MANZUSHIR MONASTRY
Manzushir Monastery is located in the southern entrance of Bogd Khaan National Park. It is about 60 kilometers from Ulaanbaatar city. This 18th century monastic complex was left in ruins after the communist purges of the 1930’s. A new temple has been built next to the ruins of the old temples and serves as a museum with pictures and artifacts from the original monastery. Currently, there are ger camp, a restaurant and a natural museum. The surrounding area is perfect for hiking in green forest, meadows and clear mountain streams.
KHUSTAI NURUU PROTECTED AREA
The Takhi, last wild horse in the world, well known as the Przewalski horse had gone from vast steppe of central Asia since 1960’s. Since that time Takhi was lived in the zoo parks around the world. Year 1992 was a new stage of Wild horse’s life and its history. Khustai national park was established in order to host reintroduction project of Takhi in 1993. Currently project is running successfully and takhis are re-habiting in the wild nature. The landscape ranges from grassland steppe to forest steppe, and dawn and dusk are the best times for visitors to see the wild asses, wild animals such as deer, fox and gazelle. Within the reserve there are a number of ancient Turkic thumbs and man stone. There is Moltsog sand and the Ongot archaeological complex is nearby.
KHARKHORUM ANCIENT CAPITAL
Mongolia's ancient capital, Kharkhorum, Chinggis Khaan's fabled city, was founded in 1220 in Orkhon valley, at the crossroads of the Silk Road. It was land of the Mongol Empire governed, until Khubilai Khaan moved it to Beijing. On the ruin of the Kharkhorum, Mongolian first and largest Buddhist monastery was built in 1586. The most of the construction material ware taken from Kharkhorum ruin. Erdenezuu monastery is surrounded 400x400 meters of walls with 108 stupas. By the 1792, it housed 62 temples and 10,000 lamas. 1930’s is the darkest part of Erdenezuu like other monastery in Mongolia when religion was forbidden. Fortunately, in 1960’s monastery was reopened as a museum and religious service has been reactivated since 1990. By the time, main parts of the monastery works as a museum where exhibits Buddhist artworks and facilities, only a temple holds religious activity. Nearby, Turkish monuments and rock inscriptions erected in 8-9th centuries in memory of outstanding fighters for independence. Located 360 km away from Ulaanbaatar. Elevation is 1600 meters above sea level. The world famous place for its wonderful relics of the past.
OVGON KHIID /OVGON MONASTRY/ OF KHOGNO KHAN MOUNTAIN
The monastery Ovgon-Khiid was built by a famous religious figure of medieval Mongolia – Zanabazar, who constructed it in the honor of his teacher. This temple used to be one of his most beloved sanctuaries. In its thriving years the monastery was hosting over a thousand lamas at a time. In the 18th century Ovgon-Khiid became a bone of contention between Galdan Boshigt (Western Mongolia) and Zanabazar (Central Mongolia). The former was against Zanabazar's intention to submit to the Manchus. The never-ending argument resulted in a war when Galdan Boshigt's army destroyed Ovgon-Khiid.
SHANKH KHIID
Once known as the West Monastery, is the only one of the region's monasteries other than Erdene Zuu to have survived. Shankh was renowned because of its connections with the great Zanabazar and is said to have once housed Chinggis Khaan's black military banner. At one time the monastery housed over 1500 monks. As elsewhere, the monastery was closed in 1937, temples were burnt and many monks were shipped off to Siberia. It reopened the monastery in 1990.
TOVKHON MONASTERY
The monastery was built in 1654 by Saint Zanabazar who was a great sculptor and one of the biggest representative of Buddhism in Mongolia. The creation work temple dedicated to religious study and art works became the foundation of today's Tovkhon Monastery. It is located on a rocky mountain hill surrounded by forests elevated in 2300 meters above sea level. There are several pilgrimage sites have grown up around the temple and hermit’s caves, including one that is said to be Zanabazar’s boot print.
KHUSHUU TSAIDAM
These monuments devoted to the Orkhon valley. The monuments of Turkic Khaan and his brother General Kultegen are in Khashaat county, Arkhangai province. The monuments belong to 6-7th centuries A.D. were the time of glorious victories of the Turkic states. The 3.3 meter high and 1.3 meter wide stone monument known as the Orkhon Bichig (letter of Orkhon) is a letter with 68 lines. There used to be a whole monumental complex, but now only one monument which named Gerelt Khushuu is left.
TSENKHER HOT SPRING
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TAIKHAR ROCK is located 22 kilometres (14 miles) northeast from Tsetserleg, in the village of Ikh Tamir, south the Khoid Tamir River.
It’s a big 20-metres (66 feet) high granite rock, covered with 150 writings in many different languages and dating back from many different periods (runic, Sogd, Uyghur, Mongolian, Nangiad, Tibetan writings). The oldest one is the runic writing, dating back from the turkish period of the 6th and 7th centuries. An ovoo was placed at its top. Unfortunately, there are many graffiti on this rock and the old writings almost disappeared. The government decided to protect the rock in 1994. Legends The most famous legend bound to Taikhar rock tells that Bukhbilegt, a giant warrior, threw this rock on a snake that was coming out from the land, which explains its strange presence in this place. Another local legend tells that this rock symbolizes the love of two unfortunate lovers.Tamir loved a girl, Taikhar, but the local lord, who wanted to marry the beautiful Taikhar, prevented their love. So the girl ran away towards the river and her lover sat near the river to wait for her to come back. But the wait was endless and Tamir ended up becoming a rock, standing along the river for eternity, with no possibility ever to meet up with his love again. Locals also believe that anyone manage to throw a stone on the top of the rock, will get rich.
OGII LAKE
It is nearest lake to Ulaanbaatar capital city. It is also called a paradise for fishers and located in the territory of Arkhangai province, the central part Mongolia. Tough this small lake covers area of only 27 km.sq, it is the main destination for fishers and boating adventurers. It's one of the picturesque small round shaped lake of Mongolia. Deepest point is over 15 m. Its shore length is is over 23 km.
TERKHIIN TSAGAAN NUUR is an astonishingly beautiful lake with relatively pure fresh water.
Torrents of lava issuing from the Khorgo volcano blocked the north and south Terkh rivers, so forming the dammed lake of Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake at an altitude of 2060 meters above sea level. The lake is 16 km wide, 4-10 meters deep with its deepest point at 28 meters and over 20 kilometers in length. It flooded 61,1 square km. The lake supports Pike and other fish. Rare birds are found here. Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur established in 1997 and was designated as a Wetland of International Importance during the Ramsar Convention in 1999.
KHORGO is located on the northern part of Khangai Mountain Range at an altitude of 2200 meters above sea level.
Khorgo is rich in beautiful scenery of mountains, cliffs, rapid streams, rivers, lakes, extinct volcanoes, green forests and pastures, where the long-haired yaks and horses pasture. Natural zones around Khorgo: Taiga forest, Transition between Taiga forest and grassland, Mountain Forest Steppe. This attractive landscape has high biological diversity.
KHANUI RIVER is a river flowing down through the valleys of the Khangai Mountains in central Mongolia.
It starts in the Chuluut sum of Arkhangai aimag at the north slopes of the Khan-Ondor mountain. It passes next to the center of Erdenemandal soum, and ends in the Khishig-Öndör soum of Bulgan aimag where it discharges into the Selenge.
ELSEN TASARKHAI-Khugnu-Tarna is a protected national park in the Bulgan province of Mongolia.
The park headquarters are in the village of Rashaant east of the place. Elsen Tasarkhai is small sand dunes, 80 km long, continuously lies in the lowland of legendary Khugnu Khaan and Bat Khaan mountains. Sand dunes represents landscape, climate & ecology of Gobi Desert, in this region.
KHAR BALGAS
It is the ruined citadel of Khar balgas (Kara Balgasun in Turkic) is in Khotond sum on the banks of the Orkhon gol. The city was founded in AD 751 as the capital of the Uighur khanate, which ruled Mongolia from 745 to 854. Kultegiin monument, When Chinggis khaan decided to move his capital to Kharkhorin, he was well aware that the region had already been the capital to successive nomad empires. About 20 km north east of Khar Balgas lies the remainder of yet another of these pre -Mongol Empires, the Turkic khaganate (Pre- Mongol empire). Kultegin (684-731), the Khagan (ruler) of the ancient empire.
THE KHUISIIN NAIMAN NUUR NATIONAL PARK
It is located in the Central Mongolian Khangai mountain range and represents a typical high mountain area of Mongolia with max. The area of Naiman Nuur (Eight Lakes), which was created by volcanic eruptions centuries ago and 3,163 metres above sea level. Khuisyn Naiman Nuur with its exceptional configuration is surrounded by the beautiful nature of the middle part of the Khangai mountain range. The area of 11,500 hectare size was declared a National Monument in 1992. From the lakes, about 35km southwest of Orkhon Khurkhree (waterfall), but the roads are often virtually impassable. The lakes are named Shireet, Khaliut, Bugat, Khaya, Khuis, Onon, Doroo and Bayan-Uul. Two of the smaller lakes are completely dried up, the second largest lake Khuis Nuur is dried up to ten percent.
KHOGNO KHAN NATURAL RESERVE
Khogno Khan Natural Reserve covers 46,990 hectares of land and is located in Rashaant county of Bulgan province. The taiga and steppe plants grow in this area and represent two or three different natural zones. This area was taken under state protection in 1997. This is a magnificent place with mountains, forests, steppes, Gobi-type desert and mineral water sources all in one location. There are many wild animals such as wolves, deers, foxes and snow leopards inhabited here. One of the main attractions of this area is Uvgun monastery which was built in 17th century by Saint Zanabazar who was a great sculptor and the biggest representative of Buddhism in Mongolia. During Middle Age feuds between Western and Eastern Mongolians after the collapse of the Mongol Empire. The armies of Dzungarian leader Galdan Boshigt noticed the golden roofs of the temples in Khogno Khan Mountain and massacred the partisan-monks of the rival Zanabazar in 1640, killing them by tying their necks with a rope (the Mongolian verb for the action is khognokh) as if they were goats and sheep. This is the meaning of name of the mountain. After democratic revolution in 1990 the monastery was restored by the granddaughter of the monks who was living at the monastery. This area is pleasant for many activities such as hiking, mountain climbing and horse riding.
GORKHI-TERELJ NATIONAL PARK
Terelj about 80 km northeast of Ulaanbaatar, is a deservedly popular destination. At 1600 meters in altitude, the area is cool and the alpine scenery is magnificent, and there are great opportunities for hiking, rock climbing, horse riding, rafting, swimming (in icy water), and, for hard-core extreme sports fanatics, skiing in the depths of winter. Most visited is the turtle rock and the dinosaur park. It is recognized as a part of the huge Khan Khentii reserve and was established as a Strictly Protected Area in 1992. To the north-east, the park joins into the Khan Khentii Strictly Protected Area, comprising over 1.2 million hectares of the Tov, Selenge and Khentii aimags. The Khan Khentii park is (deeply to the east of Mongolia) almost completely uninhabited by humans, but it is home to endangered species of moose, brown bear and weasel, to name but a few, and to over 250 species of birds. The average altitude is around 1600m above sea level. The park's most spectacular features are its huge granite blocks, extraordinary view and cliffs as well as meadows rich in wild flowers. This place is very suitable for hiking, fishing, and exploring wildlife.
THE ORKHON WATERFALL
The Orkhon Waterfall water flows for remarkable 1120 km to the North and lies in the historically significant Orkhon Valley, UNESCO World Heritage site. The waterfall formed by combination volcanic eruption and earthquakes some 20000 years ago cascades down from a height 27 meters. The Orkhon, longest river in Mongolia, begins at the state worshipped mountain Suvraga Khairkhan in the Khangai mountain range. The drainage basin of the river is 132835 sq.km. The river is 10-60 m wide to begin with but it becomes 120-150 m around the end and the speed of the river flow decreases. The Orkhon has many species of fish like the pike, Siberian sturgeon, taimen, asian common asp, Siberian grayling, roach etc. There are many rocks and boulders around the river as well as some waterfalls like a small waterfall with 4-5 m height and the Ulaan tsutgalan waterfall biggest in Mongolia at a height of 26 m. The Orkhon river Valley has been protected since 2006 as a National Park.