Mongolia sightseeing. Travel guide - attractions, sights, nature and touristic places

Wonderful nature remains the biggest attraction of this beautiful Asian country – horizon-less desserts, green steeps, emerald lakes and picturesque piedmont regions. Every year this beautiful country attracts numerous fans of eco-tourism. The great way to start your exploration of the local culture is to visit the capital of Mongolia, the city of Ulaanbaatar. Your excursion program should definitely include a visit to the ancient Monastery of Gandan (Gandantegchinlen). The monastery is home to a priceless relic - one of the tallest statues of Buddha in the world. The height of the Statue is 28 meters; covered with a thin layer of gold, the statue is added to the list of most important religious artefacts in the world. An excursion to the Museum of Natural History will be no less interesting. In this museum one can see skeletons of dinosaurs and other interesting archaeological findings.

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The grand Desert of Gobi occupies more than a half of the country's territory. The southern part of the desert is traditionally the most famous among tourists. This is where several important archaeological zones are located. Tourists are welcome to stay in a yurt and feel the local lifestyle. However, skeletons of dinosaurs remain the main treasure that is hidden in the sands of Gobi. The first skeleton was discovered yet in 1922 by archaeologists from the United States. Currently, all findings of scientists can be seen in the museum of Ulaanbaatar.

Travelers are also recommended to visit the Yolyn Am Canyon. This is a narrow gorge, where one can see a giant glacier and enjoy fantastic mountain landscapes. The Khongoryn Els - the Singing Sands - is one more interesting nature reserve. Here visitors have a unique opportunity to make a jeep safari on sand dunes, see flora and fauna of the desert and enjoy the breath-taking sunset. The next nature landmark, which is worth the attention of travelers, is Lake Khuvsgul nuur. The lake is located among mountains; according to a theory of scientists, the lakes Khuvsgul and Baikal have an underground interconnection. The size of the lake is 136 x 36 kilometers, and it's formed by more than a hundred rivers that sink into it. Khuvsgul nuur is surrounded by lush mountain forests that are home to more than 70 species of animals - deer, wolves, elks, lynxes, bears and as many as 250 types of different birds. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

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When it comes to describing architectural landmarks of the country, it's simply impossible to fail to mention the Erdene Zuu Monastery, the oldest Monastery in Mongolia, located in the city of Karakorum. The monastery was built in 1568 and is surrounded by a thick stone wall, which makes a shrine look like a medieval fortress. Manshir/Manzushir Monastery, which was built in the beginning of the eighteenth century, is also worth visiting. There are giant stones with the pictures of Buddha installed around the monastery. This amazing sanctuary is protected by the government.

History and Entertainment

Hundreds of thousands of years ago, there were only vast steppes, swamps and forests in the territory of Mongolia. The first written references to this land date back to the 4th century BC. The settlements of Xiongnu started to be formed at that time. The Xiongnu Empire formed in the 3rd century BC was one of the first empires of nomadic tribes in the world. Discrete tribes started forming the unified country in the 12th century. The first union of tribes was called Khamag Mongol.

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The official date of the Mongolian Empire’s formation is 1206. That year, Genghis Khan headed the Empire. Despite the official formation of the state, there still was some fragmentation, the fight against which had subsequently lasted for several hundred years. At the beginning of the 20th century, Mongolia saw a series of revolutions connected with the desire to become independent of the Republic of China. Revolutionaries achieved this goal in 1921.

Besides gorgeous historical and nature attractions, Mongolia has a lot of interesting features. In the country, there are several large horse breeding centers and most of which are open for visitors. Here, travelers can see beautiful thoroughbred horses that take part in the most significant national parades and other festive events. Of tourists’ interest are also riding centers attracting even beginners.

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The enchanting Gobi Desert is not only an outstanding nature attraction, but also a unique archeological area. Researchers found parts of prehistoric animals’ skeletons here. You can take an interesting trip to the most interesting desert areas from an archeological point of view. Here, tourists can not only admire unique desert landscapes, but also participate in the excavation and try to find parts of dinosaur skeletons.

The submontane area of Altay are very popular with fans of hiking. Most of hiking routes are open in the warm season. During some excursions, you can ascend the mountain peaks. Tourists are offered to spend the night here and admire the sunrise in the morning. In Mongolia, there are excellent conditions for active holiday, sporting activities and admiring the beauty of nature.

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Erdene Zuu Monastery

From the series “The Surviving Artifacts of Buddhist Civilization”

Survived ancient monasteries in Mongolia attract huge interest. The monastery of Erdene Zuu is considered special among them. In fact, Erdene Zuu Monastery is the temple complex consisting of three separate buildings that are excellent examples of Tibetan, Mongolian, and Chinese architecture. The monastery was founded in the late 16th century. Since then, it has been carrying one constant name. Originally, more than 10 000 lamas were living there.

At present, the monastery is inactive. The Laviran Temple is the only one operating shrine remained on its territory. A museum dedicated to the ancient culture is open in one of the old buildings. Pilgrims and tourists are attracted to the ancient monastery by Buddhist relics gathered within its walls. Those include the statue of Ikh-Tzu, in … Read all

Genghis Khan Statue

From the series “The Most Grandiose Statues and Monuments”

In Tsonjin-Boldog region of Mongolia one can see the world's largest equestrian statue, the monument to Genghis Khan. Its height, excluding a pedestal, is 40 meters. The monument was opened in 2008. The sculpture is complemented with 36 columns that symbolize the Khans of the Mongol Empire, who ruled in the period from Genghis Khan to Ligden Borjigin Khan. It is important to note that the monument location was not chosen by chance. According to a legend, this is where Genghis Khan found the golden whip.

The two-storey pedestal attracts enormous interest. The monument is placed on the 10-meter high platform. The pedestal houses several important cultural and entertainment venues. There is a historical museum, an art gallery, as well as several restaurants and souvenir shops. In addition, … Read all

Gobi Desert

From the series “Places Hiding Fossils of Dinosaurs”

Mongolian Gobi desert also hides in its sands many amazing ancient artifacts. Besides bones, first dinosaur eggs in the world were found there. Those were sized like an average potato. As scientists say, millions of years ago, new species of ancient dinosaurs were ready to be born from these eggs. Then Bain-Dzak area was studied, and almost entire dinosaur eggs were found there.

Previously, fragments of an eggshell of ancient lizards were also found in Kazakhstan. In 1968, the first sensational discovery was followed by another. Researchers found eggs of much larger dinosaurs close to Ulanqab. Medium items were about 1.7 liters in volume. In the largest of the detected clutches, 6 eggs were found. All of them had the shell damaged in the upper part. It is likely that the young dinosaurs … Read all

All unique sightseeing Mongolia