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In this region you will travel through the snow capped high mountains like Khordil Saridag, the deepest blue pearl Khuvsgul lake and its surrounding area rich in Taiga plants and animals, reindeer people, deer stones and cross big rivers, Selenge, Ider, Delger and others. Khuvsgul is home of Darkhad, Myangad, Buriad, the ethnic minority groups of Mongolia. Especially the reindeer people live worshipping and communicating with the spirits of nature. Accordingly the area is famous for their shamans, performing the real shaman ritual still.Lake Khuvsgul
The considered as the world's cleanest lake, is 136 kilometers long and 36 kilometers wide, and located at 1645 meters above sea level.
Known as the "Blue Pearl of Mongolia" for its crystal clear waters, it flows into the Eg River, which then joins the Selenge, and finally reaches Lake Baikal. More than 70 percent of Khuvsgul is over 100 meters deep, reaching 267 meters at its deepest point. This is the largest reservoir of fresh water in the country, and represents two percent of the world's reserves that is in the second place in Asia and 14th in the world by its water reserve.
The clarity of the water is such that one can see fish down to a depth of a few dozen meters. The Lake has nine varieties of fish, including the famous lenok, omoul, thymallus arcticus and others. From January to April or May, the lake freezes over and covers for several months by 1.5 meters of ice.
There are four islands in the middle of the number of caves are around the lake. Brown bear, musk deer, ibex, argali, martin, beavers, elk lynx and wolves inhabit the surrounding mountains.
Darkhad Depression and Taiga
This fantastically beautiful place with some 200 lakes is the lake district of Mongolia at lower altitude than Lake Hövsgöl. The lakes are surrounded by steppes and the surroundings is deep taiga forests bordering Siberia (Sayan Mountains) and Tuva.
A remarkable nomadic people called the Dukha (Tsataan by outsiders). They are reindeer breeding-nomads. They live in the summers in the high taiga forest zones - approx 2000 meters above sea level - in the East Sayan Mountains along the Russian/Mongolian border with Tuva. In the winter they come down to the valleys during the winter.
They are reindeer herdsmen. They also hunt sable for their valued furs. There are just 500 Tsaatan people. They have animistic beliefs. Shamanism has survived to this day in the northern areas of Hövsgöl province. They speak a completely different language, which essentially is the Tuvan urianhai, hence a Turkic language. They live in dwellings called ortz, which resemble tepees or Lapp tents. Superficially they seem related to the Scandinavian Lapps (Saami people) and other circumpolar peoples. The Dukha are the southernmost indigenous people herding reindeer. They do not traditionally keep reindeer for meat and pelts, as other circumpolar reindeer herding peoples. Rather they use their reindeer for transport and milk. The Mongolian reindeer is bigger in size compared to the Scandinavian equivalents.
The Darhad, a Mongol speaking ethnic group, also live by herding reindeer, but they also engage in other traditional Mongolian activities.
Amarbayasgalant Monastery
Amarbayasgalant Monastery was build between 1726 and 1736. It is dedicated to Undur Gegeen Zanabazar and builds by Ankh-Amgalan Khaan (Yongzheng?) in Manchu style. It was also heavily damaged by the communist purges, although still a great part survived. 10 out of the 37 temples and statues were destroyed. The monastery was being restored by Unesco from 1975 until reopening in 1990. At the present moment 30 monks live here within the age range of 7-90. There is big number of young monks (13) in between the age of 7 and 13, who have for a great part been picked up from orphanages around Mongolia.
In the main temple is a life-size statue of Guru Deva Rinpoche who is the formal abbot of the monastery although he is only there a short time a year. From 1992 he has been putting effort in restoring temples, statues and scriptures. It is said he raised 1 million US$.
The main protector of the monastery is Dorjjugd. It seems to be that because of this protector a conflict with the Dalai Lama as arisen. According to the latter the practice of worshipping this deity would be harmful. According to an informant this deity would keep the Gelupa (also referred to as the Yellow sect in Buddhism) pure and so protect it from influence from other Buddhist schools. Since the Dalai Lama, although himself part of the Gelupa, is the worldly and spiritual leader of the Tibetan people he has tried to bring the different traditions within Tibetan Buddhism together, instead of emphasizing its differences. Furthermore it is said that this practice would not just try to keep the Gelupa pure, but by doing this trying to damage the other traditions.
On May 25, 2001 the Ulaanbaatar based Amar Mur Centre of Amarbayasgalant Monastery for Training and External Relations was founded to establish contacts with a broad audience and give trainings. One of its activities has been organizing a public puja (Buddhist ceremony) for long life at the Ard Cinema.
Khorgo Volcano - Terkhi White Lake National Park
Khorgo Volcano is a dead volcano covered with basalt lying in the east of the Lake Terkhiin Tsagaan (National Park) in Arhangai aimag. Interesting bubbles of solidified lava named "Basalt ger. It is possible here to visit yak herders.
Khorgo - Terkh White Lake National Park is situated in 580 km-s northwest from Ulaanbaatar. It comprises Khorgo Tiny Extinct Volcano /erupted 20 million years ago/ inside with small lake. Terkhi White Pristine drinks fresh water lake teeming with a lot of species of very big fish, small island with medical plants in middle.
Deep ground cave with ice coverings and tent shaped rocky shelters and high mountains. Beauty of nature: bird singing, deer mooing, cattle such as yaks, cows, sheep goat and horses.
How to travel there:
In the North of Mongolia you can have 3-30 days trip by jeeps, vans. Also you can fly to Murun town a couple of hours from Ulaanbaatar city. Besides you are welcomed to have special trips like spiritual, cultural, fishing, motorcycling and trekking mountaineering. Mostly you will stay at Ger camps and tents.
The considered as the world's cleanest lake, is 136 kilometers long and 36 kilometers wide, and located at 1645 meters above sea level.
Known as the "Blue Pearl of Mongolia" for its crystal clear waters, it flows into the Eg River, which then joins the Selenge, and finally reaches Lake Baikal. More than 70 percent of Khuvsgul is over 100 meters deep, reaching 267 meters at its deepest point. This is the largest reservoir of fresh water in the country, and represents two percent of the world's reserves that is in the second place in Asia and 14th in the world by its water reserve.
The clarity of the water is such that one can see fish down to a depth of a few dozen meters. The Lake has nine varieties of fish, including the famous lenok, omoul, thymallus arcticus and others. From January to April or May, the lake freezes over and covers for several months by 1.5 meters of ice.
There are four islands in the middle of the number of caves are around the lake. Brown bear, musk deer, ibex, argali, martin, beavers, elk lynx and wolves inhabit the surrounding mountains.
Darkhad Depression and Taiga This fantastically beautiful place with some 200 lakes is the lake district of Mongolia at lower altitude than Lake Hövsgöl. The lakes are surrounded by steppes and the surroundings is deep taiga forests bordering Siberia (Sayan Mountains) and Tuva.
A remarkable nomadic people called the Dukha (Tsataan by outsiders). They are reindeer breeding-nomads. They live in the summers in the high taiga forest zones - approx 2000 meters above sea level - in the East Sayan Mountains along the Russian/Mongolian border with Tuva. In the winter they come down to the valleys during the winter.
They are reindeer herdsmen. They also hunt sable for their valued furs. There are just 500 Tsaatan people. They have animistic beliefs. Shamanism has survived to this day in the northern areas of Hövsgöl province. They speak a completely different language, which essentially is the Tuvan urianhai, hence a Turkic language. They live in dwellings called ortz, which resemble tepees or Lapp tents. Superficially they seem related to the Scandinavian Lapps (Saami people) and other circumpolar peoples. The Dukha are the southernmost indigenous people herding reindeer. They do not traditionally keep reindeer for meat and pelts, as other circumpolar reindeer herding peoples. Rather they use their reindeer for transport and milk. The Mongolian reindeer is bigger in size compared to the Scandinavian equivalents.
The Darhad, a Mongol speaking ethnic group, also live by herding reindeer, but they also engage in other traditional Mongolian activities.
Amarbayasgalant Monastery
Amarbayasgalant Monastery was build between 1726 and 1736. It is dedicated to Undur Gegeen Zanabazar and builds by Ankh-Amgalan Khaan (Yongzheng?) in Manchu style. It was also heavily damaged by the communist purges, although still a great part survived. 10 out of the 37 temples and statues were destroyed. The monastery was being restored by Unesco from 1975 until reopening in 1990. At the present moment 30 monks live here within the age range of 7-90. There is big number of young monks (13) in between the age of 7 and 13, who have for a great part been picked up from orphanages around Mongolia.
In the main temple is a life-size statue of Guru Deva Rinpoche who is the formal abbot of the monastery although he is only there a short time a year. From 1992 he has been putting effort in restoring temples, statues and scriptures. It is said he raised 1 million US$.
The main protector of the monastery is Dorjjugd. It seems to be that because of this protector a conflict with the Dalai Lama as arisen. According to the latter the practice of worshipping this deity would be harmful. According to an informant this deity would keep the Gelupa (also referred to as the Yellow sect in Buddhism) pure and so protect it from influence from other Buddhist schools. Since the Dalai Lama, although himself part of the Gelupa, is the worldly and spiritual leader of the Tibetan people he has tried to bring the different traditions within Tibetan Buddhism together, instead of emphasizing its differences. Furthermore it is said that this practice would not just try to keep the Gelupa pure, but by doing this trying to damage the other traditions.
On May 25, 2001 the Ulaanbaatar based Amar Mur Centre of Amarbayasgalant Monastery for Training and External Relations was founded to establish contacts with a broad audience and give trainings. One of its activities has been organizing a public puja (Buddhist ceremony) for long life at the Ard Cinema.
Khorgo Volcano - Terkhi White Lake National Park
Khorgo Volcano is a dead volcano covered with basalt lying in the east of the Lake Terkhiin Tsagaan (National Park) in Arhangai aimag. Interesting bubbles of solidified lava named "Basalt ger. It is possible here to visit yak herders.
Khorgo - Terkh White Lake National Park is situated in 580 km-s northwest from Ulaanbaatar. It comprises Khorgo Tiny Extinct Volcano /erupted 20 million years ago/ inside with small lake. Terkhi White Pristine drinks fresh water lake teeming with a lot of species of very big fish, small island with medical plants in middle.
Deep ground cave with ice coverings and tent shaped rocky shelters and high mountains. Beauty of nature: bird singing, deer mooing, cattle such as yaks, cows, sheep goat and horses.
How to travel there:
In the North of Mongolia you can have 3-30 days trip by jeeps, vans. Also you can fly to Murun town a couple of hours from Ulaanbaatar city. Besides you are welcomed to have special trips like spiritual, cultural, fishing, motorcycling and trekking mountaineering. Mostly you will stay at Ger camps and tents.