Central Mongolia

Central Mongolia is a region in Mongolia that contains the capital of modern Mongolia, the ruins of capital of the Mongol Empire, and the Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape.

Cities

• 1 Ulaanbaatar — the nation's capital and center of everything.
• 2 Arvayheer — the capital of Övörhangai province
• 3 Baganuur — a mining town surrounded by amazing open valleys and forest areas
• 4 Karakorum — near the modern city of Harhorin are the ruins of capital city of the Mongol Empire, built by Genghis Khan's son, Ogedei.
• 5 Tsetserleg — the capital of Arkhangai province.
• 6 Zuunmod — the capital of Tuv province

Other destinations

Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape

Orkhon Valley

The Orkhon Valley, west of Ulaanbaatar, along the Orkhon River in the Övörkhangai and Arkhangai Provinces, was the center of the Mongol Empire, the center of the Uighur Empire, and the birthplace of Mongolian Buddhism. Today, the cultural heritage of the valley constitutes a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• 1 Khustain Nuruu National Park — a beautiful nature preservetgat is home to the Takhi (Przewalski's) Horse
• 2 Elsen Tasarkhai — the most unique desert dunes and green grassland combined zone in central west Mongolia

Other destinations

• 3 Hujirt — or Khujirt, is a hot spring 50 km south of Karakorum, with a hotel and sanatorium. Bus service from Ulaanbaatar or Avraiheer.
• 4 Gorkhi-Terelj National Park — a popular weekend getaway just east of Ulaanbaatar.
• 5 Gun-Galuut Nature Reserve — high mountains, steppes, rivers, lakes and wetlands are well-kept in its original condition
• 6 Jargalant Soum — known for its stunning natural landscapes and rich cultural heritage
• 7 Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur — Great White Lake
• 8 Great Burkhan Khaldun Mountain and its surrounding sacred landscape — This is where Gengis Khan is believed to have been born and died, and the most sacred mountain in Mongolia. Located northeast of the capital near the border to Russia, the area has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Get in

Central Mongolia and specifically Ulaanbaatar (UB) is the first place that most visitors see upon entering Mongolia, so see 'Get into' Mongolia section to see all you need to know about flying or taking the train to Ulaanbaatar. If you entered through another part of Mongolia or plan to get off the train before reaching UB, getting here is very simple. All domestic travel (by plane, train, bus, van, etc) is usually headed to or from UB. In fact it can be more difficult to find transport 100 km to a neighboring provincial capital than 1,500 km to UB.

Get around

A road near Karakorum, the capital of Ghengis Khan's empire.

There are no domestic flights from Ulaanbaatar to anywhere within the central region, even though some places can take several hours to reach by bus or car. Luckily, most of the larger towns and cities in this region are connected by paved roads and have daily or even hourly bus service from either the Dragon Center Bus Station (serving western and northern parts of Mongolia) or the Bayanzurkh Bus Station (serving eastern and some southern parts of Mongolia). The stations are both located on Peace Avenue on either side of the city. Look on the specific city's page for exact travel times and bus stations. Many smaller towns in the central region are also served by the Trans-Mongolian Railway.

See

Near Karakorum (Harhorin), you will find Khar Bulgas, the ruins of the capital of the Uighur Khaganate (744-840 CE), called Ordu-Baliq in the Uighur language.

There are monasteries two near Karakorum. Erdene Zuu Monastery was the first Buddhist monastery in Mongolia, built on the ruins of Karakorum. It is 2 km north-east from the center of Harhorin town. Tuvkhun Monastery has two original temples and two stupas from the 17th century that still stand, along with additional temples built in the 18th century, at this monastery that was refounded in 1992.

Itineraries

• Blue lake trekking route 8 days, 7 nights. Trek to the beautiful Khukh Nuur (Blue Lake) in Arkhangai Province, located at the top of the Arkhangai Mountains. This is a challenging route and you will be trekking up to 20 km a day yet amazingly picturesque, as Arkhangai is known to Mongolians as the “Horse Breeders Paradise” for its beauty.

Go next

Arkhangai Province

Övörkhangai Province

Töv Province