Ulaanbaatar is Mongolia's capital; most people visit the country and leave the city as soon as possible. If you have a few days to spare or only have a limited time, there are a couple of things you can do during your stay.
Here are some of the places to visit and things to do while in Ulaanbaatar.
Terelj National Park
For those who don't have much time in Mongolia, Terelj National Park is a destination to consider adding to your itinerary. It's near the capital and is easily accessible. You have the option to do a day trip or spend the night in a yurt (ger). It is also one of the most developed parks in the country. There's electricity and relatively better toilets (compared to others I've seen while camping in other parts).
During your visit, you'll see the famous Turtle Rock and beautiful views of the surrounding landscapes. I went during winter and everything was covered in snow already. You can rent a car while in the city or book a day or overnight trip through your accommodation or travel agencies.
Entrance Fee: MNT 3000
Read more here: Terelj National Park
Chinggis Khan Statue
Chinggis Khan is a famous Mongolian that has conquered lands far and wide during the apex of his empire. You can see his statue as a day tip from Ulaanbaatar. There is a viewpoint where you can see the surroundings.
Local Market
Ulaanbaatar is a big city but it doesn't have the same size and kind of shopping centers I see at home in the Philippines and elsewhere in Asia. I went to some of these while in the city, but what caught my interest are the local markets.
I met a Thai woman in the hostel and decided to go to the market with her. It was quite a long walk, but worth it. Walking around the market and weaving in and out of makeshift stalls reminded me of Chinatown's busy markets back home. There were plenty of carpets, boots, furniture, jeans, shoes, heaters, pre-made materials for yurts and other stuff locals will need.
Bogd Khaan Palace Museum
This relic of the past was built more than a century ago, around the 1890s until its completion in 1903. It was the official residence of the ruler Bogd Khaan until he died in the 1920s.
You'll see temples, ancient artifacts, ornaments and gifts given to the ruler. It's not a big complex and is easy to explore in an hour or so.
Entrance Fee: MNT 8000
National Museum
If you're into museums (history and culture), you might want to add the National Museum to your itinerary. In my opinion for the size of the country and its storied past, this destination was quite small. Despite its size, it was still informative and worth visiting, if you have a couple of days to spare in the city.
Entrance Fee: MNT 8000
Sukhbaatar Square
This is a central square in the city and is a great place to just hang out in. You'll see monuments of Genghis Khan, as well as to Ögedei Khan, and Kublai Khan. There is also a prominent statue of Damdin Sükhbaatar, a leader of the country's 1921 revolution.
A lot of locals come and go in the area. It is also surrounded by government buildings.
Zaisan Memorial
The Zaisan Memorial was built to commemorate the sacrifice and efforts made by the fallen soldiers of the Soviet Union and Mongolia during World War II. It sits atop a hill and has elaborate paintings of the friendship between the USSR and the country, their accomplishments victories in battle.
The hill also has views of the city below.
It was quite a long walk to get to the memorial, but I had plenty of time during my stay in Ulaanbaatar.
These are some of the places to visit during your stay in the big city. There were a few more destinations that I wasn't able to go to because it was too cold (below 0), and I just didn't want to stay outdoors for too long. Ulaanbaatar is often just the jump-off point for camping trips and transit in and out of the country. It was also a cheap place to eat out, get drinks and watch movies.
If you want a more detailed post about Mongolia, click here.
Here are some of the places to visit and things to do while in Ulaanbaatar.
Terelj National Park
During your visit, you'll see the famous Turtle Rock and beautiful views of the surrounding landscapes. I went during winter and everything was covered in snow already. You can rent a car while in the city or book a day or overnight trip through your accommodation or travel agencies.
Entrance Fee: MNT 3000
Read more here: Terelj National Park
Chinggis Khan Statue
Chinggis Khan is a famous Mongolian that has conquered lands far and wide during the apex of his empire. You can see his statue as a day tip from Ulaanbaatar. There is a viewpoint where you can see the surroundings.
Local Market
Ulaanbaatar is a big city but it doesn't have the same size and kind of shopping centers I see at home in the Philippines and elsewhere in Asia. I went to some of these while in the city, but what caught my interest are the local markets.
I met a Thai woman in the hostel and decided to go to the market with her. It was quite a long walk, but worth it. Walking around the market and weaving in and out of makeshift stalls reminded me of Chinatown's busy markets back home. There were plenty of carpets, boots, furniture, jeans, shoes, heaters, pre-made materials for yurts and other stuff locals will need.
Bogd Khaan Palace Museum
This relic of the past was built more than a century ago, around the 1890s until its completion in 1903. It was the official residence of the ruler Bogd Khaan until he died in the 1920s.
You'll see temples, ancient artifacts, ornaments and gifts given to the ruler. It's not a big complex and is easy to explore in an hour or so.
Entrance Fee: MNT 8000
National Museum
If you're into museums (history and culture), you might want to add the National Museum to your itinerary. In my opinion for the size of the country and its storied past, this destination was quite small. Despite its size, it was still informative and worth visiting, if you have a couple of days to spare in the city.
Entrance Fee: MNT 8000
Sukhbaatar Square
This is a central square in the city and is a great place to just hang out in. You'll see monuments of Genghis Khan, as well as to Ögedei Khan, and Kublai Khan. There is also a prominent statue of Damdin Sükhbaatar, a leader of the country's 1921 revolution.
A lot of locals come and go in the area. It is also surrounded by government buildings.
Zaisan Memorial
The Zaisan Memorial was built to commemorate the sacrifice and efforts made by the fallen soldiers of the Soviet Union and Mongolia during World War II. It sits atop a hill and has elaborate paintings of the friendship between the USSR and the country, their accomplishments victories in battle.
The hill also has views of the city below.
It was quite a long walk to get to the memorial, but I had plenty of time during my stay in Ulaanbaatar.
These are some of the places to visit during your stay in the big city. There were a few more destinations that I wasn't able to go to because it was too cold (below 0), and I just didn't want to stay outdoors for too long. Ulaanbaatar is often just the jump-off point for camping trips and transit in and out of the country. It was also a cheap place to eat out, get drinks and watch movies.
If you want a more detailed post about Mongolia, click here.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment