10 Reasons to Visit Mongolia
Updated: May 28, 2020
- Karishma Revankar
When was the last time you traveled to place less heard of or less explored? A place not much crowded by tourists, not spoiled by over-construction or someplace with undiluted beauty? An authentic experience is hard to find in a world nowadays, where no place seems undiscovered - We bring you Mongolia.
DRAMATIC LANDSCAPES
Mongolia is renowned for its unforgiving yet stunningly beautiful landscapes. With dramatic mountains, vast grassy steppes and a startling silence in the open air, you can understand why Mongolians call their homeland “the land of clear blue sky”. In the evening, as the sun bows down to the moon, the night sky reveals an incredible display of stars that seem close enough to touch!
THE LAST NOMADIC FRONTIER
Mongolia is home to one of the world’s last surviving nomads, and these nomads still live in the traditional tents known as Gers or yurts. Travellers are given opportunity to stay in ger camps (either with Nomads or in a much luxurious Ger Resorts – the choice is yours) and experience first-hand the traditional Mongol daily life.
ULAANBAATAR: THE COLDEST CAPITAL ON EARTH
If Mongolia’s yin is its pristine countryside, then Ulan Bator harmonises as its vibrant yang. It's the coldest capital in the world (with temperatures plummeting to -40C) but come summer the city bursts into life after slumbering through a long winter. Ulaanbaatar serves as a getaway into this beautiful country and has several options in terms of accommodation with guesthouses as well as luxury 5* hotels. The city has an eclectic mix of nomadic culture and crazy urban flavours, showcased through its ancient monasteries and glitzy nightlife.
TIME TRAVEL TO SEE SOME DINOSAURS
We only hear about these now extinct creatures in documentaries, but have you ever imagined hunting for Dino-fossils like Indiana Jones? Mongolia is probably the only place in the world where this may be possible. A pretty good idea for your next family vacation, isn’t it?
THE GOBI DESERT
No wonder it’s one of Mongolia’s top draw regions, promising colossal singing sand dunes, ice – filled canyons, dinosaur fossils, camel treks and hospitable nomadic herders. Choose your path and follow deeper into the mystery.
EAGLE HUNTERS
So your favorite pet animal is dog, cat, hamster or turtle? Some Mongolians would rather have an Eagle as a pet and not just for show but to hunt! Selecting chicks straight from the nest, the western Mongolians known locally as Berkutchi, train the majestic Golden Eagle to hunt prey as large as wolves. Visit the far western Altai Mountains to witness the incredible Kazakh Eagle Festival.
ONE OF THE WORLD'S OLDEST FESTIVALS: NAADAM
The best way to experience the country’s history and culture is to visit Mongolia during the annual Naadam festival - is a traditional festival and one of the biggest events in the Mongolian calendar. The three-day event officially celebrates the Mongolian Revolution and independence. Each Naadam festival starts with an opening ceremony that features horse riders, Mongolian wrestlers, archers, athletes, musicians, monks, and dancers.
LAKE KHOVSGOL
Khovsgol Lake is known as the Blue Pearl of Mongolia, Khövsgöl Nuur is an extraordinary lake that stretches 136 km deep into the Siberian taiga. Geologically speaking, Khövsgöl is the younger sibling (by 23 million years) of Siberia's Lake Baikal. The national park that surrounds the lake is home to argali sheep, ibex, bears, sables, moose and a few wolverines, plus some 200 species of birds.
THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED
Mongolia, relatively untouched by modern life has very limited network of paved roads. So this is the place to fulfill your old desire of going off-road and embarking on a long drive through hinterlands and a landscape that changes after every mile.
THE CHINGGIS KHAN
The Great Chinggis Khan was the first man to conquer and create a unified empire in history. While rest of the world remembers him as a barbarian, he is highly revered in Mongolia as the founding father of the country. Learn more about the better side of this man in his beloved country.