ABOUT ULAAN TSUTGALAN AND ORKHON WATERFALL<hr>Chinghis khan’s choice of Karakorum as the capital of the Mongol Empire was no coincidence. The surrounding Orkhon Valley was the center of preceding nomadic empires for centuries and had enormous symbolic importance. The valley had attracted humankind since Paleolithic times some 750,000 years ago. Therefore Orkhon valley is one of the world’s most important cultural regions and recognized as a “Cultural Landscape” of the UNESCO World Heritage in 2004. The Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape is the place to visit for anyone who wishing to follow the historical path of the Mongol Empire. Orkhon valley is boasts its’ natural beauties, making it one of the favourite places among tourists.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:100%;"><img src="https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/kerege-travel.appspot.com/o/ckeditor%2Forkhon_valley.jpg?alt=media&amp;token=2ed2326e-19ec-4311-8b05-339932100aa4"></figure>You will witness unique lifestyle, culture and rare historical memorials. Beauty of Orkhon Valley, Orkhon waterfall formed by combination volcanic eruption and earthquakes some 20000 years ago cascades down from a height 27 meters. The Orkhon, longest river in Mongolia, begins at the state worshipped mountain Suvraga Khairkhan in the Khangai mountain range. The drainage basin of the river is 132835sq.km. The river is 10-60 m wide to begin with but it becomes 120-150 m around the end and the speed of the river flow decreases. The area is ideal for fishing, horse riding, cycling and photography. The rivers have handful species of river fish such as pike, sturgeon, hucho taimen, common asp, Siberian grayling, roach etc. Scenic and untouched natural distinct spot allow good opportunities for hiking and horseback riding. There are many rocks and boulders around the river as well as some waterfalls like a small waterfall with 4-5 m height and the Orkhon (Ulaan tsutgalan ) waterfall biggest in Mongolia at a height of 26 m. The Orkhon river Valley has been protected since 2006 as a National Park.

Chinghis khan’s choice of Karakorum as the capital of the Mongol Empire was no coincidence. The surrounding Orkhon Valley was the center of preceding nomadic empires for centuries and had enormous symbolic importance.

ORKHON WATERFALL

ABOUT ERDENE ZUU MONASTERY<hr>In 1580, The Prince Avtai sain Khan and his brother Tumenkhan met with the 3rd Dalai Lama and planned to establish a monastery on the ruins of Karkhorum, and the Tibetan Buddhism was declared religion of state in Mongolia. At its prime time, Erdene Zuu monastery used to be not only the center of Buddhism of Mongolia but also was a centre of intelligence and culture, where sages and academics from different countries used to gather. During the political purge, only three temples and the outer wall with the stupas remained intact. The temples were transformed in museums in 1947. After the fall of communism in 1990, the monastery became a place of worship again, where many pilgrims come to walk and gather their thoughts. Today Erdenezuu Monastery is famous for its ancient temple architecture, unique museum with rare exhibits. It’s certainly the first and oldest Buddhist monastery of Mongolia. Erdene Zuu Khiid is considered by many to be the most important monastery in the country, though no doubt it’s a shadow of what it once was. Not much is left of the fabled city But monastery is still ancient. The local souvenir shopping across from the parking would be interesting and enjoyable.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:100%;"><img src="https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/kerege-travel.appspot.com/o/ckeditor%2Fkharkhorin_karakorum.jpg?alt=media&amp;token=d08bc2d0-5e9e-4b90-9bf6-61d2b0134c68"></figure>HISTORY<hr>Abtai Sain Khan, ruler of the Khalkha Mongols and grandfather of Zanabazar, the first Jebtsundamba Khutuktu, ordered construction of the Erdene Zuu monastery in 1585 after his meeting with the 3rd Dalai Lama and the declaration of Tibetan Buddhism as the state religion of Mongolia. Stones from the nearby ruins of the ancient Mongol capital of Karakorum were used in its construction. Planners attempted to create a surrounding wall that resembled a Tibetan Buddhist rosary featuring 108 stupas (108 being a sacred number in Buddhism), but this objective was probably never achieved. The monastery’s temple walls were painted, and the Chinese-style roof covered with green tiles. The monastery was damaged in 1688 during one of the many wars between Dzungars and Khalkha Mongols. Locals dismantled the wooden fortifications of the abandoned monastery. It was rebuilt in the 18th century and by 1872 had a full 62 temples and housed up to 1000 monks. According to tradition, in 1745 a local Buddhist disciple named Bunia made several unsuccessful attempts to fly with a device he invented similar to parachute. In 1939 the Communist leader Khorloogiin Choibalsan ordered the monastery destroyed, as part of a purge that obliterated hundreds of monasteries in Mongolia and killed over ten thousand monks. Three small temples and the external wall with the stupas survived the initial onslaught and by 1944 Joseph Stalin pressured Choibalsan to maintain the monastery along with Gandantegchinlen Monastery in Ulaanbaatar as a showpiece for international visitors, such as U.S. Vice President Henry Wallace, to prove that the communist regime allowed freedom of religion. In 1947 the temples were converted into museums and for the four decades that followed Gandantegchinlen Khiid Monastery became Mongolia’s only functioning monastery. After the fall of Communism in Mongolia in 1990, the monastery was turned over to the lamas and Erdene Zuu again became a place of worship. Today Erdene Zuu remains an active Buddhist monastery as well as a museum that is open to tourists. On a hill outside the monastery sits a stone phallus called Kharkhorin Rock. The phallus is said to restrain the sexual impulses of the monks and ensure their good behavior.

In 1580, The Prince Avtai sain Khan and his brother Tumenkhan met with the 3rd Dalai Lama and planned to establish a monastery on the ruins of Karkhorum, and the Tibetan Buddhism was declared religion of state in Mongolia.

ERDENE ZUU MONASTERY

ABOUT TAIKHAR CHULUU OR TAIKHAR ROCK<hr>Taikhar Chuluu (Taikhar Rock) is one of the tourist attractions when travelling to Arkhangai province. This big 20-metres (66 feet) high rock stands on a bank of Khoid Tamir River in Ikhtamir Soum. It’s covered with 150 writings in many different languages and dating back from many different periods (runic, Sogd, Uyghur, Mongolian, Nangiad, Tibetan writings). The oldest one is the runic writing, related to Turkish period of the 6th and 7th centuries. An ovoo was placed at its top. Unfortunately, there are many graffiti on this rock and the old writings almost disappeared. This cliff was formed by separating from the river bank due to millions of years’ continual flow of Khoid Tamir River through granite cape on its northern bank.The government issued a law to protect the rock in 1994. graffiti.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:100%;"><img src="https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/kerege-travel.appspot.com/o/ckeditor%2Ftaikhar_chuluu_arkhangai.jpg?alt=media&amp;token=bff64e4f-9fcb-4f7a-b520-622f6a6b86a0"></figure>LEGEND<hr>A 20m high, big granite Taikhar rock has an interesting story. Once upon a time, a giant snake came out of a hole and started swallowing local people and animals. Local people asked for a help from a strong brave man named Bukhbilegt (Strong and wise. Then he fought with the giant snake and pushed it to the hole and put the big rock on its head. The giant snake tried to come out under the hole so that Bukhbilegt put his favourite arrow and bow on the big rock, Taikhar. Then, the giant snake couldn’t move. Local people say that if you see the Taikhar rock from higher place, you will see arrow and bow. Over 150 inscriptions in various scripts including Tibetan, Turkic, Mongolian and Chinese were carved on the Taikhar rock, but most of them seem to have barely appeared as time passes.

Taikhar Chuluu (Taikhar Rock) is one of the tourist attractions when travelling to Arkhangai province. This big 20-metres (66 feet) high rock stands on a bank of Khoid Tamir River in Ikhtamir Soum.

TAIKHAR CHULUU OR TAIKHAR ROCK

ABOUT KHUSHUU TSAIDAM MONUMENTS<hr>Khushuu Tsaidam Monuments to Bilge Khaan and Kul-Tegin, dated 732 AD, were found 47 km to the northwest of Karakorum, part of the Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape UNESCO world heritage site. This collection of historical heritage includes stone monuments with runic inscriptions, stone turtles, human statues and other relics. Both monuments were dedicated to Turkish khans who ruled Mongolia between the 6th and 8th centuries. There is a research center and museum founded jointly by Mongolian and Turkish Friendship Societies.&nbsp;CONTENT OF THE INSCRIPTIONS<hr><figure class="image image-style-side"><img src="https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/kerege-travel.appspot.com/o/ckeditor%2Fhushuu_tsaidam.jpg?alt=media&amp;token=c1becc58-0678-4bee-87bf-91862b00f82d"></figure>A full English translation of the inscriptions may be found in The Orkhon Inscriptions: Being a Translation of Professor Vilhelm Thomsen’s Final Danish Rendering. The two monuments themselves have engravings on all four sides. However, some of the script was not preserved, or is missing, and therefore only portions of the original message remain. What follows is a summary of the most complete section of the inscriptions. One translation of the first and second monuments seems to indicate that the text continues from one side to the other. The first portion of the Turkic translations seems to be Bilge Khagan discussing the commemoration of the tablet, as well as mentioning the extent of the empire. One passage reads, “Because of want of harmony between the begs and the people, and because of the Chinese people’s cunning and craft and its intrigues, and because the younger and the elder brothers chose to take counsel against one another and bring discord between begs and people, they brought the old realm of the Turkic people to dissolution, and brought destruction on its lawful kagans. The sons of the nobles became the bondsmen of the Chinese people, their unsullied daughters became its slaves. The Turkic begs gave up their Turkic names, and bearing the Chinese names of Chinese begs they obeyed the Chinese Emperor, and served him during fifty years. For him they waged war in the East towards the sun’s rising, as far as Bokli kagan, in the West they made expeditions as far as Taimirkapig; for the Chinese Emperor they conquered kingdoms and power. The whole of the common Turkic people said thus: ‘I have been a nation that had its own kingdom; where is now my kingdom? For whom do I win the kingdoms? said they. I have been a people that had its own kagan; where is my kagan? Which kagan is it I serve?'” Continuing on, the inscriptions discuss the conquests of the Bilge Khagan and the struggles that he and his people face with the Chinese. The inscriptions even describe the Turks being enslaved by the Chinese. However, the inscriptions also highlight Bilge Khagan’s accomplishment of uniting his people. As one passage reads,The rest of the inscriptions are broken up and sporadic, but seem to detail the conquests against the Kirghiz and the Tangut peoples and also the death of Kul-Tegin in battle, and eventually the succession of Bilge Khagan by his son.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:100%;"><img src="https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/kerege-travel.appspot.com/o/ckeditor%2Fhushuu_tsaidam_museum.jpg?alt=media&amp;token=ade56e25-3ff6-4173-83da-989991b22a2d"></figure>GOOD TO KNOW<hr>ORKHON INSCRIPTIONSThe Orkhon inscriptions also known as Orhon Inscriptions, Orhun Inscriptions, Khöshöö Tsaidam monuments (also spelled Khoshoo Tsaidam, Koshu-Tsaidam or Höshöö caidam), or Kul Tigin steles (simplified Chinese: 阙特勤碑; traditional Chinese: 闕特勤碑), are two memorial installations erected by the Göktürks written in Old Turkic alphabet in the early 8th century in the Orkhon Valley in Mongolia. They were erected in honor of two Turkic princes, Kul Tigin and his brother Bilge Khagan.The inscriptions, in both Chinese and Old Turkic, relate the legendary origins of the Turks, the golden age of their history, their subjugation by the Chinese, and their liberation by Ilterish Qaghan. In fact, according to one source, the inscriptions contain “rhythmic and parallelistic passages” that resemble that of epics.&nbsp;DISCOVERY AND TRANSLATIONThe inscriptions were discovered by Nikolay Yadrintsev’s expedition in 1889, published by Vasily Radlov. The original text was written in the Old Turkic alphabet and was deciphered by the Danish philologist Vilhelm Thomsen in 1893. Vilhelm Thomsen first published the translation in French in 1899. He then published another interpretation in Danish in 1922 with a more complete translation.&nbsp;REGIONOrkhon Valley is a region on the western Orkhon River in Mongolia, near Ögii Lake. More specifically, they stand about fifty miles north of the Erdene Zuu Monastery, and approximately twenty-five miles northwest of the Ordu-Baliq.&nbsp;IMPORTANCEBefore the Orkhon Inscriptions were deciphered by Vilhelm Thomsen, very little was known about Turkic script. The scripts are the oldest form of a Turkic language to be preserved. When the Orkhon inscriptions were first discovered, it was obvious that they were a runic type of script that had been discovered at other sites, but these versions also had a clear form, similar to an alphabet. When Vilhelm Thomsen deciphered the translation it was a huge stepping stone in understanding old Turkic script. The inscriptions provided much of the foundation for translating other Turkic writings.The scripts follow an alphabetical form, but also appear to have strong influences of rune carvings. The inscriptions are a great example of early signs of nomadic society’s transitions from use of runes to a uniform alphabet, and the Orkhon alphabet is thought to have been derived from or inspired by a non-cursive version of the Sogdian script.&nbsp;RESTORATIONBoth inscriptions are part of the Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape UNESCO world heritage site in Mongolia. TIKA (Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency) showed interest in the site in the late 20th century and finalized their project to restore and protect all three inscriptions. Since 2000, over 70 archeologists from around the world (specifically from Uighur, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Tataristan and Turkey) have studied the area and performed excavations. The site is now protected by fences with buildings for research work and storage of artifacts. The total cost of the project is around 20 million dollars and eventually will include the building of a museum to house the inscriptions and other recently discovered artifacts.&nbsp;HISTORICAL CONTEXTThey were erected by the Göktürks in the early 8th century. They commemorate the brothers Bilge Khagan (683-734) and Kul-Tegin (684-731), one a politician and the other a military commander. Both were descendants of Ilterish Qaghan of the Second Turkic Khaganate, which was a prominent Turkic nomadic society during the Tang dynasty.The Göktürks have left artifacts and installations all over their domain, from China to Iran. But only in Mongolia have any memorials to kings and other aristocrats been found. The ones in Khöshöö Tsaidam consist of tablets with inscriptions in Chinese and Old Turkic characters. Both monuments are stone slabs originally erected on carved stone turtles within walled enclosures. Bilge Khagan’s stone shows a carved ibex (the emblem of Göktürk Kagans) and a twisted dragon. In both enclosings, evidence of altars and carved depictions of human couples were found, possibly depicting the respective honorary and his spouse.The Old Turkic inscriptions on these monuments were written by Yollug Tigin who was nephew of Bilge Khagan. These inscriptions together with the Tonyukuk inscription, are the oldest extant attestation of that language. The inscriptions clearly show the sacred importance of the region, as evidenced by the statement, “If you stay in the land of the Ötüken, and send caravans from there, you will have no trouble. If you stay at the Ötüken Mountains, you will live forever dominating the tribes!”&nbsp;

Khushuu Tsaidam Monuments to Bilge Khaan and Kul-Tegin, dated 732 AD, were found 47 km to the northwest of Karakorum, part of the Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape UNESCO world heritage site.

KHUSHUU TSAIDAM MONUMENTS

ABOUT TERKHIIN TSAGAAN LAKE<hr>Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake (Terkh White Lake ) is freshwater lake,located near the Khorgo volcano crater in Tariat soum in Arkhangai province. Fresh water and volcanogenic Terkh White Lake, is 16 km long from west to east and 6km wide from north to south. Khorgo dormant volcano, Terkhiin Tsagaan river and Khuduu river have been protected as a National Park since 1995. This lake was created as a result of a 4050 cm thick basaltic blockage of &nbsp;Terkhiin River, following the eruption of Khorgo volcano and some other volcanoes. The highest Khorgiin togoo is located on the east shore of Lake Terkhiin Tsagaan. From its summit, has a splendid view over the whole region and the lake. Terkhiin Tsagaan has more than 10 species of fish such as Taimen, perch, lenok and pike. It’s registered in Ramsar’s Convention because many birds including swan, shelduck, duck, gull, common heron and great white egret gather here. There is a small Island with 500sq km area and 28m relative altitude, called Nuuriin Tolgoi, in the middle of the lake. About ten small rivers feed the White lake of the Terkh. Ten narrow rivers confluence to the Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:100%;"><img src="https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/kerege-travel.appspot.com/o/ckeditor%2Fterkh_lake.jpg?alt=media&amp;token=0a9a195e-93b1-49cc-89cd-f76631d934c0"></figure>LEGEND<hr>Once upon time, before the Lake was originated, the place with good grassland and amazing steppe was being. There was a well and supply with fresh water people who used to live near the territory. One day, elderly couple forgot to close the lip of the well after they fetched water. But water of the cistern flooded the valley and people bustled and shouted “Khorgoogooroi”.

Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake (Terkh White Lake ) is freshwater lake,located near the Khorgo volcano crater in Tariat soum in Arkhangai province. Fresh water and volcanogenic Terkh White Lake, is 16 km long from west to east and 6km wide from north to south. 

TERKHIIN TSAGAAN LAKE

ABOUT KHORGO EXTINC VOLCANO MOUNTAIN<hr>Khorgo Mountain is a dormant volcano which lies on the east of the Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake. The Khorgo crater, situated at an altitude of 2.210 meters with a diameter of 20 meters and depth of 70 to 80 meters, is the most interesting at all. The Khorgo volcano is covered with basalt. The northern slope is covered with Siberian Larch (Larix sibirica). It has been protected since 1965, fully in 1997, to safeguard spectacular mountain scenery and endangered fauna and flora. There is no lake in this crater, but clouds of steam jet out it is crevices forming ice moulds in winter, which from a distance look like large flocks of sheep scattered on the mountain. Near the crater there are dozens of small caverns with stalactites hanging from their ceiling and walls. About 8000 years ago volcanic lava flooded the valleys nearby which are covered today with small forests of Siberian larch and a great variety of berries and flowers. In the woods there are lots of deer, wild goat and other animals, as well as various kinds of birds such as Red Deer, Siberian Deer, Wild Boar, Ruddy Shelduck and Duck.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:100%;"><img src="https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/kerege-travel.appspot.com/o/ckeditor%2Fkhorgo_mountain.jpg?alt=media&amp;token=6376d8c4-5fa9-4ea5-9b1e-afc195b9c089"></figure>Located in Tariat sum, 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 6-10 km, 20m deep, 2060 m above sea level and occupied 61 sq.km. 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. About Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake, there is interesting story. 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 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.

Khorgo Mountain is a dormant volcano which lies on the east of the Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake. The Khorgo crater, situated at an altitude of 2.210 meters with a diameter of 20 meters and depth of 70 to 80 meters, is the most interesting at all. 

KHORGO EXTINC VOLCANO MOUNTAIN

ABOUT KHUISIIN NAIMAN LAKE<hr><figure class="image image-style-side"><img src="https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/kerege-travel.appspot.com/o/ckeditor%2FHUIS_NAIMAN_LAKE.jpg?alt=media&amp;token=6c1413bb-15d6-43c1-ab95-0c6b202f81ef"></figure>Khuisiin Naiman Nuur or Eight Lake National Park is located in the province of Ovorkhangai, in the Khangai range, and it has the typical landscapes of the Mongolian high mountains with their large forests of larches. The area of Naiman Nuur, “Eight lakes”, formed behind the volcanic eruptions that occurred all along the centuries. The park is 2400 metres (1,5 mile) above the sea level. An area of 11.500 hectares has been protected as a National Park since 1992. The lakes are located about 35 kilometres (22 miles) Southeast Orkhon waterfalls, but the track is impassable. This way is accessible only to hikers and horsemen/women who will enjoy an exceptional nature, whereas the jeeps will have to skirt round the mountains by Bat Ulzii (130 kilometres, 81 miles), or even by the track to Khujirt (260 kilometres, 162 miles) in case of heavy rain.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Khuisiin Naiman Nuur or Eight Lake National Park is located in the province of Ovorkhangai, in the Khangai range, and it has the typical landscapes of the Mongolian high mountains with their large forests of larches. 

KHUISIIN NAIMAN LAKE

ABOUT KHARKHORIN OR KARAKORUM CITY<hr>Kharkhorin – is a small village and one of the country’s major tourist destinations and historically known as Karakorum city. The most prominent historical site in Orkhon Valley is Kharkhorum, ancient capital of Mongol empire. Kharakhorum, founded in 1220 by Chinghis khan, was not only the capital of the vast Mongolian Empire, but the epic center of trade along Silk Road, and a cultural melting pot bridging east and west. It was from there that the Mongol Empire governed and controlled through Asia and Eastern Europe for over 400 years. Craftsmen from Mongolia and abroad participated in the construction of the city. Highlight of construction in Kharakhorum occurred during the reign of Ogodei khan. At that time, the inhabtants of the city were mostly merchants and craftsmen who arrived to Kharakhorum from every corner of the world. Today the only information known about the rise and prominence of Kharakhorum comes from the notes and stories of travelers who visited the city during its years as the treasure of the Mongol Empire. Famous travelers and historians such as William De Rubruk, Plano De Carpini, Rashid Ad Din and Marco Polo provided marvelous descriptions of Kharkhorum. When Khubilai Khaan moved the capital of the Mongol Empire to the China, establishing the Yuan Dynasty, Kharakhorum began losing its importance. In 1379 much of the city was badly damaged during an attack by the army of Ming Dynasty. Today there is an museum does show off some of the artefacts.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:100%;"><img src="https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/kerege-travel.appspot.com/o/ckeditor%2Fkharkhorin.jpg?alt=media&amp;token=833dcfab-8ef4-4fa4-bf05-4daf29183bcb"></figure>GOOD TO KNOW<hr>FOUNDATIONThe Orkhon valley was a centre of the Xiongnu, Göktürk and Uyghur empires. To the Göktürks, the nearby Khangai Mountains had been the location of the Ötüken, and the Uighur capital Karabalgasun was located close to where later Karakorum would be erected (downstream the Orkhon River 27 km north–west from Karakorum). This area is probably also one of the oldest farming areas in Mongolia. In 1218–19, Genghis Khan rallied his troops for the campaign against the Khwarezm Empire in a place called Karakorum, but the actual foundation of a city is usually said to have occurred only in 1220. Until 1235, Karakorum seems to have been little more than a yurt town; only then, after the defeat of the Jin empire, did Genghis’ successor Ögedei erect walls around the place and build a fixed palace. Ögedei Khan gave the decree to build the Tumen Amgalan Ord (Palace of Myriad Peace, Wan’an’gong in Chinese) in 1235 the year after he defeated the Jin Dynasty. It was finished in one year. In the Yuanshi (元史) it is written in the section for Taizong (太宗) Ögedei Khan: In the seventh year (1236), in the year of the blue sheep the Wanangong 萬安宫 was established in Helin 和林, Karakorum. One of Genghis Khan’s nine ministers the Khitan Yelü Chucai(1190–1244) said the following poem during the ridge raising ceremony of the Tumen Amgalan Ord: “Installed ridge well fit and stone foundation, The parallel placed majestic palace has been raised, When the bells and drums of the Lord and officials sound pleasantly, The setting sun calls the horses of war to itself from the mountain peaks.” The Mongolian version of the poem is as follows: “Tsogtslon tavih nuruu chuluun tulguur, Zeregtsen zogsoh surleg asriig bosgovoi, Ezen tushmediin honh hengereg ayataihan hanginan duursahad, Echih naran uuliin tolgoigoos dainii agtadiig ugtnam.The name Karakorum or “Kharkhorin” literally translates to ‘black-twenty’. But linguists argue that the ‘khorin’ might have been a diversion of the word ‘khurem’, which means “castle” in Mongolian. Other translations vary.&nbsp;<figure class="image image-style-side"><img src="https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/kerege-travel.appspot.com/o/ckeditor%2Fsilver_tree_karakorum.jpg?alt=media&amp;token=408c750d-cfb7-4ca8-9538-dc1627a89b2b"></figure>PROSPERITYUnder Ögedei and his successors, Karakorum became a major site for world politics. Möngke Khan had the palace enlarged, and the great stupa temple completed. They had the Parisian goldsmith, Guillaume Bouchier, design the Silver Tree of Karakorum for the city centre. A large tree sculpted of silver and other precious metals rose up from the middle of the courtyard and loomed over the palace, with the branches of the tree extended into the building. Silver fruit hung from the limbs and it had four golden serpents braided around the trunk, while within the top of the tree was placed a trumpet angel, all as automata performing for the emperor’s pleasure. When the khan wanted to summon the drinks for his guests, the mechanical angel raised the trumpet to his lips and sounded the horn, whereupon the mouths of the serpents began to gush out a fountain of alcoholic beverages into the large silver basin arranged at the base of the tree.&nbsp;WILLIAM OF RUBRUCKWilliam of Rubruck, a Flemish Franciscan missionary and papal envoy to the Mongols reached Karakorum in 1254. He has left one of the most detailed, though not always flattering, accounts of the city. He compared it rather unfavourably to the village of Saint-Denis near Paris, and was of the opinion that the royal abbey there was ten times as important as the Khan’s palace. On the other hand, he also described the town as a very cosmopolitan and religiously tolerant place, and the silver tree he described as part of Möngke Khan’s palace as having become the symbol of Karakorum. He described the walled city as having four gates facing the four directions, two quarters of fixed houses, one for the Saracenes and one for the Cathai, twelve pagan temples, two mosques, as well as a Nestorian church.&nbsp;LETER TIMESWhen Kublai Khan claimed the throne of the Mongol Empire in 1260—as did his younger brother, Ariq Böke—he relocated his capital to Shangdu, and later to Khanbaliq (Dadu, today’s Beijing). Karakorum was reduced to the administrative centre of a provincial backwater of the Yuan dynasty founded in China in 1271. Further to that, the ensuing Toluid Civil War with Ariq Böke and a later war with Kaidu hit the town hard. In 1260, Kublai disrupted the town’s grain supply, while in 1277 Kaidu took Karakorum, only to be ousted by Yuan troops and Bayan of the Baarin in the following year. In 1298–99 prince Ulus Buqa looted the markets and the grain storehouses. However, the first half of the 14th century proved to be a second time of prosperity: in 1299, the town had been expanded eastwards, then in 1311, and again from 1342 to 1346, the stupa temples were renewed.&nbsp;DECLINEAfter the collapse of the Yuan dynasty in 1368, Karakorum became the residence of Biligtü Khan in 1370. In 1388, Ming troops occupied and later razed the capital. According to Saghang Sechen‘s Erdeni-yin Tobči, in 1415 a khuriltai decided to rebuild it, but no archaeological evidence for such a venture has been found yet. However, Karakorum was inhabited at the beginning of the 16th century, when Batu-Möngke Dayan Khan made it a capital once again. In the following years, the town changed hands between Oirads and Chinggisids several times, and was consequently given up permanently.&nbsp;EXCAVATIONSThe Erdene Zuu Monastery stands near Karakorum. Various construction materials were taken from the ruin to build this monastery. The actual location of Karakorum was long unclear. First hints that Karakorum was located at Erdene Zuu were already known in the 18th century, but until the 20th century there was a dispute whether or not the ruins of Karabalgasun, or Ordu-Baliq, were in fact those of Karakorum. In 1889, the site was conclusively identified as the former Mongol capital by Nikolai Yadrintsev, who discovered examples of the Orkhon script during the same expedition. Yadrintsev’s conclusions were confirmed by Wilhelm Radloff. Dening Hall of the Beiyue Templebuilt in 1270 during the Yuan Dynasty closely resembles the lost palace architecture of Dadu (Beijing) and Karakorum. The first excavations took place in 1933–34 under D. Bukinich. After his Soviet-Mongolian excavations of 1948–49, Sergei Kiselyov concluded that he had found the remains of Ögödei’s palace. However, this conclusion has been put into doubt by the findings of the 2000–2004 German-Mongolian excavations, which seem to identify them as belonging to the great stupa temple rather than to Ögödei’s palace. Excavation findings include paved roads, some brick and many adobe buildings, floor heating systems, bed-stoves, evidence for the processing of copper, gold, silver, iron (including iron wheel naves), glass, jewels, bones, and birch bark, as well as ceramics and coins from China and Central Asia. Four kilns have also been unearthed.&nbsp;MODERN TIMESIn 2004, then Prime Minister Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj appointed a working group of professionals to develop a project to build a new city at the site of the ancient capital Karakorum. According to him, the new Karakorum was to be designed to be an exemplary city, with a vision of its becoming the capital of Mongolia. After his resignation and the appointment of Miyeegombyn Enkhbold as prime minister, the project was abandoned.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:100%;"><img src="https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/kerege-travel.appspot.com/o/ckeditor%2Fkhorkhorin_erdenzuu.jpg?alt=media&amp;token=c9854c5e-a392-4c39-8d24-bb62e5715ebd"></figure>HISTORY OF KARAKORUM<hr><ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><li style="text-align:justify;">Micheal Walther, Ein idealer Ort für ein festes Lager. Zur Geographie des Orchontals und der Umgebung von Charchorin Karakorum, in: Dschingis Khan und seine Erben, p. 128</li><li style="text-align:justify;">Jump up to: Hans–Georg Hüttel, Karakorum – Eine historische Skizze, in: Dschingis Khan und seine Erben, p. 133–137</li><li style="text-align:justify;">Jagar, Bayar, Baatar, Och, Urtogtokh, Wang, Bayartogtokh, J.Saintsogt, Mongol nuudel soyoliin tuuhen murdul (Historical investigation of Mongolian nomadic culture), Uvur Mongoliin surgan humuujliin hevleliin horoo (Educational Printing Committee of Inner Mongolia), Hohhot, 2001</li><li style="text-align:justify;">Baatar, Sh. Хархорум хотын ‘Түмэн амгалан’ ордны тухай тодруулга [Clarification of the ‘Tumen Peace’ palace in Karakorum] (in Mongolian). hicheel.mn. Archived from the original on 30 March 2014. Retrieved 30 March 2014.</li><li style="text-align:justify;">Tucker, Abigail (24 March 2009). “Genghis Khan’s Treasures”. Smithsonian.com. Retrieved 8 December 2017.</li><li style="text-align:justify;">Waugh, Daniel C. (2000). “The Pax Mongolica”. Silk-road.com. Retrieved 8 December 2017.</li><li style="text-align:justify;">Mongolia, Land of Inspiration. Irmuun Press, 2008, p. 81.</li><li style="text-align:justify;">Genghis Khan and the making of the Modern World Jack Weatherford, p.170.</li><li style="text-align:justify;">Rockhill 1900, p. 220.</li><li style="text-align:justify;">Rockhill 1900, p. 208.</li><li style="text-align:justify;">Hans-Georg Hüttel, Der Silberbaum im Palast des Ögedei Khan, in: Dschingis Khan und seine Erben, p. 152</li><li style="text-align:justify;">Rockhill 1900, p. 221.</li><li style="text-align:justify;">Rolf Trauzettel, Die Yüan-Dynastie, in: Michael Weiers (editor), Die Mongolen, Beiträge zu ihrer Geschichte und Kultur, Darmstadt 1986, p. 230</li><li style="text-align:justify;">Hans-Georg Hüttel, Der Palast des Ögedei Khan – Die Ausgrabungen des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts im Palastbezirk von</li><li style="text-align:justify;">Karakorum, in: Dschingis Khan und seine Erben, p. 140–146</li><li style="text-align:justify;">Christina Franken, Die Brennöfen im Palastbezirk von Karakorum, in: Dschingis Khan und seine Erben, p. 147–149</li><li style="text-align:justify;">Ulambayar Erdenebat, Ernst Pohl, Aus der Mitte der Hauptstadt – Die Ausgrabungen der Universität Bonn im Zentrum von Karakorum, in:</li><li style="text-align:justify;">Dschingis Khan und seine Erben, p. 168–175</li></ul>

Kharkhorin – is a small village and one of the country’s major tourist destinations and historically known as Karakorum city. The most prominent historical site in Orkhon Valley is Kharkhorum, ancient capital of Mongol empire.

KHARKHORIN OR KARAKORUM CITY

ABOUT TUVKHUN TEMPLE OR TUVKHUN KHIID<hr>Tuvkhun temple is located on a rocky mountain hill surrounded by forests at the top of the mountain in a secluded area. The great sculptor and one of the biggest representative of Buddhism Zanabazar was attracted to this place at his early teen years and in 1965 ordered his people to build a small house for studying. It became a place of his for meditation and artworks. He made his famous creations in the monastery. After the burst of Galdan Boshigt khan this place was forgotten till the end of 1700s. From 1773 this favourite place of Zanabazarrestored. Behind this temple there is remarkable small cave called ”Uterus of Mother” where people can slip in and slip out. This process symbolizes a re-birth of and purifying the person. Near the top of staircase, to the right of temples, are two wells about fifteen feet from each other.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:100%;"><img src="https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/kerege-travel.appspot.com/o/ckeditor%2Ftuvkhun_khiid.jpg?alt=media&amp;token=f3060352-f26f-432d-bb7f-028f42199d98"></figure>One has fresh water in it, while the other has slightly brackish water. No one has been able to explain why one is brackish and one not, or for that matter, how there can be wells at all here in there solid rock very close to summit of mountain where ordinarily there would not be any underground water sources. Another name of this unique and mysterious temple is Pilgrim’s cave: it’s hidden a mountain at the over 2600meters above sea level. The small temple was heavily damaged by communists during the upheavals of the late 1930s. During the summer of 1997 extensive ceremonies were performed here and new statue of deity Gombo Makhagal (Mahakala) was placed in top of refurbished and consecrated. Several monks live at the monastery full time. Today it still keeps its mysterious and therefore attracts tourists a lot.

Tuvkhun temple is located on a rocky mountain hill surrounded by forests at the top of the mountain in a secluded area. The great sculptor and one of the biggest representative of Buddhism Zanabazar was attracted to this place at his early teen years

TUVKHUN TEMPLE

ABOUT TSENKHER HOT SPRING<hr>Arkhangai province is famous for its many old volcanoes. These volcanoes explain the presence of the springs natural hot water that flows all year long at 1860 meters (1.16 mile) above the sea level and &nbsp;its water is not mixed with soil waters because it is hot. Also the spring is kept in high pressure under the ground flow rate is high, 10 liters per seconds. This natural bounty is located 27km south of the town Tsetserleg, and in the center of the Arkhangai province. Tsenkher hot springs have healing properties notably on articular diseases and nervous system’s diseases. Composition: sodium carbonate, hydrocarbonate, sulfate, fluorite, hydrogen sulfide. In a pleasant verdant wooded area, some yurts camps with equipment and baths with a less hot temperature have been set up for the travellers .There is several tourist camps which are offering for tourists indoor and outdoor baths. They transfer the hot water via tubes from and built some pools. Curative water and amazing nature featured by wooden mountains make this an excellent place for relax. Night bath is great. Sitting in the pool drinking while seeing stars at the dark sky is one of the favorite activity in here.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:100%;"><img src="https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/kerege-travel.appspot.com/o/ckeditor%2Ftsenkher_hot_spring_mongolia.jpg?alt=media&amp;token=c249348f-73bb-4b92-be20-5e737e39c118"></figure>

Arkhangai province is famous for its many old volcanoes. These volcanoes explain the presence of the springs natural hot water that flows all year long at 1860 meters (1.16 mile) above the sea level and  its water is not mixed with soil waters because it is hot.

TSENKHER HOT SPRING

ABOUT UGII LAKE<hr>Lake Ugii is a famous for its bird life. About 150 types of aquatic birds gather at Lake Ugii including scarce birds like a cape barren goose, a spoonbill, a Dalmatian pelican cranes and ducks. Here you will come across water bird research station. This bluish lake has an ait, where endangered migrating birds breed. Ramsar Convention has registered Ogii lake in the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance for being important breeding and staging area for a variety of waterfowl.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:100%;"><img src="https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/kerege-travel.appspot.com/o/ckeditor%2Fugii_lake.jpg?alt=media&amp;token=cf330bf8-bcfb-46c8-bcdf-929dc3b3edb1"></figure>Ugii lake (Ogii lake) is also renowned for its fishing such as a perch, a Luce. It is 7km long and 5km wide. 50-80 tons fishes are caught annually. The lake is 1337m above sea level and at the deepest part it reaches up to 15m. This lake fed from Khugshin Orkhon flows into Orkhon River. The lake and Khar Balgas ruins can only be reached from the direct road linking Tsetserleg with Ulaanbaatar. Delicate sand and whetstone coast, the soft wave and it is very convenient to have boat adventure. Also it is enthusiastic to swimming, having sunbath, horse and camel ridding and hiking.

Lake Ugii is a famous for its bird life. About 150 types of aquatic birds gather at Lake Ugii including scarce birds like a cape barren goose, a spoonbill, a Dalmatian pelican cranes and ducks.

UGII LAKE

ABOUT ELSEN TASARKHAI SAND DUNE<hr>You will come across sand dunes lost in the middle of a mountainous area in the central part of Mongolia. Bayan Gobi is well known and &nbsp;called Elsen Tasarkhai, the sand fracture and extend on 80 kilometres (49,71 miles) in the South of the Khögnö Khan National Park. The main road separates this sand dune into two parts, Mongol Els on the south and Khugnu Tarnyn Els on the north. There are many tourist camps around the sight. Elsen Tasarkhai is surrounded by Mount Khugnu Khan on the north and Mount Ikh Mongol on the south. The sand is sodden under its surface; that allows shrubberies such as willow, elm and dogwood, grow in the area. The area is surrounded by sand dunes, hills covered with rare bushes and a small forest near a river. Together this presents a unique combination of Mongolian mountains, forests and Gobi-type landscape in one location. During the trip, you will also have opportunities to visit a local nomadic family, to ride two-humped Bactrian camel, walk on sand dunes, experience staying in a traditional Mongolian dwelling, the ger, and walk and relax in beautifully serene nature. Sand dunes is perfect for people who do not have time to make a full trip to the Gobi desert but who do not want to miss out on the chance to see sand dunes.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:100%;"><img src="https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/kerege-travel.appspot.com/o/ckeditor%2Fkhugnu_khan_national_park.jpg?alt=media&amp;token=a878936a-5bf7-4d0a-b576-68fed9368249"></figure>HUGNU KHAN MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK<hr>The ecosystem of Hugnu Khan National Park is particularly interesting because the steppe and the taiga meet here. So, we can find a fauna and a flora that are characteristic of these two ecosystems, and also some wonderful landscapes, with the granite formations of Khögno Khan. Created in 1997 as a natural reserve, it became in 2003 a natural park, that is to say an area protected by the State for its educative, historical, cultural or environmental value. This is a magnificent place with mountains, forests, steppes, Gobi-type desert and mineral water sources all in one location. One of the main attractions of this area is Uvgun monastery which was built in 17th century by Saint Zanabazar who was a great sculptor and the biggest representative of Buddhism in Mongolia. During Middle Age feuds between Western and Eastern Mongolians (Dzungaria and Khalkh Mongolia) after the collapse of the Mongol Empire. The armies of Dzungarian leader Galdan Boshigt noticed the golden roofs of the temples in Khogno Khan Mountain and massacred the partisan-monks of the rival Zanabazar in 1640, killing them by tying their necks with a rope (the Mongolian verb for the action is khognokh) as if they were goats and sheep. This is the meaning of name of the mountain. After democratic revolution in 1990 the monastery was restored by the granddaughter of the monks who was living at the monastery. This area is pleasant for many activities such as hiking, mountain climbing and horse riding. Now the sacred mountain of Khögno Khan is a venerated mountain located along the edge of the borders of Övörkhangai, Bulgan and Töv aimags. Venerating the mountains is a tradition that comes from prehistoric times. Today, the mountains are venerated during national or local ceremonies. Anyone visiting a sacred mountain must bring something as an offering and will probably make a wish for the attention of the Spirit of the Mountain. We can’t climb a sacred mountain without any precise and important aim Set on the corners of three aimag provinces, the mountain has long been a sacred place for Mongolians, but walking between the mighty rock outcroppings now you are more likely to spy reclusive wild game and birds of prey than marauding hordes.

You will come across sand dunes lost in the middle of a mountainous area in the central part of Mongolia. Bayan Gobi is well known and  called Elsen Tasarkhai, the sand fracture and extend on 80 kilometres (49,71 miles) in the South of the Khögnö Khan National Park.