Mongolia

1911-1912

2012-02-18T11:17:00.000-08:00

Winter Palace of Bogd Khan

2011-02-04T00:02:00.000-08:00

Winter Palace of Bogd Khan
Built between 1893 and 1903, the Winter Palace of Bogd Khan was the home of the Mongolia’s last king Javzun Damba Khutagt VIII. This complex of temples and houses contains a number of Buddhist artworks and the private collection of the Bogd Khan, composed of gifts from rulers and kings from all over the world. The artworks displayed here were made by the top Mongolian, Tibetan and Chinese master-sculptors of the 18th and 19th centuries and represent the gods of the Buddhist pantheon.

Gobi Desert

2011-02-03T23:56:00.000-08:00

The Gobi desert, one of the world’s great deserts, covers much of the southern part of Mongolia. It is one of the major tourist destinations in Mongolia. It is a huge arid region in the Asian continent. The desert includes portions of South Mongolia and northern and northwestern China. Gobi desert plateaus are bordered by the Tibetan plateau and Hexi Corridor to the Southwest, Altai Mountains and the prairielands and lowlands of Mongolia to the north, and by the North China Plain to the southeast. The desert encompasses several discrete environmental and geographical parts on the basis of variances in weather and landscape. The Gobi Desert is the fifth largest desert in the world.

Gun-Galuut

2011-02-03T23:51:00.000-08:00

Gun-Galuut
Amazingly, Gun-Galuut is the state combined from diversity of ecosystem although it owns comparatively small area. The harmonized complex of high mountains, steppes, rivers, lakes and wetlands as well are kept enough as its original condition. Whoever visiting enjoys to see Gun-Galuut vast steppe seems to meet 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, in where water and wetland birds lay their eggs.

Gorkhi Terelj National Park

2011-02-03T23:47:00.000-08:00

Gorkhi-Terelj National Park
The Park is situated at 80Km. north east of Ulaan Baatar, and is a very popular area both with the locals on a week end and with foreign tourists. It took us nearly two hours to drive from the capital as the roads were pretty bad. The park lies at 1600 metres high and offers great opportunities for hiking, horse-riding, rafting and rock climbing. The parks is over 1.2 million acres large. The landscape is looking a little bit like the alps. It is a national park which started to developed in the 1960′s and officially was classified as a National Park in 1994. It is almost uninhabited by humans, only by a few nomads and farmers. Inside the park, there are ranges of protected animals such as birds (250 species), moose, and bears. As it become developed for tourism, some of the Ger camps have concrete car parks and electricity. Camps are not at the same place depending of the season, there are summer camps, and winter camps which are open mostly all year long.

Hustai National Park

2011-02-03T23:43:00.000-08:00

Hustai National Park Tour
Hustai National Park is the site of a unique re-introduction scheme of Przewalskii’s horse (Equus przewalskii), called “takhi” by Mongolians. It became extinct in the wild in 1969 and, since 1992, have been successfully re-introduced to Hustai from zoos around the world. This has been an international effort monitored by The Foundation for the Przewalskii Horse, based in the Netherlands and MACNE (Mongolian Association for Conservation of Nature and the Environment). The national park is rolling steppe mountains with rather large patches of birch and aspen forests. There are also visible remains of neolithic graves. In addition, red deer (Cervus elaphus) and wolf (Canis lupus) have increased quite a bit during the last few years, as well as Mongolian gazelle. Species present in Hustai but usually not seen include lynx, argali sheep and roe deer.

Erdene Zuu Monastery

2011-02-03T00:10:00.000-08:00

Erdene Zuu Monastery
In 1586 when the Mongolian Khan Abtaisai returned home from his long pilgrimage to Tibet, he founded the first Buddhist monastery for it?s beauty it was named Erdene Zuu or Hundred Treasures. Erdene zuu was the first Buddhist monastery in Mongolia It is surrounded by a monumental wall with 108 stupas measuring 400×400 meters. Each of the four sites of the wall has a tower gat. In 1792 there were 62 temples. 500 buildings with about 1000 lamas inside the surrounded wall. It houses considerable historical and cultural values statues of deities, ritual masks and costumes, canvases on religious motifs, samples of mural and ceiling painting, articles, made by crafts men. Erdene-Zuu’s temples were destroyed by the anti religious campaign of Stalin of the 1930s and an unknown number of monks killed. The monastery remained closed until 1965 when it was permitted to reopen as a museum.

2011-02-03T00:07:00.000-08:00

Kharkhorum resort
Kharkhorum is a destination not to be missed for those visiting Mongolia. In the 13th century it was the capital of the Mongolian Empire. This town is close to Erdene Zuu monastery, built in 1586 using the stones from the ruins of Kharakhorum. It was the first Buddhist center in Mongolia and it housed 10,000 lamas(monkis) in 62 temples. In 1930’s it was badly damaged by the Stalinist purges and only since 1990 has become an active monastery again. Two Turtles Carved from rock marked the boundaries of the complex. Nearby is Shanhiin Hiid(monastery) and Orkhon waterfall. Because of its proximity to Ulaanbaatar, Erdene Zuu and Kharakhorum can easily be a part any trip.

Achit Lake

2011-02-02T23:18:00.000-08:00

Achit Lake

It is one of the largest lakes of Mongolia, covering 311 square kilometers. Length of lake is 30km width is 16km. It is between Kharkhiraa Uul and Turgen Uul, at 1,464 meters above sea level. Achit lake is irrigated from 10500sq.km square and fed by Altangadas and Bukh murun rivers therefore feed the Khovd river. The island of Devel in the Usan Khooloi River has been protected the state protection.

Ugii lake

2011-02-02T23:15:00.000-08:00

Ugii Lake
Located in 1337m above sea level, Ogii Nuur soum, Arkhangai province. It engages 25sq.km of area, length is 7km, width is 5km and at the deepest part it’s 15m. The lake abounds in various types of fish and birds, which creates an incredible natural beauty. More than 14 types of fish and more than 150 types of bird inhabit there. You can visit to this lake easily; on a day trip from Kharkhorin (Erdenezuu monastery). By the road you can visit to Khushuu tsaidam monument, memorial of ancient Turkic emperor Bilge khan, only 45km from Kharkhorin on asphalt road.

Khar us Lake

2011-02-02T23:14:00.000-08:00

Khar us Lake
Mongolia’s second largest fresh watered lake Khar Us Lake is located at the 1152m above sea level, Khovd province, in western Mongolia in the Great Lakes Depression. It’s area value is1852 sq.km included more than 10 small and big islands because of tectonics. The biggest island is Agbash which divide lake into south and north parts and divided parts connected by canal named “Lun Yum”, 20km long. About lake size, length is 72km, width is 26 km but it’s depthless, only 4.5m at the deepest part.

Terkhiin tsagaan lake

2011-02-02T23:11:00.000-08:00

Khorgiin Togoo volcano and Terkhiin tsagaan lake
Located in Tariat soum, Arkhangai province. About origin of fresh watered Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake, flowing of north and south Terkh Rivers locked by lava flow from a volcanic eruption. The length of lake is 16 km; width is 6 km, 20m deep, 2060 m above sea level and occupies 61 sq.km area. The biggest river which is one of the 10 rivers, flow into lake is Terkh river. Also only one river flows from the lake is Suman River. Suman means “Arrow” because this river flows through the lake like an arrow. There is a small island at the middle of the lake, birds make their nest and lay eggs. There is a interesting story about Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake.

An ancient time, a mother and son were living this land and they carried their drink water from small fountain from the deep of ground. After they take some water they have to bung it. But one day son went to this fountain to take drink water but he forgot to bung it after take and he slept next to the fountain. Later some minutes this some area covered by huge water and son’s mother worried about his son and she take top of mountain named “Uran mandal”, bung the fountain. Since that time this lake is exist here. The top of “Uran mandal” mountain is Small Island that mentioned above.

Khorgiin Togoo volcano, located on the bank of Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake, 180 km away from center of Arkhangai province. The volcano erupted to encompass huge of sq.km area 8 thousand years ago. Around the volcano there many cauldron shaped places to hide so Khorgiin togoo name is connected to these places. Also there are some interesting places such as ice cave, “Shar nokhoin tam” (hell of yellow dog) and “Cave of a person” around the volcano. 50 sq.km of this area preserved in 1965.

Uvs lake

2011-02-02T23:09:00.000-08:00

Uvs Lake
Uvs Nuur /Lake/- the largest lake in Mongolia. It is 743 meters above sea level, 80kms wide and 80 km long, covering 3.350 square kilometers with clear but brackish water a land-locked Inland Sea. The range of ecological zones in the relatively small area of the Uvs Nuur Lake Basin in Uvs Province is matched by few places in the world. Except of Mongolia’s highest peaks Altai tavan bogd, this range is the coldest part of the country, in 1974 a temperature of -57 C was recorded. Summer temperatures typically climb to over +40 C, and these extremes are one reason why the lake was chosen as one of ten locations globally to be studied for climate change by the international Geo-Biosphere Program.

The Uvs Nuur region encompasses 712,545 hectares of land. Established in 1993, it consists of four separate areas – Uvs Lake, Turgen Mountain, Tsagaan Shuvuut and Altan Els. Between them, the protected area contains everything from desert sand dunes to snowfields, and marsh to mountain forest. Uvs Nuur is five times saltier than the ocean, and devoid of edible fish, but this doesn’t mean the lake is dead. The Nariin, Sagil, Borshoo and Khundlen rivers enter, but none drains out. It is a magnet for birds; over 220 species are recorded, including Osprey, White-tailed Eagle and Black Stork. There are Swan Goose, Bar-headed Goose and Eurasian Spoonbill. Over 100 pairs of Spoonbill nest in the vicinity, also Great White Heron. Whooper Swan, Great Black-headed Gull, White-headed Gull and Black Stork.

White lake

2011-02-02T23:07:00.000-08:00

White Lake
About 50km west of Khovsgol Nuur, in Renchinlkhumbe sum (district), is a large depression called Darkhadyn Khotgor, often referred to as Tsagaan Nuur, after the main village in the area. The Darkhadyn Depression is roughly the same size as Khovsgol Lake and was indeed originally formed as a glacial lake.The difficulty in reaching the region ensures that the unique Tsaatan people who inhabit the valleys are able to continue their traditional lifestyle - but tourism is slowly making an impact.

Darkhadyn khotgor is one of Mongolia's strongest centers of shamanism. This is one of the best-watered regions in Mongolia: the aimag has about 300 lakes and 200 of them are in this area. The lakes are a vital part of Mongolia's very limited commercial fishing industry - white carp and trout are packed in salt and flown out to Ulaanbaator to be served in the fancier hotels. Salmon and huge taimen can also be found in the region. One definite drawback to visiting the region is the insects that invade the area.

Orkhon waterfall

2011-02-02T22:46:00.000-08:00

Orkhon waterfall
Generally, Orkhon River and its water basin valley are considered the cradle land of steppe nomads. Apart from the springs at Khujirt, the main attraction in the area is the Orkhon waterfall. The Orkhon waterfall is situated in the historically significant Orkhon Valley; Orkhon River flows 1120km to the North before it joins the Selenge River. Also this waterfall is called Ulaan Tsutgalan, formed by volcanic eruptions about 20.000 years ago, the waterfall cascades from a height of 20m. It is scenic, tranquil spot and surrounding nature is undisturbed, as such there are opportunities for good walking and riding in the area. The Orkhon river is pristine drink water river and also it is teemed with a lot species fish such as taimen, lenok and so on. These days yak breeder nomads are living in near the waterfall

8 lake

2011-02-02T22:42:00.000-08:00

Naiman nuur - 8 lakes
Naiman Nuur – Naiman Lake was created by volcanic eruptions centuries ago, covers 11,500 hectares around the lake located in Ovorkhangai Province to the southwest of the Khangai Mountain Range. Naiman Nuur with its exceptional configuration is surrounded by the beautiful nature of the middle part of the Khangai Mountain. These lakes with fresh water and interconnected by ground water channels such as Shireet, Khaliut, Bugat, Khaya, Khuis, Onon, Doroo, Bayan-Uul are called Khuisyn Naiman Nuur. These lakes located in 500m to 3km to each other. It was placed under state protection in 1992.

Khuvsgul Lake

2011-02-02T22:38:00.000-08:00

Khuvsgul Lake
Khuvgul Lake, freshest and deepest lake in Central Asia, is positioned in a North South direction with an oval shape. Its length is 133.4 km from north to south while widest is 39.5 km from west to east. This lake has a volume of 380 km3 and it is second in Asia and 14th largest in the world. Khuvsgul Lake contains 93.6 % of total surface fresh water of Mongolia and 1% of world fresh water. Khuvsgul Lake is surrounded by beautiful high mountains of the Khoridol Saridag and Bayan Mountain Ranges, along the west shore. Many mountain rivers flow into this lake including 17 rivers flowing during the whole year. Flat-topped mountains with sloping mountainsides, covered by forests, lie on the east shore of the lake and those mountains are sources of 29 rivers flowing into Khuvsgul Lake.

The Munkh Saridag Mountain Range, the highest mountains in Khuvsgul province, are along the north shore of this lake. South part of Khuvsgul Lake becomes narrow and the Eg River starts out here. Drainage basin of the lake is 5,300 sq km that holds 46 rivers and streams. 69% of South side of Khuvsgul Lake is deeper than 100 m. The lake water is coldest in Mongolia, with +18 Celsius of water surface in summer, because of its deepness. It starts to freeze in September but completely covered by 1.0-1.5 m thick ice in November while it starts to melt in May but sometimes it keeps its ice until beginning of July. Water visibility is up to 22.9 m in the middle, but it is 14.3 m near the shore.

There are 4 islands namely Modon Khui, Khadan Khui, Dalain Khui and Baga Khui. From these, the largest one is Dalain Khui Island with a 5.8 sq km area, 70 km from north shore. Nine species of fish inhabit Khuvsgul including omul, herring, lenok, grayling, perch and roach. This area has been protected since 1992 as a National Park. The lake is still being used for transportation. Russian merchants started using boats for transportation in 1913

Khyargas Lake and Khan Khukhii mountain

2011-02-02T22:32:00.000-08:00

Khyargas Lake and Khan Khukhii mountain
The Khan Khukhii mountain range is located in Zuunkhangai, Undurkhangai and Tsagaan Khairkhan sums of Uvs province, was taken under protection in 2000 with an area of 2206 square kilometers. The Khyargas Lake was also taken under protection in 2000 with an area of 3328 square kilometers. Khan Khukhii mountain range is located deep in the mountain valleys and is a demarcation of Uvs and Khyargas lake basins. The area plays an important role in maintaining ecological balance by limiting the process of desert-steppe region increase. The peak of Duulga reaches 2.928 meters above sea level. Many picturesque mountains are here, such as Bushtag, and Altanburgas, as well as Khan Khukhii Mountain. Khyargas and Airag lakes provide a home to numerous globally endangered bird species that are listed in the Red Book of Mongolia.

Bayan lake

2011-02-01T22:23:00.000-08:00

Bayan Lake
The salt lake, among the Bor Khyariin Els sand dune, is in the remote western part of Zavkhan aimag and difficult to reach. The scenery is fascinating and locals claim there is good fishing.

Holidays and Festivals

2011-01-01T10:56:00.000-08:00

Tsagaan Sar

The name means white and celebrates the passing of winter and beginning of spring. Tsagaan Sar was originally an end of summer festival, but once again it was Chinggis Khan who changed things, moving the event to the end of winter in 1216. The Mongolian lunar calendar uses five cycles of twelve years, each cycle being named after an element (earth, water, fire, iron and wind) and each year after one of twelve animals. The Lunar calendar doesn’t operate within European twelve-month system and hence Lunar New Year dates change every year. The festival is celebrated at the end of January or beginning of February and officially lasts three days.

The best place to celebrate Tsagaan Sar is in the countryside, where it is a real demonstration of Mongolia’s traditional customs and culture. People greet each other in a unique way, young people cross their hands under the hands of older people and say Amar baina uu, which is the traditional new year greeting that means how are you.

During Tsagaan Sar, almost everyone visits everyone, whom they know or who their realtives are. Much of the festival involves sitting round the ger stove passing food and drink backwards and forwards, always using right hand to accept food or alcohol. Visitors are given gifts in almost every ger they visit. In Ulaanbaatar Tsagaan Sar is a shorter holiday, but with the same hospitality, visiting schedule, food and drink.

Naadam
This annual sports festival Naadam is the most famous celebration across the country. It features the three manly sports: wrestling, archery and horse racing. Naadam is celebrated across the country and every town and village will hold its own wrestling, archery and horse racing contests. The official Naadam opening ceremony in Ulaanbaatar is quite spectacular. Riders dress as Chinggis Khan’s entourage lead the huge procession around the Naadam stadium, which features hundreds of adults and children dressed in costumes representing all Mongolia’s ethic groups. In Ulaanbaatar, wrestling takes place in the main Naadam stadium. Archery competitions are outside the stadium everywhere, while the famous, perilous horse races take place ourside the city.

Wrestling
Wrestling is the most national and popular of all Mongol sports. It is highlight of the Three Games of Men. Hinstorians claim that Mongol-style wrestling originated some seven thousand years ago. The technique and ritual of Mongolian wrestling is distinctly national.
There are no weight categories or age limits in Mongolians national wrestling. The wrestlers wear heavy boots (gutuls), a very small tight-fitting loin cloth (known as zodog and shuudag), a pair of sleeves which meet across the back of the shoulders, resembling a tiny vestige of a jacket, and a pointed cap of velvet. The contestants come out on the leaping and dancing flapping their arms in imitation of an eagle. Each wrestler has his attndant herald. The aim of the sport is to knock your opponent off balance and throw him down, making him touch the ground with his elbow and knee. The loser walks under the raised arms of the winner in a sign of respect, and unties his vest, after wich the victor, again leaping and dancing, takes a turn round the flag in the center of the field. The victor is a awarded symbolic prizes – biscuits and aaruul, or dried curds; once he has tasted these, he offers them to his seconds and to spectators.
Traditionally, either one thousand and twenty-four or five hundred and twelve wrestlers participate in the contest. At the national Naadam held in Ulaanbaatar, nine rounds are held. Those who lose in one round are eliminated from further rounds.
A wrestler who beats five opponents in a Naadam is awarded the title of “Falcon”; one who wins seven rounds is given title “Elephant”. A wrestler become a champion by winning nine rounds and is given the title of “Lion”, and if he wins two years in row, he is called “Giant”. If a wrestler become a third-time champion at the Naadam, the attribute “Nation-wide” is added to his title, and the fourth time, he is styled “Invincible”.
The winners of the tournament receive honorary titles and are also awarded various souvenirs. But for them, the main award is the truly nation-wide popularity and fame that they gain.

Horse-racing
This sport is also centuries old, dating back to the Bronze Age. The horses for the Naadam races are selected a month before the big day. They are then taken to an abequate pasture separate from the herd and trained. Race-horses are divided into several age groups: two, three, four anf five years old; over five years or adult horses; and stallions. The riders are aged from 5 to 12. Mongolian children of these ages are good riders, as both boys and girls have been riding since infancy. As the popular saying goes, “The nomad is born in the saddle”.
Small saddles are made especially for children, but they usually prefer to ride without them. They are not only super riders, but also skillful tacticians. They know how to hold the horse back so it has enough strength to last the entire distance of the race. Competitions are not held on special racetracks, but right across the steppe, where riders are confronted with various abstacles such as rivers, ravines and hills. The distance varies according to the ages of the horses. Between 15 and 35 km. The riders are dressed in bright, colorful and comfortable cloths. On theirbacks are various symbolic pictures. Symbolic ornaments and designs also embellish the horse-cloth. The most exciting moments are the start and the finish. Before the beginning of the contest the young horseman ride round the starting point three times yelling the ancient call, “Giingi!”, a kind of war-cry. When all the horses step behind the boundary line, the starting command is given and the riders surge forward, setting in motion the long-awaited race.
The winning riders do a full circuit of the stadium, each accopanied by a herald. The winning horse receives the honorary title “forehead of Ten Thousand Race Horses” and the five runners-up are awarded with prizes. They are popularly called the “Airag Five”. In accordance with tradition, the riders on the winning horses do three laps of honor, then ride up to the grandstand, and each child is offered a large bowl of airag-fermented mare’s milk-from wich he drinks and then pours some on the rump of his horse. The herald in turn, chants in poem-form the virtues of the horse its rider and owner.
But there is also an interesting tradition in connection with the losers. Honor and praise of the winners of the race is to be expected; but the losers are also rewarded and honored. After the award ceremony for the victors, the racer who came in last is led up to the main stand with his young rider. But the spectators do not make fun of him. Instead they shout encouragement and try to give him confidence in himself. The national story-teller recites a special ode to the loser. The ode encourage him with words expressing faith in his future success.

Archery
Ample information about archery can be found in leterary and historical documents of the 13th century and even before. It is an ancient sport of the Mongols which can be traced back to as early as 300-200 BC. According to historians, archery contests began in the 11th century.
The Mongols use a compound bow, built up of layers of horn, sinew, bark and wood. When unstrung it is not straight, but curved. Archery in more archaic and ritualistic than other sports and posture.
The target consists of a row several meters across, of small woven leather rings, some painted red, which are laid out laterally on the ground, the openings face upwards, providing challenging exercise in trajectory for the archers. In olden times, women did not participate in the contest, but in the last few decades they have started to do so. The distance is about 75 m for men and 60 m for women. Men shoot about 40 arrows and must score not less than 15 points and women shoot 20 arrows and must score at least 13 point using the same bow as the men.
When the arrow hits the target, a group of people standing near the target, acting as judges, raise the cry “Uukhai!” and make signs with their hands to indicate the result. The one who score the most points is the winner and the title of Mergen (Supermarksman) is bestowed on him or her.

Traditional Wedding
Wedding ceremonies vary according to ethnic group the bride and the groom belong. But all wedding have to make palce on an auspicious d ay, a advised by a local lama. This is done in consultation with the traditional lunar calendar. Before the wedding date is negotiated relatives of the groom arrive at the brides home (or ger) with a mass of presents. Historically the main presents were livestock and in the countryside these traditions have continued. The number of livestock given depends on the wealth of the groom’s family, but an odd number of animals have to be presented to the bride’s relatives (e.g. 7, 9 or11). The bride’s father is given special presents (including a pot of glue) symbolizing the strength of the future relationship between his daughter and her new husband. If the bride’s parents accept all these gifts, they are also agreeing to the wedding. Both sides then discuss the date of the ceremony and consider the couple now formally engaged.
In the countryside a groom-to-be prepares his new ger with the assistance of his parents. The future bride’s responsibilities are buying cooking pots and cleaning materials, preparing the stove in the new ger the layer of felt on the ger ceiling. Tasks are clearly defined. The man alsways takes care of the walls and wooden furniture. On the day of the wedding ceremony the groom visits the bridal family with an elderly, respected member of the local community. When the two men arrive at the in-laws door, they will find it locked and have to persuade the family to open the door by uttering wise, appreasing words. Once they have charmed their way in they are provided with Mongolian arkhi and meat, at they approach the new bride. Phrases such as “the deer hunter (husband) is ours and the sable sewer (wife) is yours. We hold both their fates our hands and tsese fates have to be marged” are spoken.
The bride, dressed in her most elegant deel, follows the groom and his companion to her new home, followed by her own closest friends. The party arrive on horse back and a carpet is rolled from the ger entance to welcome them. The bride traditionally enters her new ger by noon and a huge meal starts, with the first toast being offered to the father of the groom. For the rest of the day the two families, their relatives and friends sing, eat and drink to celebrate the wedding, all sit around a large ceremonial table.
The next morning the new bride has to open the smoke holes of her own ger and the ger belonging to her new parents in-law. Three days later her pwn parents visit the new couple.

Traditional music and dancing

2011-01-01T10:49:00.000-08:00

Laments about the open stppe, natures and horses are popular themes of traditional Mongolian music. Long songs, as the name suggests, last quite a while and are loved by Mongolians. The original long songs were written about eight hundred years ago and there are special songs written for weddings, festival and religious ceremonies.
There are traditional Mongolian string and wind instruments, as well as drums and gongs, Mongolians have made their music through the ages using metal, stone, bamboo, leather and wood. The most popular musical instruments is Morin Khuur (horse fiddle) which is said to represent the movement and sounds of a horse. It is a square fiddle with a long, straight handle curving at the tip and topped with a carving of a horse’s head. Every Mongolian family strives to have a morin khuur in their ger, although thery are hand make and fairly expensive instruments. Small flutes and pipes are also popular.
Many musical instruments are used purely for religious ceremonies. A shell shaped bugle called dun is used to gather lamas before ceremony and ganlin horns are still used to dispel bad spirits. The ganlin is made from the femur of an eighteen-year-old female virgin (who died of natural causes) and is filled down to size. Example of this instruments can be ofund in Choijin Lama museum in Ulaanbaatar (see the city guide section) and in Manzushir monastery 5 km-s south of the capital.
Mongolia’s Buddhist temples host the spectacular Tsam dances during special religious ceremonies. Lamas wearing huge, ornate masks and brilliantly decorated costume sway and circle to the sound of gongs and trumpets. It is threatrical art by those bearing the external appearance and characters of different apostles and devils, animals and real people. The scenery opening, inaction, musical climax and outcome of tsam dance reflect the character of the participicants in different ways: cruel, calm or humorous.

Culture and traditions

2011-01-01T10:38:00.000-08:00

Mongolian Clothing
In Mongolia, young people favor western style clothes, many people wear cashmere and fur during the winter. But older Mongolians still wear the traditional deel (pronounced as del) in and outside of work. In the countryside most people also prefer the deel and gutuls (boots). They’re just more practical.

Deel
The deel is a calf length, loose tunic made of one piece of material. It has long sleeves, a high collar and buttons on the right shoulder. The buttons are either silver balls, or narrow strips of cloth tied into intricate knots. Deel is worn with a brightly colored sash. Deels have the same cut whether worn by men or women. Male deels are wider and made of more somber colors. Each ethnic group living in Mongolia has its own individual deel, distinguished by its cut, color and trimming. These distinctions go unnoticed by foreigners, but are obvious to Mongolians.
There are three different types of deel, each worn during a particular season. The dan deel is made of light, thin, brightly colored material and is only worn by women and only during the late spring and summer. The terleg is a slightly more padded version and is worn by both men and women. The winter deel is a serious, padded tunie, lined with shepskin or layers of raw cotton.

Shoots
Gutuls are knee high, unheeled boots made from thick, stiff leather, decorated with leather applique. The toes of gutuls are upturned and several explanations have been offered for this unconventional style. One of the most plausible explanations is the religious motive. Lamas were traditionally forbidden from disturbing “the earth’s blessed sleep” i.e. kicking soil as they walked. The gutuls were designed to prevent them from harming the earth as they moved around on foot. Another explanation is that the unturned tip prevents a rider’s feet from slipping out of the stirrups. However, it’s also true that gutuls are so thick and rigid that if they were flat they would be almost impossible to walk in. These hefty boots are still worm in Ulaanbaatar and are particularly in the countryside.

Hats
With regards to hats, the fur-trimmed hats, mostly made of sable, are popular in urban Mongolia. The essential piece of headgear has two flaps, which can either be tied to the top of the hat, or lowered to cover the weare’s ears. Both men and women wear this fur hat.

Ger-Nomads’ Dwelling
A round wooden-framed felt tent covered in durable while canvas seems to be the most simple describtion on this portable home, familiar to many from the Russian word “yurt”. The modern shape of the Mongolianger has been formed as the result of the long development through huts, marquees and wheeled abodes.
During ancient tiems, people made shelters from dry branches and animal skins. This could have been the forst version of current Mongolian ger. The history of the ger goes back to 2500-3000 years BC. In medieval era large gers that belong to kings and nomadic chieftains were on special wheeled floors and were dragged by a number of oxen (22 was usual).
The Mongolian ger has two key components: the wooden frame work and the felt cover. The wooden wall shell is called “khana”, the upper wooden poles (measuring 1.5-3 meters) are “uni”, the central supporting two columns are known as “bagana” and the uppermost smoke hole is “toono”. A ger 4-12 khanas, depending on its size. The number of uni or upper poles ranges between 45 and 120 depending on the number of khanas. Any ger has a toono, the smoke hole and bagans, 2 columns supporting the toono.
These are several felt layers, covering the wooden frame and outer white canvas which is designed to make the ger look prettier and protect the felt covers from rain and snow.
Mongolian nomads, who move several times each year, pack their gers onto the back camels or camel and ox carts. The weight of a ger is approximately 250 kgs. It only takes half an hour to collapse an average ger and a bit longer to rebuild it.
Assembling of a ger is done in the following order.

The collapsible wooden floor is laid.
The khanas and the door are erected in circle and tied together with a long rope.
Baganas, the two wooden columns are tied to the toono and erected in the center the circle.
the toono and upper edges of the khanas are connected with unis, the long thin poles.
Once the wooden frame work has been erected directly on the ground or wooden floor, it is overlaid with the cover, as well as, the outer while canvas.
Then the felt and canvas covers are fastened with 2-3 girdles that keep them tight.
The outer bottom edges of the flaps are covered with a long thin felt belt so that strong wind flow doesn’t go into the ger.
The uppermost smoke hole is partly covered with rectangle felt, cover, which is used to totally cover the hole during the nights and harsh climate.
The door is always on the southern side facing the sunrise, providing more light inside the home. This is also designed not to let the northern wind into the ger through its door. However, Mongolians build their gers with the doors facing the door to the south, as it has become a long-rooted tradition, whether the wind is usually from the north or south.
There is appropriate rules on placing the furniture in the ger. The central area with stove, which is called “golomt” in Mongolian is the most respected part of a ger. The ger is divided into two areas. The western half is male section, while the eastern section is regarded to be female section. Male belonging including the family host’s bed is palced in western section. His saddles, bridles and other horse harness are also kept in this side. Women occupy the eastern side, where they keep their kitchen utensils, their own and their children’s belongings. It is customary for a guest entering a ger to step to the western side. The hoimor, which is directly opposite the door, is where the valuable objects are stored or displayed.
The ger furniture is well-known for its bright colored patterns drawn on red and yellowish backround. All the furnishings including beds, wardrobe, cupboard and even the cooking utensils bear such vivid multi-colored decorations.
While modern, western style houses are being built in Ulaanbaatar and other cities, rural Mongolians have retained their traditional ligestyle, of which the ger is an inteegral part. As a visitor, you have a chance to stay in this unique dwelling at one of the ger camps in the countryside or experience living way of Mongolian nomads by visiting their homes.

Economy

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Mongolia has abundant pasture land and the potential for mineral and hudrocarbon exploitation. About 80% of Mongolia is suitable for extensive animal husbandry, and traditional herds include cattle, horses, camels, goats and sheep. Intensive crop cultivation is limited by the short growing season and sharp daily fluctuations in temperature.
The country is rich in mineral resources including coal, iron, tin, copper, gold, silver, tungsten, zinc, fluor spar and molybdenum, as well as semiprecious stones. Thermal power, produced from indigenous coal and imported diesel oil, and traditional sources of fuel are supplemented by electricity imports from the Soviet grid. Recently one of the largest reserves of copper and gold was found in Oyutolgoi, South Gobi province, Both domestic foreign direct investments have flown into mining sector of Mongolia due to its rich natural resources.
In 1990, the Government of Mongolia decided to abandon central planning with the intention to move to a marked-led system. The new economic structure was to be achieved through privatization of state assets, tight monetary and fiscal policy and liberalization of prices and tariffs. With the establishment of the Mongolian Stock Exchange in 1991, the process of privatization and the establishment of a secondary stock market started. Almost 100% of training, catering and service entities and animal husbandry has been privatized. Housing privatization started in 1997. Land privatization started in 2001 onlyt in urban areas, but the process is still quite sluggish.
Other flourishing economic areas include banking sector, service and tourism.

Religion

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Mongolia’s religious roots are bound up in Shamanism. However this religious phenomena doesn’t match the conventional description of a religion in the same way as Buddhism or Christianity. Shamanism has no founder from whom its teachings originate. There is no collection of sacred sutras or a bible, as it doesn’t possess any monastic communities to preach or distribute its doctrines. The origins of Shamanism are still unclear, but historians are certain it emerged at the same time as the first human artistic concepts of fetishism, tokenism and animism to name just a few.
Shamanism was the major religion during both the ancient Mongol states and the Mongol Empire until Tibetan Buddhism (also called Vajrayana Buddhism) gained more popularity after it was introduced in 13th century. Tibetan Buddhism shared the common Buddhist goals of individual release from suffering and reincarnation. Tibet’s Dalai Lama, who lives in India, is the religion’s spiritual leader, and is highly respected in Mongolia.

Shamanism has continued to be practiced by a few of the ethnic groups living in northern and western Mongolia, including the Tsaatan, who are more commonly known as the reindeer people. Mongolians practice ritualistic magic, nature worship, exorcism, meditation, and natural healing as part of their shamanistic heritage.

Buddhism was introduced to Mongolia from Tibet by Kublai Khan during the late 13th century. Kublai Khan invited an eminent Tibetan lama, Pagba, to be empire’s religious representative. From the late 14th century onwards hudreds of Buddhist temples were rapidly built across Mongolia. Thousands of Mongolian males vowed to live as lamas at one point almost one seventh of the male population has taken robes. Until the beginning of the twentieth century Buddhism developed and spread across the country, playing an important role on both religions and intellectual spheres of life.

The 1921 People’s Revolution swiftly installed a socialist regime, which officially prohibited any religious practice. During the 1930’s political purges under resulted in the destruction of more than 700 temples and the death of around 10.000 lamas. It wasn’t until the early 1990’s that, as part of the rise of democracy, Buddhism was revived as Mongolia’s major religion.

Mongolia’s largest monastery- Gandan-is in Ulaanbaatar. In October 1996, Gandan hosted a massive opening ceremony for its newly installed 25 meter high, 60 ton Megjid Janraisag statue, which is the symbol of the revival of Buddhism in Mongolia. The statue’s name translates as “the all seeing Lord”.
Meanwhile Mongolia’s Kazakhs are Muslims. Islam is mainly practiced in Bayan Olgii, the most westerly province in Mongolia.
Since the mid nineties large number of Christians, Bahais and Mormons have arrived in Mongolia seeking to convent Mongolians from Buddhism to their various faiths. There has recently been concern about missionaries working mainly as English teachers and seeking to convent in and outside of classrooms.

Language

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The official language, Mongolian, is spoken and undrestood throughout the country. Russian is the other major language used. However , other foreign languages, primarily English, are becoming more popular.
With regard to dialects, the twenty plus different ethnic groups who historically lived within their own territories each developed their own local dialects. The dialect spoken by Halha, Mongolia’s largest ethnic group, is the most widely known. The eastern Mongolian dialects include those spoken by ethnic groups who previously inhabited Inner Mongolia and now live on the far eastern steppe, in Drnod province. Northern dialects are spoken by Buriyat people, who still live in northern Mongolian and the Buriyat republic in southern Siberia. Western dialects include those spoken by the ethnic groups belonging to the Oirad. These groups live in western Mongolia and inhabit Altai mountain range.

Alphabet
Mongolian is written in Cyrillic, but the traditional Mongolian script, which is written from the top downwards and sometimes known as the classical Mongolian script is gradually reappearing, mainly in sings and logos. The oldest example of this script has been preserved is the so-called Chinggis stone, which is still in display at St. Petersburg’s Hermitage Museum. The script was engraved as early as 1225 and is a eulogy of the fearless archer Esughe, who shot a sigle arrow 600 meters. The classic Mongolian script (also known as old Mongolian alphabet) was a landmark in the in the development of written language in central Asia.

In 1941 the classical script was replaced by the new alphabet based on Russian Cyrillic characters and introduced to Mongolia as the official script of the country. There is no major difference between the spelling and the pronunciation of this script. The modern Mongolian alphabet consists of 35 characters. Below are each of the characters and a basic language guide, including greetings, simple questions and numbers.