The excellent location of TOVKHON KHIID was selected by Ondor Gegeen Zanabazar on this 19th birthday. It was in 1653 and he named it ‘’Land of Happy Solitude’’ the hermitage of Tovkhon is 68 kilometres from ErdeneZuu, in the wooded Shiveer Ulaan Mountains of Bat-Olzii sum.

Not far from the summir of the mountain, on a first platform, are several temple halls, one of which is made from wood. To the west of these, having passed some large rocks, one can see footprint attributed to the first Bogd Gegeen, and a small cave (uran darkhani agui) where Zanabazar meditated. Climbing further up, one at rives, at a second platform from which a spring runs out. Another cave is located here- the Ekhiin Khevlii (Mother’s belly) which is just big enough to stand in although you have to crawl to enter it. This is a veritable regressus ad uterum to which the pilgrims appeal in the hope of having their faults washed away in the next rebirth. From there one can climb higher and reach the summit of the mountain where there is an ovoo and rock called the place of naadam

Ondor Gegeen Zanabazar was the first leader of the Mongol Lamaist church and led an intense intellectual, religious and artistic life. His biography includes work as a bronze caster, goldsmith, translator, compiler, founder of monasteries, and creator of a new alphabet for the phonetic transcription of Mongolian, Tibetan and Sanskrit. Much of this work was done at tovkhon Hiid.

Travelers should note that women are not allowed to climb to the summit of the mountain and the monks make sure that rule is followed. In 2001, a Tg 68,5 million restoration project on the monastery was completed, bringing the temple back to their original glory.

Khugnu Khan mountain is located 290 km southwest from Ulaanbaatar and northeast of Mongol Sand Dunes. The landscape consists of smallish mountains around 1500 – 2000 m in altitude and small hills and plains between them. The highest point is Tsetserleg /1967 m/. This mountain is consists of yellowish granite stones and rocks. There are 2 mineral springs on the south of Khugnu Khan. The smaller one is good for eye illness and other is good for stomach and other internal organs.

The Orkhon river, longest river in Mongolia, begins at the state worshipped mountain Suvraga Khairkhan in the Khangai range. The drainage basin of the river is 132835sq km. The river is 10-60 m wide to begin with but it becomes 120-150m around the end and the speed of the river flow decreases. The Orkhon has many species of fish like the pike, Siberian sturgeon, taimen, asian common asp, Siberian grayling, roach etc. 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 Ulaan tsutgalan waterfall- biggest in Mongolia at a height of 20m.

The Orkhon river Valley has been protected since 2006 as a National Park.

Dariganga country

The sum centre is 175km from Baruun- Urt. This is a mountainous region with some 180 craters.

The holy mountain of Shiliin bogd , its crater is 2km wide and 300 meters deep, and there are dozens of small ovoos covering it. The view from the top- overlooking the grasslands and the Chinese border – is fantastic.

Northwest from Shiliin Bogd, there is the basalt cave of Taliin Agui, which is full of stalagmites and said to be one of the largest in Mongolia(200meters long, 100,000 cubic meters in size )

The Altan Ovoo crater, which hovers above the Dariganga village, is a sacred mountain venerated in ceremonial rites.

Ganga nuur, small lake of only 4 sq km, is in Dariganga town.

BUIR NUUR (LAKE BUIR)

Located 285 kilometres from Choibalsan, and at a height of 581 metres, this pretty saltwater lake offers crystal-clear waters and good fishing opportunities. Stretching across Khalkh Gol Sumber sums, this is the largest lake in eastern Mongolia, over 20 kilometres wide and 40 kilometres long. Its north-west shore is in China. Mosquitoes invade this area in summer, so bring plenty of bug repellent and light clothing that will cover your skin. It’s worth noting that the Dornod steppes are reputed for being the home of the fiercest mosquitoes in Mongolia- a shame because Buir Nuur has beautiful sandy beaches and a wide variety of fish, including carp taimen and lenok. Along its shores stand several memorials dedicated to the Mongol and Russian soldiers who died in the battle of Khalkhiin Gol. The largest memorial called Khamar Davaa, is 50 metres tall.

Menen steppe, the biggest and evenest steppe in Mongolia, is 90 km long and 60 km wide.

It’s located 805 km away to the East of Ulaanbaatar and 150 km away to the south east of CHoibalsan town in Dornod Province.

The steppe is surrounded by Khalkh river, Khayngan range and Dariganga steppe with ancient dormant volcanoes. The steppe, shows steppe landscape with mat-grasses, is home of antelopes. 70% percent of total Mongolian antelopes are here. According to the last research, total amount of antelope in Mongolia is 1.2 million. Hilly steppe and even steppe landscapes without any mountain dominate in this area. Pikas, hedgehogs, hares, wolves, foxes, musk, deer, badgers, and antelopes are found here. The steppe is divided into 2 parts namely north steppe of Kherlen river and steppe of Tamsag.

1. North steppe of Kherlen river covers area from the mentioned river to the north border of Mongolia. The steppe has generally even surface with small low ridges, high lands and low dips with salty lakes. Absolute altitude of the steppe varies between 560-1200 m. The lowest point is 560 m in Mongolian territory and it’s covered by mat-grasses.

2. Steppe of Tamsag is from Choibalsan town to Khalkh river and Khyangan range, or in the south of Kherlen river. The steppe is very even and high lands and low dips are rarely found here. Absolute altitude is 600-800 m. For fauna, mat-grasses, wormwoods, and couch grass dominate here.

Eastern Mongolian strictly protected area is established in 1992 in order to protect mat grass ecosystem and antelopes, and the protected area includes Erdenetsagan sum of Sukhbaatar province and Matad and Khalkh gol sums of Dornod Province.

Khuvsgul National Park

The jewel of Mongolia’s national park system, this one is given great acclaim by travel agents. The park, with a surface area of 838,000 ha, is enclosed to the north by the Saian Mountains and to the west by the Khoridal Saridag chain. It was created in 1992 to protect the lake’s ecology, which has long been jeopardized by miners, loggers and traders.

Lake Khuvsgul

Lake Khuvsgul, 136 km long and 36 km wide, at 1645 metres above sea level, is the second largest lake in Mongolia as well as the deepest. Known as the Blue Pearl of Mongolia, because of it’s crystal clear waters, it flows into Eg River, which then joins the Selenge, and finally reaches lake Baikal.

Almost 70 percent of Khovsgol lake is over 100 metres deep, reaching 267 metres at its deepest point. This is the largest reservoir of freash water in the country and represents two percent of the world’s reserves. Such is the clarity of the water that one can see fish down to a depth of a few dozen meters. From January to April or May, the lake freezes over and covered for several months by 1.5 metres of ice. Lorries used to drive across it in winter, a practice banned since the 1980s to prevent pollution.

In the center of the lake are four islands known as the “Earth Navel”, “Stone navel”, the “Wood navel” and the “Small navel”. Around the lake are a number of caves. Brown bear, musk deer, ibex, argali, marten. Beavers, elk, lynx and wolves inhabit the surrounding mountains.

Khongor Els is located 763 km away to the south west of Ulaanbaatar city in Umnugobi province.

This is the biggest sand massifs in Mongolia, which covers 180km long area between Gurvan Saikhan and Nemegt Ranges belonging to Gobi Altai Range. It lies along wind flows. The sand has 965sq km area with 27 km of widest and 0.8km of most narrow. There are many clay hills and terraces with sexual-trees in west of the sand. East of the sand has much taller sand dunes with 150m relative altitudes and 25-300 inclined sides. The tallest one has 190m relative altitude. Movement of Khongor sand makes unique noise and it’s called singing dunes by local people.

The khongor sand dune is involved in the area of Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park.

Bayanzag is located 597 km away to the south west of Ulaanbaatar city in Umnugobi province. It’s a valley covered by ancient deposits with saxuals and combination of Gobi landscape, rocks and taluses. The popular finds from Bayanzag show that the place was home of ancient people and animals.

Many rare archeological and historical finds have been found here and some of them are being exhibited in Natural History Museum of USA.  American Expedition to Central Asia led by Endruis R.Ch. traveled through Mongolian Gobi during 1922to 1928. The finds were carried by 70 camels when they went back to America.This place is popular with the name “Flaming Cliffs” in the world because some American archeologists called so when they were in the Gobi in 1922. Mongolia is considered second country of dinosaur finds while USA is first and 330 types of dinosaurs have been found in the world and 60 types of them are belong to Mongolia.

The hills in Bayanzag look like burning hills when sun sets. People have been living for a long time here because the place is always in rich of plants even dry years.

These mountains with granite stone massifs and screec are located in Mongolian granite rock zone, Dund Gobi Province.

Baga gazriin stone, is a 15km long and 10 km wide stone massif, is located 30 km to the south east of Adaatsag sum. This stone massif is also part of the Mongolian granite stone zone. The highest point is Tahilgat Mountain /1758 m/ in the Northwest part of the stone massif. Wild sheep, ibex and marmot inhabit here, Surtiin am is one of many beautiful places in Baga gazriin stone massif. This is a narrow canyon with asp, birch, white wicker and elm tree, as well the ruin of a stone temple and the site of 2 yurts where monks lived and meditated since the seventieth century.

There is a 20 m long cave near to the Surtiin Am. Crystals can be found around the cave. Life size paintings of deer are painted on a granite stone and another yurt shaped stone called Ger chuluu. According to scientists, 64 tombs and tumuli dated back to Khugnu tribe have been found around Baga zagriin Stone.

Also, there is a spring water which comes from under source is good for eye illness.

Large numbers of gulls and migratory birds live at Uvs Nuur in summer This immense lake (80 km wide and 80 km long ) is located 28 kilometers north-east of Ulaangom. Although at a relatively low altitude, it is one of the coldest places in the whole country in winter. The basin of Uvs Nuur is characterized by remarkable ecological diversity-desert, marsh, dunes, semi-desert, steppe, taiga, tundra, and glaciers-in a relatively compact zone. For this reason, it is now among the ten world sites chosen for an international research programme on biospheres.

Since 1993, the basin has acquired four strictly protected zones. The zones include Uvs Nuur, Mount Tsagaan Shuvuu, Mount Turgen and Altan Els, All the mountain valleys in the basin are rich in funerary sites. More than 2000 belong to various periods (Scythian, Xiongnu, Turkish, Mongol),

The large saltwater Khiargas Nuur, with sandy shores, is located 90 kilometres south-east of Ulaangom, at 1426 metres above sea level. It is fed by water from the Khankhokhi Mountian and is linked in the south to Airag Nuur, a small freshwater lake. It then flows into the Zavkhan River, of which an affluent in turn flows into Lake Har (on the border between Khovd and Zavkhan aimags).

Achit Nuur, located at the edge of Bayan Olgii Aimag, at an elevation of 1464 metres , is the largest fresh water lake in the province and also the largest lake in the Mongol Altai. Its waters join those of the Khovd River.

The saltwater lake Uureg Nuur (1426m), alongside the Olgii-Ulaangom road , is located among superb scenery, surround ed on all sides by the high summits of the Altai. The fishing and hiking opportunities are good here and it makes a perfect camping area. Rock paintings, representing animals, can be seen in the gorge of the Tsagaan river, which is the western affluent of Uureg Nuur.

Somewhat modest in size, the Har Us Nuur saltwater lake is located south-east, of the Kharkhiraa Mountians in Omnogovi sum. The lake ,sometimes called Olgii Nuur, extends along the road from khovd to Ulaangom.