ELSEN TASARKHAI-KARAKORUM-UGII LAKE-KHUSTAI NATIONAL PARK

 

ELSEN TASARKHAI (SAND DUNES)

 This 80-km sand dune is situated in a terrain of 3 Soums, Erdenesant of Tuv Aimag, Burd of Uvurkhangai, Gurvanbulag of Bulgan Aimag, starting from west of Mount Batkhaan and stretches along west of Mount Khugnu Khan . The main road separates this sand dune into two parts, Mongol Els on the south and Khugnu Tarnyn Els on the north. The sand is sodden under its surface, so shrubberies such as willow, elm and dogwood, grow in the area. 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.

  KARAKORUM

History of the Mongols has always been proved by a history of other countries and this Karakorum city became famous and well-known worldwide thanks to accounts of celebrated explorers. Meaning of the name Karakorum: Karakorum in ancient time, later Kharkhorum, but now it is Kharkhorin. Karakorum is a Uighar word originated from Altaic language. Since Genghis khan’s period, it became Kharkhorum which originated from the word ‘khar khurem’vin Mongolian. Scientist Ts.Shugel claimed that khurem in Mongolian and khorum in Uighar refers to a kind of volcanic rock. So, the name is not Kharkhorum, but Khar khurem. Although most of the scientists agreed with Shugel, they haven’t reached a single conclusion.

Arrangement and appearance of ancient Karakorum: Foundation of Karakorum city was laid in the 8th century. Later in the 13th century Van khan of Khereid tribe had settled down in the city and then it had been used as a military barrack and a weapons’ warehouse. After that Genghis khan made the city capital of Mongol empire. In 1235 Ugudei khan had expanded Karakorum and had the fortress built surrounding the city. A stone-based massive palace with 64 columns called Tumen Amgalant Castle was built on a special platform. The floor was paneled in green and the walls were decorated with various paintings. The palace was 55-80m wide, each column was patterned in gold and the roof was tiled in green and red. In the sutra of Yuan dynasty it was recorded that an ending ceremony of the palace construction had been held in 1236. Since 1236 many castles of Ugudei khan’s descendents and his relatives had been built in the city. Stairs, column bases of the castles, stelae and their stone turtle bases had been usually made of stones. In the place named Elstei near Orkhon River 20km west from Karakorum there was a fine granite deposit and later finds proved that there was also a big forge which used to produce construction stones in the 13th century. During the Munkh khan’s period a French forger Wilghelm De Bushe crafted a silver tree which gave 4 kinds of drinks. Atop of the silver tree, goddess Victoria figure playing a pipe was posed and during the festivals a pipe melody was produced and people were served with 4 types of drinks flowed into the silver cup. These 4 drinks include a wine, a mare’s milk, millet and a honey drink. Well-known explorer Giom De Roubruk recorded about his arrival in Karakorum in 1253 in his book “Visiting to the Eastern World”. In this book he wrote about people and visitors being served by these drinks.

Karakorum was surrounded by a 4km-sided fortress and 4 gates were on four sides of the fortress. It was accounted that on the east gate there was a market of grain, on the west a market of sheep and goats, on the south oxen and oxcarts, and on the north horses and horse cars. In 4 corners of the fortress 4 turtles with an empire banner atop were placed. They symbolized a defense of the fortress or city from outside attack. Since Mongolian kings were tolerant towards any religions, there were 12 temples of Buddhism, Christianity as well as Islam. And also there were a 5-storey stupa which was begun to build during the Ugudei khan’s period and finished in Munkh khan’s period and 2 Islamic-styled districts of artisans and a trade. Mongolian kings had many buildings such as temples, castles, monuments built in eastern, western or traditional design with a help of forgers and artisans from conquered countries. Karakorum was a busy and a crowded city where Russian, Georgian, Caliph, Chinese, Italian and French people inhabited. This city was an important cultural as well as an economical centre which joined eastern and western world. There were no industry and manufacturing at all. However, they had been farming, producing a panel by burning a tile and running a forge of ferrous metal, gold and silver.  Inhabitants of Karakorum had been living in great luxury with a help of tributaries from conquered countries. One third of the city terrain was belonged to high state officials including translators and typists of every country under the empire.

Karakorum was fired in 1215 and 1268 and reconstructed after each firing. However, the city was destroyed heavily in 1380 and 1466 due to attack of Min dynasty. In the end, it was completely devastated as a result of successive invasions of Min dynasty as well as domestic conflicts between noblemen. Karakorum had existed for about 140 years, but for only 32 years it was a capital of the Mongol empire.

Excavation researches in Karakorum: In 1889 a Russian scientist N.M.Yadrintsev discovered a city ruin near the Erdenezuu monastery. A year after, V.V.Radlov found a king decree on a stone panel associated with Karakorum while he was researching a fortress of Erdenezuu monastery. This revealed the site of the city ruin. The first expedition on Karakorum, Mongol-Soviet joint expedition headed by an experienced Mongolian archeologist Kh.Perlee and a Soviet professor C.V.Kiselev, was held in 1948-1949 and discovered many valuable finds including large number of domestic hardware, earthenware and chinaware. Craftsmen of this period used to put their handprint on their creations certifying a quality. Various kinds of construction materials, roof segments and monuments were also revealed. A research group of Historical Institute in the Scientific Academy discovered Mongolian as well as Muslim graves, while excavating the site around the city in 1976-1980. A remain of the furnace, which was used to  burn earthenware and chinaware in ancient time, was found in front of the 64-columned palace Tumen Amgalant. And a main street of the city was proved to have had a stone road, because stone road remains were found. The research group excavated 6000m area where the deepest part was 7m and revealed most part of the Tumen Amgalant palace foundation. Total of 230 coins of 10 different countries were found from the site including 10 from the palace foundation, 54 from the area around east gate and 129 from the main cross road. It tells us that Karakorum was engaged in trade with at least 10 countries.

In 1995-1996 UNESCO-supported Mongol-Japan joint researchers ascertained an exact terrain of Karakorum and made a topographical map of the city. Since 1999, according to the presidents’ agreement of Mongolia and Germany, archeological institutes in the Scientific Academy of two countries and Central Asian Institute in Bonn University have been cooperating in a new project for studying all finds of Karakorum in-depth using a laboratory method.

Although Karakorum was considered to be a capital of the empire, it has never been a centre of a politic. Many scientists expressed their opinion about it based on historical sources. For instance, Plano Carpini, who headed to Karakorum in 22nd of July 1246, came to the Mongol empire during a coronation of Guyeg khan. But surprisingly, the coronation was held in an erected marquee on a broad steppe instead of in the capital. As a ruler of the great empire stretched from western end to eastern end of the world (known world of that time), his coronation may take place wherever he wants. Plano really wondered if whatever takes places in the capital. In 12th of December 1253, when a French priest Guillaune De Roubruck came Karakorum, Munkh khan was absent from the capital. Soon, he founded that the king comes to the capital only during the festivals twice a year. So, he came to a conclusion: “a broad steppe was a political centre of Mongol empire, but Karakorum was a peaceful city where multistate merchants gather and trade with each other, followers of many different religions do their missionary works, massive collections of gold and silver were stored as well as forgers and artisans from other countries created their works”.

UGII LAKE

Covering 25 sq km area, Lake Ugii is situated in Ugii Nuur Soum, Arkhangai Aimag. It is 7km long and 5km wide. 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. 14 kinds of fish such as a perch, a Luce and about 150 types of aquatic birds gather at Lake Ugii. Since scarce birds like a cape barren goose, a spoonbill, a Dalmatian pelican live around the lake; it has been involved in the international network to preserve birds of the goose and duck groups. Women are not allowed to enter and swim in the lake, since it is a sacred lake.

KHUSTAI NATIONAL PARK

The Hustai National Park in Mongolia is world famous for the successful reintroduction of the Przewalski horse Equus przewalskii. In addition to these wild horses, roaming freely in their land of origin again, the park and its surrounding area have much to offer to the lovers of the nature and the culture of our beautiful country, located in the heartland of Asia.

We would like you to share the experience of Hustai National Park with us.

Przewalski horse and wild life: Hustai National Park proudly present the Przewalski horse – Takhi, the only still living wild ancestor of the domestic  horse, and other wild life. Our Takhi reintroduction project is continuing with good result and first generation of Takhi born in the wild are reproducing themselves now. In 2014, there are 32 groups of Przewalski horses and their total number is reached over 320.

The quality of the various ecosystems within the park assures an abundant wildlife. Till now 52 mammals, 223 bird, 2 amphibian, 3 reptile, 15 fish and over 500 insect species have been recorded.

Many of these are mentioned in the Red Data Book as globally threatened with extinction such as the Przewalski horse, the Mongolian gazelle, Red deer, Roe deer, Argali sheep, Grey wolf, Marmot, Lynx and many more.

Most time of the year Hustai National Park is an excellent place for observing birds as many species are spectacular due to size, rarity, numbers and behavior.

Notable are the number of large raptors like the Black vultures, Golden eagles and several species of Falcons including the highly valued Saker falcon. Other birds include the Demoiselle Crane, the Great bustard, The Black Stork and many more.

Approximately 450 vascular plant species have been recorded. Among these are many medicinal rare and endangered species.

There is a good chance to see all of these wild lives in Hustai in short period.

Cultural and archaeological sites: Hustai National Park is the place not for only wildlife. In history, Hustai has always been a well known area. In the past it has been protected as it was a holy place for local people. The area in and around the park is rich with archaeological and cultural sites.

The area of Hustai National Park is showing many traces of ancient habitation and use. Among the oldest ones are the many Neolithic graves that dot the upper terraces of Tuul River valley, as well as some of the inner valleys. The oldest ones are reported to be over 4000 years of age.

The most spectacular grave site is called the Ongot Grave. About 1200-1400 years ago people of Turkic origin carved the grave stones like in which man-like features can easily be recognized.

In the Tuul river valley the remains of small temple can be found which built some 200 years ago.

Nomadic life: The traditional Mongolian way of life is governed by the seasonal requirements of livestock keeping in a harsh environment. Many nomadic families use the steppes in the buffer zone of the park for pasturing their livestock mainly sheep, goats, cows, camels and domestic horses.

Most of them migrate between the Tuul River valley where they spend summertime, and the foothills where they build their winter camps.

Mongolian nomads are well known for their hospitality. Visitors are always warmly invited for a cup of airag (fermented mare’s milk) or traditional Mongolian tea.

You can visit to local families and they will show you how they manage their livestock and how they make dairy products from milk and other items such as felt, leather and many more. If you are on overnight trip, they will offer their visitor ger for you to stay.

And please enjoy with their special tour programs such as Mini Naadam, Nomadic Journey and Felt Making tour which is part of our Community Based Tourism Program.

Satisfied visitors are the best ambassadors for our park and for our country. We like you to be one of our friends, and we wish you a pleasant and rewarding stay in the homeland of the Takhi.

Hustai Resort: There is the fine tour resort “Hustai” and “Moilt” camp in Hustai National Park. We have 35 visitor gers and rooms with traditional furniture for visitors. Our “Takhi” restaurant will offer variety of European, Mongolian and vegetarian meals.

Always welcome to our information center to collect important information about Hustai National Park and its surrounding area. And please have a look into “Hustai” souvenir shop which sells handicrafts that made by locals and other products.

The money you spend in Hustai National Park will directly help Hustai National Park’s conservation and its wildlife.

Please read carefully Hustai National Park’s regulation at the gate and follow!

Enjoy your time in Hustai!