Zaisan Memorial
The tall, thin landmark on top of the hill south of the city is the Zaisan Memorial. Built by the Russians to commemorate unknown soldiers and heroes from various wars, it offers the best views of Ulaanbaatar and the surrounding hills. The enormous tank at the bottom of the hill –
Beatles Square
The plaza located between the State Department Store and the Circus has an unofficial name – Beatles Square; so named after a new monument to the Fab Four located close to its northern end. The monument features bronze images of John, Paul, George and Ringo on one side and on the o
Museum of Arkhangai Aimag
This is one of the best aimag museums in the country, not least because it is housed in the charming courtyard-temple complex of Zayain Gegeenii Süm , which was first built in 1586 but expanded in 1679, when it housed five temples and up to 1000 monks. Miraculously, the monastery e
Gorge
From the museum, the dirt road continues for another 10km to a car park of sorts. From here, a pleasant 2km walk, following the Yol Stream, leads to the ice-filled gorge and one or two lonely souvenir salesmen. Locals at the car park also rent horses (T10,000, plus the same again f
Karakorum Museum
Kharkhorins new museum is small, but highly impressive – probably the countrys best museum outside Ulaanbaatar. Everything is beautifully designed and well displayed. The building is fully air-conditioned, there are English-speaking guides available, English captions throughout and
Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur
The freshwater Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur is not as forested or as large as Khövsgöl Nuur, but it is closer to Ulaanbaatar, relatively undeveloped and just about perfect for camping (though there are a few flies in summer). The lake, birdlife and mountains are now protected within the 7
Khongoryn Els
Khongoryn Els are some of the largest and most spectacular sand dunes in Mongolia. Also known as the Duut Mankhan (Singing Dunes – from the sound they make when the sand is moved by the wind or as it collapses in small avalanches), they are up to 300m high, 12km wide and about 100k
Winter Palace of the Bogd Khan
Built between 1893 and 1903, this palace is where Mongolia’s eighth Living Buddha, and last king, Jebtzun Damba Hutagt VIII (often called the Bogd Khan), lived for 20 years. For reasons that are unclear, the palace was spared destruction by the Russians and turned into a museum. Th
Tsenkheriin Agui
This huge cave about 100km southeast of Khovd City looks deceptively small from the parking area but once you scramble up the loose rock path, you realise how big it is and how it must have afforded considerable shelter to the prehistoric humans who once lived here.Unfortunately, t
Zanabazar Museum of Fine Arts
This fine-arts museum has a superb collection of paintings, carvings and sculptures, including many by the revered sculptor and artist Zanabazar. It also contains other rare, and sometimes old, religious exhibits such as scroll thangka (paintings) and Buddhist statues, representing
Ongiin Khiid
The bend in the pretty river here marks the remains of two ruined monasteries: Bari Lam Khiid was built in 1810 on the north bank, the same side of the river as the tourist ger camps. Khutagt Lam Khiid was built in 1760 on the south, but can only be accessed when the water level of
Choijin Lama Temple Museum
This temple museum is a hidden gem of architecture and history, smack in the middle of downtown Ulaanbaatar. It was the home of Luvsan Haidav Choijin Lama (‘Choijin’ is an honorary title given to some monks), the state oracle and brother of the Bogd Khan. Construction of the monast
National Museum of Mongolia
Mongolia’s National Museum sweeps visitors from the Neolithic era right to the present day.The 1st floor has some interesting exhibits on Stone Age sites in Mongolia, as well as petroglyphs, deer stones (stone sculptures of reindeer and other animals) and burial sites from the Hun
Erdene Zuu Khiid
Founded in 1586 by Altai Khaan, Erdene Zuu (Hundred Treasures) was the first Buddhist monastery in Mongolia. It had between 60 and 100 temples, about 300 gers inside the walls and, at its peak, up to 1000 monks in residence.The monastery went through periods of neglect and prosperi
Chinggis Khaan (Sükhbaatar) Square
In July 1921 in the centre of Ulaanbaatar, the ‘hero of the revolution’, Damdin Sükhbaatar, declared Mongolia’s final independence from the Chinese. The square now features a bronze statue of Sükhbaatar astride his horse. In 2013 the city authorities changed the name from Sükhbaata
Gandan Khiid
Around the start of the 19th century, more than 100 süm (temples) and khiid (monasteries) served a population of about 50,000 in Urga (the former name of Ulaanbaatar). Only a handful of these buildings survived the religious purges of 1937. It wasn’t until the early 1990s that the
Doing business & staying in touch while in Mongolia
Mongolia: Doing business & staying in touch
Mongolia Weather, Climate and Geography
Mongolia Weather, climate and geography
Mongolia History, Language and Culture
Mongolia History, Language and Culture
Mongolia Travel Guide and Travel Information
Mongolia Travel Guide
