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Wonders of Mongolia

Deer stones, Uushigiin Uveer
Deer stones, Uushigiin Uveer. / Richard Mortel, Flickr / CC BY 2.0

WorldBlue  Highlights

This enormous country is sparsely populated – but quite rich with natural and man-made heritage. The most amazing wonders of Mongolia are:

  • Fossil finds – the legendary dinosaur graveyards of Mongolia have been like Eldorado to paleontologists. Secluded valleys and canyons near the Gobi desert are packed with fossilized bones of extinct reptiles and amphibians. State of preservation often is surprising – this was the first place in the world where dinosaur eggs were found, world-famous "fighting dinosaurs" (Velociraptor and Protoceratops) were found here in 1971.
  • Rock art – thousands of cliffs, rocks, and shelters in Mongolia are adorned with old drawings and etchings, often showing extinct animals – mammoths and rhinos, and often showing amazing skills of prehistoric artists. Unique are deer stones – standing stones adorned with intricate, fantastic designs.

Map with the described wonders

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WorldViolet Top 25 wonders of Mongolia

Geological wonders

Tabun Khara Obo

Dornogovi

Impressive, very well preserved impact crater that has formed in Proterozoic rocks. Diameter – 1.3 km, visible depth – up to 30 km.

Tabun Khara Obo in 2003, Mongolia
Tabun Khara Obo in 2003 / Karl W. Wegmann, Wikimedia Commons, public domain
Khongoryn Els singing dunes

Bayankhongor

Impressive system of dunes, several hundred meters tall. Dunes emit eerie, humming sound in the wind or when walking.

Khongoryn Els singing dunes, Mongolia
Khongoryn Els singing dunes / Alastair Rae, / CC BY-SA 2.0
Yolyn Am

Bayankhongor

Impressive, narrow gorge with up to 200 m tall cliffs. Ice field persists in this gorge throughout most of the year, although lately, it disappears at the end of summer.

Taikhar Chuluut

Arkhangai

Granite monolith that is abruptly rising from the ground, 25 m tall. Sacred place.

Melkhii Khad (Turtle Rock)

Töv

An enormous monolith – a rock that resembles a turtle.

Melkhii Khad - Turtle Rock, Mongolia
Melkhii Khad – Turtle Rock / Brücke-Osteuropa, / public domain
Arsain Falls (Arsain Khurkhree)

Khövsgöl

The tallest waterfall in Mongolia, some 70 m tall.

Biological wonders

Bayanzag (Flaming Cliffs)

Ömnögovi

One of the richest and most interesting fossil finds on Earth. This was the first site where dinosaur eggs were found, here have been found remnants of Velociraptor and other Cretaceous dinosaurs.

Landscape in Bayanzag or Flaming Cliffs, Mongolia
Landscape in Bayanzag or Flaming Cliffs, Mongolia. / Richard Mortel, Flickr / CC BY 2.0
Khermen Tsav

Bayankhongor

Gorgeous canyon with amazing, up to 30 m tall cliff formations. Very rich find of Cretaceous dinosaur fossils, dinosaur eggs, and other fossils.

Archaeological wonders

Uushigiin Uver (Moron Deer Stones)

Khentii

One of the most impressive groups of Deer stones and other monuments. Fourteen standing stones with beautifully carved deer on their surfaces. Constructed in 1000 BC (?).

Deer stone in Uushigiin Uver, Mongolia
Deer stone in Uushigiin Uver, Mongolia / / CC-BY-SA-2.0
Karakorum ruins (Kharkhorin)

Övörkhangai

Ruins (mostly underground) of the former capital of the Mongol Empire, established by Ghengis Khan around 1220. Even European artisans came here to build wonderful buildings and create artworks, including the legendary Silver Tree and, possibly – Xanadu palace. Destroyed in 1388. Now only two large sculptures of turtles – former adornment of city gates – remain.

Burkhan Khaldun

Khentii

The most sacred mountain in Mongolia, the first mountain declared to be sacred by Genghis Khan. It is possible that he was born nearby and could be buried here as well.

Orkhon inscriptions (Steles of Tonyukuk, Bayn Tsokto)

Ulaanbaatar

Monuments – two standing steles that were erected in 722 AD to commemorate the deeds of Tonyukuk – a great statesman of the past. Steles are covered with Orkhon-Turkic script and tell the history of Turks, are similar to epics.

Ulaan Tolgoi

Khövsgöl

Site with five deer stones. The tallest one is 3.8 m tall.

Upper Tsagaan Gol rock art

Bayan-Ă–lgii

Some 5000 groups of prehistoric drawings, each depicting a certain scheme. Many drawings seem to be oriented toward the sacred mountain – Shiviit Khairkhan.

Architecture wonders

Winter Palace of the Bogd Khan

Ulaanbaatar

The only remaining palace of the emperor of Mongolia, Bogd Khan. This complex of buildings includes six temples, and natural and art collections of Bogd Khan.

Winter Palace of the Bogd Khan, Ulaanbaatar
Winter Palace of the Bogd Khan, Ulaanbaatar / yeowatzup, Flickr / CC BY 2.0
Genghis Khan Statue

Ulaanbaatar

The largest equestrian statue in the world, 40 m tall. Depicts Genghis Khan on horseback. Statue stands on the building of the visitor center. Constructed in 2008. Park and architectonic complex is arranged around the statue.

Gandantegchinlen monastery

Ulaanbaatar

The principal center of Buddhist learning in Mongolia, the only monastery that persisted during the Socialist times. Founded in 1727. Contains a 26.5 m tall statue of Migjid Janraisig, covered with gold and 2 286 gemstones.

Erdene Zuu monastery

Övörkhangai

The oldest existing Buddhist monastery in Mongolia, founded in 1585. It was almost completely destroyed by the Communists in 1939.

Erdene Zuu Buddhist monastery, Mongolia
Buddhist monastery, Mongolia / Bouette, Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA-3.0
Ikh Khorig

Khentii

Somewhat mysterious, approximately 240 km² large area that is carefully guarded for many centuries since the death of Ghengis Khan in 1227. It is possible that here is located the tomb of Genghis Khan. This beautiful woodland was guarded by Darkhad, who killed anyone entering it. In Socialist times it was heavily guarded by armed forces, now opened only for scientific research. Many Mongols consider that disturbance to this place can cause a catastrophe to mankind.

Burkhan Khaldun

Khentii

The most sacred mountain in Mongolia, the first mountain declared to be sacred by Genghis Khan. It is possible that he was born nearby and could be buried here as well.

Shankh monastery

Övörkhangai

One of the oldest monasteries in Mongolia, established by Zanabazar in 1647. Destroyed in 1937, now reconstructed.

Amarbayasgalant monastery

Selenge

One of the most interesting monasteries in Mongolia, built in 1727 – 1736. Constructed in a green site rich with Mongolian cherries and diverse archaeological landmarks. Now here remain 28 temples on a 207 x 175 m large platform. Temples have interesting engineering solutions.

Amarbayasgalant monastery, Mongolia
Amarbayasgalant monastery / einalem, / CC BY-SA 2.0
Tuvkhun monastery

Övörkhangai

An important monastery, established by Zanabazar in 1654 in a spectacular mountaintop location. Heavily damaged by Communists in the 1930ies but revived. Site of legends.

Kharkhorin Rock

Övörkhangai

60 cm long statue of a penis, located on a stone platform. Possibly linked to the nearby Erdene Zuu monastery in order to remind them about the importance of celibate.

Öglögchiin Kherem

Khentii

3.2 km long and approximately 3 m tall stone wall, built in the time period from the 8th to 10th centuries. Near this wall are more than 60 old graves – possible royal graveyard.

Natural History Museum (Mongolia)

Ulaanbaatar

This museum contains unique collections of dinosaur fossils (including “fighting dinosaurs”), meteorites, and other unique finds in Mongolia.

WorldYellow Recommended books

Mongolia: Nomad Empire of the Eternal Blue Sky


Mongolia is a land of constant surprises. Renowned for its classic rolling steppe land -from where, in times past, nomadic Mongol clans and confederations swept out to conquer much of the known world.

Mongolia – Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture


Mongolia is landlocked between its neighbors China and Russia in the heart of Asia. For centuries after the disintegration of Genghis Khan’s empire, it was ruled by one or the other, but in 1990 the Mongols embraced democracy. Now, after two centuries of Manchu stagnation and seventy years of Soviet communism, they are rebuilding their national heritage. Rarely in the news but making progress toward a market economy, this resource-rich but the infrastructure-poor country is a land of pioneers, and its greatest asset is the Mongol people, who are friendly, cooperative, ambitious, and well educated.


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