An amazing country is spread among the expanses of East Asia, between the largest states of the world in area - Russia and China. Once the most powerful empire in the world, whose rulers managed to subjugate many peoples of Europe and Asia, today it does not have much influence on world political processes, although it is represented in all UN structures. But today we’ll not talk about the political system, but imagine the sights of Mongolia, this amazing and mysterious Asian country.
1
Gandantagchenlin Monastery
First, we go to the capital of Mongolia to visit the largest Buddhist monastery in Ulan Bator and the whole of Mongolia. The monastery is unique in that in the socialist period it was the only place in the Republic of Mongolia where Buddhist cults could be celebrated.
It was founded in 1835, and today remains a place of pilgrimage for Buddhists, as well as one of the most visited attractions of the capital.
In 1970, a Buddhist university began working at the monastery. In addition, the monastery has a world-famous statue of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, whose height is 26 m.
2
Genghis Khan Square
The very heart of the Mongolian capital is named after the founder of the majestic Mongol Empire and its first khan.
The Mongols sacredly honor their history. Removing mistakes from the past, and on a large area nearby are a monument to Genghis Khan and the "father of independence" of Mongolia Damdina Sukhe-Bator.
The administrative buildings and the most famous museums of the country rise on the square. On national holidays, live music concerts, laser shows and festivals with a lot of people are held here.
3
Government Palace
In a monumental building, towering above the Sukhbaatar Square, is the Great State Khural, as well as the residence of the president.
Until 1924 there was a wasteland, which after the victory of the revolution was cleared of garbage. Then the Green Theater began to work here, and after its demolition in 1951, the Palace was built, in which the state bodies of the country were located.
After the reconstruction, the mausoleum of Sukhbaatar was dismantled, and a colonnade was built at the facade. Among the columns are statues of the great khans of Mongolia, as well as their closest associates. In 2012, the Museum of Statehood began to operate in the Palace building.
4
Gorkhi-Terelj
If you plunge into interesting facts about Mongolia, it must be said that there are 22 national parks in the country. The most unique of them is Gorkhi-Terelj.
Literally, from the Mongolian language, the name of the park is translated as “Rhododendron Stream”, and it is named so because numerous hot springs beat in its open spaces.
This wonderful corner of wildlife captivates with rare species of plants, diverse wildlife, as well as majestic mountain peaks. There are 60 camp sites and 5 rest houses in the park.
5
Zaisan Memorial
From the hill on which the memorial complex was erected in 1979, you can see the whole of Ulan Bator. The memorial was erected in honor of the 40th anniversary of the victory of the combined Soviet-Mongolian troops in the battle on Khalkhin Gol.
To erect the monument, the most prestigious district of the capital was taken away, not far from Buddha Park and elite neighborhoods. Earlier in this place there was a small obelisk in memory of the dead soldiers of the Red Army.
The memorial offers magnificent views of the city and the Tuul River Valley, and the complex itself is a popular venue for excursions for students and special occasions.
6
Erdeni Zu
The unique temple complex was founded in 1585, and today some of the temples remain operational, while museums have been located in others.
A Buddhist monastery is located in a beautiful valley of the Orkhon River on the outskirts of the small town of Kharkhorin among the wonderful nature of Mongolia. According to historical documents, the history of the monastery begins during the existence of the Uyghur Kaganate.
The temples of the monastery have many sacred relics, including numerous unique Buddha statues.
7
National Amusement Park
Thrill-seekers should definitely visit the Amusement Park, which has 13 different attractions.
There are also dizzying slides, numerous playgrounds, game rooms, as well as bowling and video game rooms. Most slot machines were purchased back in the USSR.
The park, founded in 1965, has an artificial lake, on the banks of which a medieval castle is built, and on the territory of the park there are restaurants offering their visitors dishes of national and European cuisine.
8
Sky Resort
Modern Mongolia has recently become a real Mecca of tourism, and ultramodern tourist sites appear on its territory.
One of such facilities is the Sky Resort ski resort, opened in 1999. At the same time, the resort can serve 4 thousand visitors.
The resort is multifunctional, and if in winter you can go skiing, snowboarding, then in summer at your service golf courses equipped with all world standards.
9
Hongoryn Els
This unique corner of Mongolian nature is known to the whole world under the name "Singing of Sands", and it is located within the Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park.
Sand dunes cover an area of 965 square kilometers. On this vast territory, one type of desert replaces another, and the north of the sands is limited by the Khongoryn-Gol River.
Sands make undulating waves in the sand, and the dunes change their shape several times during the day. The economy is based on agriculture, which is why the northern regions of Honoryn Els are used as pastures.
10
National History Museum
The History Museum was founded in 1924, and before the reconstruction in 1991 it was called the Museum of the Revolution.
The expositions of the largest museum in the country contain unique historical artifacts, tools, household items. Of particular interest are the halls where the national clothes of the Mongols are represented.
In the halls you can see rare photographs of the XIX century. Several expositions are devoted to economic development, and they show the achievements of industry and agriculture.
11
Buddhist monastery Tuvan Heid
Among the dense forest of the highlands of Shivet uul, there is the Tuvan-heid monastery, which the locals call the “Temple of Creativity”.
The monastery was located on a small rocky ledge of Mount Tovkhon Shireet, and it was founded by Tibetan monks in the distant 1648. Many times during the war, the monastery was destroyed, but the hardworking monks rebuilt the temples and buildings of the monastery.
The monastery is relatively small, and on the top of the mountain a sacred place of worship is equipped, and a holy spring beats nearby.
12
Hustain Nuruu
Hustain-Nuruu National Park, located one hundred kilometers from the capital, was created to protect and preserve the unique natural sites of Mongolia.
In the mountain steppes of the park you can see bearded deer, roe deer, wild boars, and in the sky soaring golden eagles or black storks. Over 450 species of plants grow in the park, including rare species of mosses and lichens.
In addition to many tasks to protect natural resources, it is here that purposeful work is carried out aimed at restoring the Przewalski horse population.
13
Silk Road Monument
In ancient times, this merchant artery connected the mysterious East with the civilizations of the West, and played an important role in trade and cultural exchange.
In honor of this path, romantically called “Silk”, since the main commodity was silk, which they could not manufacture in Europe, a monument was unveiled in Ulan Bator.
Camels, laden with bales, accompanied by guides and dogs, proudly walk along the city street. A winding path winds between them, symbolizing the Silk Road, full of difficulties and dangers.
14
Aglag Butel Monastery
This monastery was erected by a Buddhist artist and Lama G. Purebbat in order to meditate away from people and write his works here.
Lama specially chose a beautiful place at the foot of the Dalian Havtsal mountain to build a meditation center here. The slopes of the mountain are covered with deciduous forest, and a mountain trail leads to the monastery itself, on which sculptures of the three main deities of Mongolia are located.
At the entrance to the monastery are carved from stone sculptures of Gekko and Scorpio.
15
Petroglyph complex
In the Mongolian Altai, in this most beautiful corner of the planet, there is a unique historical monument in the form of cave paintings, whose age is more than 5 thousand years.
Drawings at an altitude of 2,000 meters above sea level are drawn on the rocks, and stretch for more than 40 km. Mostly deer harnessed to chariots. As well as scenes of everyday life of the Neolithic people.
The drawings are so accurate that you can even count the number of spokes in the chariot wheels. Unique cave paintings were discovered in 1963, and today are declared a World Heritage Site.
And about the most beautiful places in Gorny Altai (Russia), most-beauty.ru prepared a very interesting article.
16
Church of the Holy Trinity
The snow-white Orthodox church, consecrated in honor of the Holy Trinity, is one of the most beautiful temples in the country, where the main population professes Buddhism.
The close ties of the Russian people and Mongolia have led many of our compatriots to live and work in Mongolia. The church was built in the area where mainly the Russian-speaking population of the Mongolian capital lives.
Magnificent golden domes harmonize perfectly in the peaks of the majestic mountains. The church itself stands on a small hillock and is surrounded by a well-kept courtyard.
17
Temple of the Five Pagodas
Founded in 1947, the autonomous region in the north of the PRC has preserved its national traditions, and is ethnically closely linked with Mongolia.
This district, called Inner Mongolia, also has its own national and natural attractions, among which it is worth noting a unique temple complex - the Temple of Five Pagodas.
The magnificent building is built in the traditional style of Buddhist architecture. Around the magnificent park, and the interior of the temple is amazing luxury and sophistication.
18
Buddha Mall
Shopping and entertainment complex "Buddha Mall" is unique in its structure, as it is located in an elite residential building.
On the first and second floors of the house there is a shopping street with many shops where you can buy almost everything, from company clothes to souvenirs in memory of Mongolia.
Here is located the most prestigious and expensive restaurant in Mongolia - Asiana Restaurant, where you can taste exotic dishes of oriental cuisine. The uniqueness of the project is that the shopping street is under the roof, and no vagaries of nature will prevent you from making purchases.
19
Viva City
We started from the capital and finish the review in it, and present a unique residential complex “Viva City”, opened in 2003, with 1,619 apartments.
The "City of the Young" is also a huge shopping and entertainment complex, attracting not only tourists, but also local residents. The first floors of the houses are given under the stores of world famous brands.
A majestic musical fountain gives coolness in the center of the town, a London double-decker bus runs along the complex, and concerts, festivals and national holidays are held in the large open concert hall.
20
Hubsugul Lake
According to many tourists, this place is one of the most beautiful places in Mongolia. And it is especially picturesque here in winter and summer! But summer is preferable for these places, due to the wide range of possible types of recreation.
Even if you do not want to swim in the crystal clear waters of the lake, you have other options for what to do here. Fishing, kayaking, hiking - all this will not leave indifferent any tourist!
The amazing land of deserts, lakes and mountain peaks abounds with cultural and historical sights, photos and descriptions of which we presented in our short review. The landscapes of Mongolia really enchant, and most importantly, amaze with their boundlessness.
Believe me, this country is worth devoting one of its vacations to acquaintance with this wonderful region and its hospitable people, especially since 2014 Russians can visit this country without applying for a visa.
Article author: Valery Skiba