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Khar Bukh Balgas
About 12km west of the sum capital, the ruined Khar Bukh Balgas is worth exploring and easy to reach as it’s just a few kilometres north of the main road. The fortress, inhabited by the Kitan from 917 to 1120, is sometimes known as Kitan Balgas. A small museum nearby is unlocked by
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Great Imperial Map Monument
This large new monument, built in 2004, is on a hill overlooking Kharkhorin to the southwest. The three sides honour various empires established on the Orkhon Gol, including the Hunnu period (300–200 BC), the Turkic period (AD 600–800) and the Mongol period (13th century). There ar
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Dashgimpeliin Khiid
In 1936 there were 53 temples in Dundgov; a year later the Mongolian KGB reduced nearly all to ashes and rubble. In 1991 Dashgimpeliin Khiid was opened for the people of Mandalgov. Around 20 monks now serve the monastery and services are held most days at around 10am and 2pm. It’s
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Dechinchoinkhorlin Khiid
This monastery, which opened in 1991, is in a large walled compound at the northern end of the central district. There is an active temple and, although visitors are welcome, photographs are not allowed inside. The 25 monks are very friendly. The best views are from the tank monume
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South Gobi Museum
Surprisingly, this museum has little on dinosaurs – just a few legs, arms and eggs. (All of the best exhibits are in Ulaanbaatar or in other museums around the world.) There are a few nice paintings, a huge stuffed vulture and a display of scroll paintings and other Buddhist items.
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Gandan Muntsaglan Khiid
This comparatively large monastery contains a fine collection of thangka (scroll paintings), including one depicting the original monastery, which was destroyed in 1937. The current monastery was opened in 1991, and now has about 60 monks in residence. It is located 900m northwest
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Avarga Toson Nuur
The lake that flanks Delgerkhaan is fenced off to keep out livestock and campers. Its water and mud is reputed to have medicinal properties, and its the one place in eastern Mongolia where youll find locals bathing, strolling and jogging around the lake. On one bank stands an impre
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Wildlife Museum
The Wildlife Museum (formerly known as the Hunting Museum) is on the 2nd floor of the Baigal Ordon (Nature Palace) on the street leading to Gandan Khiid. The museum shows off centuries-old trapping and hunting techniques that are used by both nomads and urban cowboys. It’s usually
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Balbal
A well-preserved Turkic-era balbal (stone grave marker) is 7km west of Chinggis Khot, past the airport. The squat-figured statue, covered in blue silk hadak (ritual scarves), has a disproportionately large head with pronounced eyebrows and deep-set eyes. His long hair is curled beh
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Stupa Memorial
This memorial, comprising three stupas, was built to honour the 607 people from Dadal who died in the political repression of the 1930s. The list of names is printed on the main prayer wheel. The Buriats were treated much more harshly than Khalkh Mongols during the purge era, large
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Monument to Chingunjav
With a fierce expression on his face, the statue of mounted Chingunjav looks set to trample you under its hooves. One of the two major leaders of the 1755–1756 rebellion in Outer Mongolia, he ultimately failed, but today he is nevertheless recognised as a fighter for Mongolias inde
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Damdin Sükhbaatar Statue
The Square now bears Damdin Sükhbaatars name and features a statue of him astride his horse. The words he apparently proclaimed at the time are engraved on the bottom of the statue: If we, the whole people, unite in our common effort and common will, there will be nothing in the wo
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Mining Museum
This Soviet-built museum belongs to the copper-mining company, Erdenet Concern. It’s pretty small and not terribly thrilling but it is free and worth a look if you’re killing time. It’s on the 2nd floor of the Culture Palace on the town square. If it’s locked you’ll need to visit t
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Bayan Öndör
Rising above Erdenet, to the northwest of the city centre, the summit of Bayan Öndör mountain offers a splendid view of the surrounding area, including the copper mine. The road to the top is rough and muddy, but you can take a taxi (T10,000). Other hills surrounding Erdenet also p
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Archaeological Sites
Numerous archaeological sites dot the region. Mogoit Valley contains a moustachioed balbal and a Kazakh cemetery with an interesting beehive-shaped mausoleum about 2km to the north. Another balbal can be found south of Mogoit Valley, on the way to Khurgan Nuur. More interesting Kaz
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Tsagaan Sala
The best petroglyphs in the area, if not all of Central Asia, can be found at Tsagaan Sala, on the route between Ulaankhus and Tavan Bogd. The drawings, more than 10,000 of them, are scattered over a 15km area; you’ll need a guide to find the best ones.Sheveed Uul (3350m) also cont
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National Library of Mongolia
Mongolias National Library has a vast collection of English-language books and documents about Mongolia. The library also contains one of the worlds largest collections of Buddhist manuscripts, warehoused here during the 1930s purge. Unfortunately you need a library card to get pas
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Museum of Danzan Ravjaa
The life and achievements of Noyon Khutagt Danzan Ravjaa (1803–56), a well-known Mongolian writer, composer, painter and medic who was born about 100km southwest of Sainshand, are honoured in this small but well-put-together museum. Look out for the small glass jar which contains D
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Demchigiin Khiid
Unless you have a particular interest in copper mining, the main reason to come here is to visit one of the monasteries built by Danzan Ravjaa. The monastery, about 20km from the town, was destroyed in 1937 but is undergoing a renovation project funded by Ivanhoe Mines. Gobi people
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Lamyn Gegeenii Gon Gandan Dedlin Khiid
The original monastery by this name was located 20km east of Bayankhongor City and was one of the biggest in the country. It was levelled by the communist government in 1937. The current monastery is home to only 15 monks. Daily services start at 10am in the main ‘brick ger’ temple
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