less, the size being that of the Western Europe, its most landscape is occupied by the snow-clad mountains and desert that is split into four areas from north to south namely, mountain forest steppe, mountain steppe, semi-desert, and desert.

Adding to this, the spectacular gorges, dazzling lakes, wonderful Buddhist temples, peculiar ruins, verdant wildlife, and the celebrated hospitality are all strong attractors that pull you repeatedly here. Its specialty is adventures in the outdoors that goes without saying – thanks to the mountains that includes riding horses and camping with the nomads.

Mongolia Tourist Attractions

Ulaanbaatar

Literally meaning the Red Hero to pay a tribute to Sukhbaatar, the conqueror of the 1921 Revolution, this is the coldest capital city in the world.

• Zaisan Hill:
  Located in front of the city, go for the spectacular views of the city and the Zaisan Memorial marking the victory day of World War II.
• Gandan Monastery:
  This is the key centre for learning the Buddha’s teachings that consists of nine dastans (institutes), a library, and a community of 5000 monks. Currently, the largest lively Buddhist temple in the city, it has over 800 monks and students along with the 40 m high Buddha statue.
• The Zanabazar Fine Arts Museum:
  This offers art pieces of artists, sculptors, and painters, rock inscriptions, graphic arts, Buddhist tankas, embroideries, and unique Tsam dancing costumes.
• Sukhbaatar Square:
  Known as the main square in the core adorned with a large statue of the renowned patriot of that name, visit the Parliament House, Stock Exchange, the Opera and Ballet Theater, and Cultural Palace.
• Natural History Museum:
  Located into the countryside, it exhibits Mongolia’s geography, flora and fauna, minerals, and history. The amazing attractions here are the two dinosaur skeletons found in the Gobi Desert, the huge Tarbosaurus, and the duckbilled plant-eating Saurolophus.
• Museum of National History:
  As the name says, the museum has the lavish exhibits of the Mongolian history right since the Stone Age until the contemporary era. Further, it displays the exceptional culture of the horse riding, steppe nomads, standard of living, traditional customs, and jewelry. You can also see several relics, arts, military devices, and artillery of the Genghis Khan warriors. In the exterior, the huge sculpture is a monument dedicated to the sufferers of the 1930s political suppression.
• Choijin Lama Monastery:
  Built in 1904-1908, this temple is an exemplary Buddhist architecture and the residence of Luvsan Haidav Choijin Lama, the brother of Bogd Khaan and a famous lama.
• Bogd Khan Palace Museum:
  Although many of the temples and monasteries were demolished during the Stalinist purges of the late 1930s, this Winter Palace of Bogd Khan (now a museum) is luckily intact and now it is in an excellent condition. Built somewhere between 1893 and 1903, this was the residence of the Mongolia’s 8th Bogd Khan (Living Buddha) and last king for 20 years. There are six temples here that house the presents offered to the Bogd Khan.

Central Mongolia

• Elsen Tasarkhai Sand Dune:
  This is a passage of 80 km located between Mongol Els and Khugnu Tarma Els.
• Karakorum City Ruins:
  This is the ancient capital and Chinggis Khaan’s legendary city discovered in 1220 in the Orkhon Valley at the crossroads of the Silk Road. Do visit the close by Turkish monuments and rock inscriptions of 8th and 9th centuries to pay homage to the heroic independence fighters.
• Erdene Zuu Monastery:
  Built in 1586, the ruins of Karakorum walls along with 108 stupas enclose this first Buddhist monastery. Once holding 62 temples and 10,000 lamas, much of this was damaged in 1930s. With the stone turtles on the boundary, there are three temples in the walled compound devoted to the three life stages of Buddha: child, adolescent, and adult. The middle temple is named as the Zuu of Buddha that holds statues of child Buddha.
• Waterfall Ulaan Tsutgalan (Orkhon):
  This is the magnificent waterfall on the Ulaan River that descends from 20 m and stretches until 100 m from the Orkhon River.

• Tuvkhun Monastery:
  Situated on the peak of the Undur shireet and built in 1654, this is adorned with 14 small temples and is designated by UNESCO as “The most wonderful valuable object” in 1996.
• Khorgo Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur National Park:
  This offers a gorgeous mountain backdrop and extinct flora and fauna covering Togoo Uul at 2,240 m and Hill of the lake of Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur. The lake is worth visiting due to its clear waters and that it is formed due to the blockage of the Terkh River by the lava of the Khorgo volcano.
• Khorgo Volcano:
  This is the inactive volcano located on the east of the Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake in the Arkhangai province. The crater is 200 m wide and 100 m deep. One can spot on the northern slope a Siberian larch, red deer, Siberian deer, wild boar, ruddy Shelduck, and duck.
• Khugnu Khan Mountain National Park:
  This holds the Khugnu Tarny Monastery comprised of two parts, an upper and a lower. The monastery has catered to three different eras of Buddhism namely, the ancient, middle, and late. First, it was discovered by the Prince Bishrelt in the 17th century. Next, Zanabazar devoted it to his teacher, Erdenetsorj. Built between 1670-1680 and destroyed later during a war, in 1990, the temples were restored by the grand daughter of the monks who dwelled here at the time of war.
• Tsenkher Hot Spa:
  Hot water at +86.5 degrees with the stink of hydrogen sulphide is popularly used for greenhouses to produce tomatoes and cucumbers. However, now the waters are also used for the modern spa resort since 1996.

Best Time to Visit Mongolia

Mid-May, June, September, and October

Mongolia Accommodations

• Hotel Ulaanbaatar – Luxury
• Sunjin Grand Hotel – Deluxe
• Chinggis Khaan Hotel – Deluxe
• White House Hotel – Standard
• San Hotel – Deluxe and Standard

Tip

Do take some warm clothes. To make the visit easy, divide you plan into 6 sections as Ulaanbaatar and around, Southern Mongolia (the Gobi Desert), Western Mongolia, Central Mongolia, Northern Mongolia, and Eastern Mongolia (Great Eastern Plains).