Central Mongolia varies in landscapes as the sand dunes, pleasant hills, grassy steppe and lush green valleys of forested and bare mountains. The general picture of central Mongolia is sights of nomads’ white Gers and their numerous livestock grazing loosely and continuously changing landscapes while driving from the attraction to attraction, from a scenic place to another scenic place.
Central Mongolia offers the most beautiful places like Khentii Mountains, Gorkhi Terelj National Park, Khustai National Park, Khugnu Khan National Park, Elsen Tasarkhai, Kharakhorum, Erdenezuu Monastery, Khangai Mountains, Khorgo Terkhi National Park and much more. Khangai Mountain range is the greenest part of Mongolia. All beautiful nature sights like lakes, rivers, waterfalls, hot springs, granite mountains, cliffs, and valleys.
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GORKHI-TERELJ NATIONAL PARK
In 1993, the Gorkhi-Terelj area was finally designated as a National Park thanks to its scenic natural beauty although, since 1964, it was a favorite tourism destination both with locals and foreigners. The National Park covers 2,864 square kilometres of the southern foothills of the Khan Khentii Mountain range and abuts Khan Khentii Strictly Protected Area.
Terelj is a picturesque place of high cliffs eroded in Mesozoic granite and is only 50 to 60 kilometres northeast of Ulaanbaatar. Precious stones have been mined for over 100 years. A huge crystal of clear quartz (optical quartz) with a weight of 7.5 tons, 2.4 metres long, 1 to 3 metres wide, and displaying 18 symmetrical facets was found in 1960 at Gorkhi deposit. The crystal mines are now closed.
The park’s spectacular features are its intricately shaped huge granite blocks and cliffs, lush green meadows, and carpets of wildflowers. Tuul and Terelj rivers that traverse the national park are important water resources for Ulaanbaatar.
Khan Khentii became a Strictly Protected Area in 1992. The rugged mountainous area is one of the last large wildness areas in Mongolia. Bordering the Gorkhi-Terelj National Park in the south it extends up to the border with Russia. The central part is wild and uninhabited and can be reached only by foot or horseback. Hot springs along the Onon river are famous for their therapeutic qualities. The historical significance of the Khentii Mountains besides its natural endowments is that is the birthplace of Genghis Khan. Interestingly, even today the researchers are in search of his tomb. The greatest rivers of Mongolia originate in the Khentii Mountains. They are a source of drinking water for Mongolia’s largest cities.
The complex which is 54 kilometers away from Ulaanbaatar city placed in “Tsonjin Boldog” historical place in Erdene soum, Tuv province. In 1177, when 15 year old Chinggis Khan was returning from Khereid province after asking for help from Khereid’ s Van Tooril Khan, he found a whip. Finding a whip is perceived by Mongolians as a good omen, and from there his great conquests launched. This statue complex was first erected in year 2006 and completed in year 2008. The complex is the World’ s Biggest Horse Statue.
The total area is 212 hectare and the statue is built in the center of the complex. The statue is 40 meters high including the base. The round shaped base is 10 meters high and its 30 meters diameter where Chinggis Khan’ s museums, exhibition hall,
restaurant, meeting hall and souvenir shops are located. The architecture of the statue is simply stunning with visitors walking to the head of the horse through its chest and neck , or simply taking the lift, where they can have a panoramic view so the people can appreciate the other mountains view surrounding the statue.
In addition, 4 meters long gilded whip and the figure of the biggest traditional Mongolian boot are demonstrated in the main hall.
Gun-Galuut Nature Reserve is a local protected area for the conservation of global threatened species. The Nature Reserve (NR) was founded by the Citizens’ Representative Hural (Local Parliament) of Bayandelger soum, Tuv Province in 2003.
Gun-Galuut, 130 km east-southeast of Ulaanbaatar, offers an ecosystem diversity although it encompasses a comparatively small area. The harmonized complex of high mountains, steppes, rivers, lakes and wetlands are well-kept in its original condition. Whoever visits can enjoy seeing Gun-Galuut’s vast steppe seemingly meeting the sky, the imposing mountains Baits and Berkh – a home land of rare creatures, Ikh-Gun and Ayaga lakes – a paradise of birds, Kherlen – the longest river of Mongolia and Tsengiin Burd wetland, where water and wetland birds lay their eggs.
Landscape: Gun-Galuut Nature Reserve comprises of 3 zones: tourism, limited, and core zones, which are the ecosystem of steppe, rocky mountains, small lakes, river, streams and wetland, and it is about 20000 hectare. Flora and fauna The fauna and flora of the NR haven’t been researched properly but currently 63 mammal species, 81 bird species, 3 amphibian species and 38 fish species are recorded. Most common species are Grey Wolf, Marmot, Souslik, Pika, Vole, Fox, Corsac, Jerboa and Frog. There are many nationally and globally threatened species in the NR. For instance, Argali Wild Mountain Sheep, Siberian White Crane, White-naped Crane, Hooded Crane, Red Falcon, Black Vulture and Swan Goose are globally threatened and listed in the IUCN Red List. Also there are nationally threatened species such as Whooper Swan, Black Stork, Great White Egret, Bar-Headed Goose, Bearded Vulture and Eurasian Penduline.
Hustai National Park is located 100 km southwest of capital Ulaanbaatar city, covering over 50,000 hectares of area. The Khustai protected area was established in 1993 and it became a cradle of Takhi, wild horses. Due to human persecution, competition with livestock and habitat deterioration the Takhi became extinct in the wild in 1968 in Mongolia.
Przewalski wild horse name came after Russian Geographer Nikolay Przewalski, who first discovered the wild horse during his central Asian research in 1878.
The last wild horse in the world, named the Przewalski horse (Equus Przewalski), or Takhi in Mongolian, has been successfully reintroduced into the wild in the Khustai National Park in Tuv province. The first 15 Takhi were brought to Mongolia from foreign
zoos by the initiation of the Holland and Mongolian joint project in 1992. Between 1992 and 2000, five transports arrived in Mongolia with a total of 84 Takhi.
In 2022, the total number of Takhi is reached 970 in Mongolia:
– 422 Takhi in Khustai National Park
– 386 Takhi in Great Strictly Protected Area Gobi “A”
-132 Takhi in Khomiin steppe, in Zavkhan province
They are genetically different from domestic horses as the latter 64 chromosomes while the Takhi have 66. How ever they can cross-breed with domestic horses, giving fertile foals. Protection against such crossbreeding with domestic horses is one of main concerns of the park management.
In terms of appearance, the wild horse is yellowish color , with a dark short erect manes and tail and, usually, a dorsal stripe. Its neck and legs are shorter, the body is approximately 210 cm to 250 cm long with 140 cm to 146 cm shoulder height and weighs 300kg to 370 kg on average.
Khustai National Park is an excellent place for observing birds as many species are spectacular due to size, rarity, numbers and behaviour.
Khustai National Park is not the only wild horse habitat. Good management and good protection contributed to the increase of other wild creatures such as Red deer, Roe deer, Marmot, wild boar, Argali wild sheep, the Mongolian gazelle, Grey wolf, Lynx and red fox. Many of these are mentioned in the Red Data Book as globally threatened with extinction. The area is home to 459 species of vascular plants, 85 species of lichens, 90 species of moss, 33 species of mushrooms, 46 species of mammals, 217 species of birds, 16 species of fish, 2 species of amphibians, 3 species of reptiles and over 400 species of insects.
The Mountain of Khugnu Khan Uul is made of granite of Paleozoic age. Khugnu Khan National Park is a densely rocky mountain with waterfalls all types of medicinal plants and exotic animals. Elsen Tasarkhai is a crossing which extends about 80 kilometers and lies between Mongol Els and Khugnu Tarna Els. Elsen Tasarkhai sand dunes makes the most beautiful place to stay and visit before Khangai Mountain range.
Kharakhorum city was established in 1220, it was the capital of Mongolia for 140 years and the capital of the Mongol Empire for 32 years. Kharakhorum lies about 400 km to the southwest of Ulaanbaatar. The city built by skilled artists and masters of the antiquity was later moved to Beijing by Khubilai Khan, grandson of Genghis Khan as the capital of the Yuan Dynasty.. At the time the sophisticated hub of the Central Asian civilization was a bustling city that got completely destroyed in the fierce battles of the internecine war. The surprising discovery of a 14th century burial of a Mongolian woman corresponding to the discovery of two Egyptian masks, a wooden comb, and a bronze mirror in a silk casing dating to the same period shows ancient relationship between the nations.
Erdenezuu Monastery is situated in the Orkhon Valley river which takes its source from the Khangai Mountain range on the territory of Kharakhorum soum in Uvurkhangai province.
Erdenezuu was the first Buddhist Monastery erected in the initiative of Abtai Sain Khan – the most influential of that time in Mongolia, in 1586 on the ruins of Kharakhorum. The stone blocks and other building materials from the ruins of Kharkhorin were reused in the construction of the monastery. The three sacred temples surrounded by a stone wall with 108 stupas of Erdene-Zuu monastery is a sanctuary of marvelous works of XVII-XIX century Mongolian artists, painters, cutters, sculptors, embroiders, and craftsmen. The three principal temples were dedicated to the Buddha. Inside the left temple there are three large statues: in the middle – Buddha in teenage. Inside the right temple there are also three statues: in the middle Buddha in old age. Inside central temple there are three big statues: in the middle – Buddha in youth.
Ugii Nuur is a lake, 1387 meters above sea level in Ugii Nuur soum of Arkhangai province. It covers 25 square kilometers and is rich in Perch and Pike. Swan Goose, White Spoonbill and Dalmatian Pelican have been recorded.
Orkhonii Khurkhree, a waterfall on the Ulaan river, cascades from an impressive height of 20 meters. Its width is 10 meters, and it extends for 100 meters from the Orkhon river.
Tsenkher Hot Springs is located in Tsenkher soum, Arkhangai province. The spa that spring up from the deep of the earth contains hydrogen sulphide. The water temperature is +86.5°C. Formerly piped to provide hot water to greenhouses for cultivation of tomatoes and cucumbers all year around.
The curative spa is very efficient for people who suffer Neuralgia, muscular rheumatism, articular rheumatism, bruise, diabetes, poor blood circulation, chronic digestive organs disease, cut wound, fatigue and health improvement.
Tuvkhun Monastery is located on the small stage on the top of Tuvkhun Shireet Mountain, elevated in 2300 meters (1,4 mile) above the sea level in the territory of Bat – Ulziit soum of Uvurkhangai province. It was erected by Undur Gegeen Zanabazar. The monastery was built in beautiful scenery on the top of mountain between large rock cliffs, covered by dense forests.
In 1648, the young Zanabazar, who was only 14 years old, decides to make built a monastery on the sacred hill of Shireet Ulaan, because the place was of good omen for him. The first building was built in wood in 1651 when the young Bogd Gegeen came back from his studies, and the whole was completed three years later. Zanabazar was a very good sculptor, musician, painter, and he has been using the monastery, originally called Bayasgalant Aglag Oron, ”Land of the happy loneliness”, for his
personal retreat, for more than 30 years. He used to come to gather his thoughts in a cell that was reserved for him. In this small stone cell, he’s reported to have written the soyombo alphabet and many other famous works.
The Oirats destroyed the monastery in 1688 during one of the several warlike campaigns against the Eastern Mongolians. It was restored in 1773 but sustained new serious damages during the Stalinist purges in the late 1930s, when the communist system was trying to eradicate Buddhism from the country. From that period, two temples and two stupas remain. The other temples were built in the 18th century. The monastery started again its activity in 1993. It is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2004.
The site also includes Ekhiin Agui, ”the mother’s cave”, that is composed of two cavities. We can crawl in the main cavity. Once at the bottom of it, we have to turn over to sit in the small cavity. These movements symbolize gestation and birth. Anyone will make them will have a great fecundity. The persons going out from this cave are told to feel like if they had had a new birth.
Khorgo Volcano is a dead volcano which lies east shore of the lake Terkhiin Tsagaan in the northern part of Khangai Mountain range at the altitude of 2240 meters above sea level, in Tariat soum of Arkhangai province. In 1965, Khorgo Volcano surroundings were protected. In 1995, the protected area was enlarged and made a National park. The protected area is approximately 773 square kilometers. The volcano erupted about 7700 years ago as a last active volcano. Volcano eruption resulted a crater with 200 m radius and 90 m depth. Khorgo means “shelter.”
One of the most interesting sights of the Khorgo is the so-called “Basalt Ger”. It is a large solidified bubble of lava with a broken piece on one side, which makes a natural door. The height of some stone gers is 1.7 meters.
The lava torrent from the volcanoes blocked the North and South Terkh Rivers, leading to the formation of Terhiin Tsagaan Lake.
Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur is 16 km long and 4 to 6 km wide. Fresh water lake lies in a valley in an east – west direction, at 2060 m altitude above sea level. Water depth can reach 20 m. The lake is covered by ice during winter. The ice breaks up only at the end of May, so most of the year it is really a “white lake”, hence its Mongolian name. The lake has over 20 species of fish including pike, Taimen, Lenok, Sig, Siberian Grayling, Roach and Burbot.
In the forests of the National park, mammals such as a Siberian Roe Deer (Capreolus pygargus), Red Deer (Cervus elaphus), Musk Deer (Moschus moschiferus) and Grey Wolf (Canis lupus) roam.
Waterfowl find important resting and breeding grounds in the wetland areas, especially in the western part of the park. For example, resting Bar – headed Goose (Anser indicus) and breeding Mongolian White – winged Scoter (Melanitta Deglandi), Great Cormorant and others can be observed here. This area lends itself to bird watching, enjoy nature, fishing, boating, horse riding, visiting nomad families, hiking, mountain climbing, swimming and yak cart tour.
