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Mongolia’s capital offers modern transport links and is an interesting place to spend a few days when preparing for a trip to more remote parts of the country. For those planning a shorter stay in Mongolia, Ulaan Baatar provides a comfortable base from which to explore the nearby National Parks of Terelj and Hustain Nuuruu. There are also several interactive programmes and events that can be arranged from the capital, including the Nomads Lifestyle Programme to experience the routines of the locals, a visit to a living day 13th Century Historical Park and experiencing a cavalry charge from the days of Genghis Khan with warriors dressed in period armour - please refer to our what’s hot, and what’s on when sections.
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Ulaan Baatar
Ulaan Baatar was founded in 1778 in a broad valley near the River Tuul, flanked by hills carpeted in pine forests, and was made up of thousands of felt tents or gers, and several temples. Although gers still fringe the city today, Ulaan Baatar is now a bustling metropolis with a good range of accommodation and there is an interesting selection of restaurants, shops, art galleries, theatres and nightclubs. The Soviet influence is apparent in the style of architecture and town planning with plenty of space, long straight avenues and factories lining the outskirts. Despite the post war concrete, the city has a laid back atmosphere and there are some fascinating places to explore, including the Natural History Museum with a famous collection of dinosaur exhibits including two complete dinosaur skeletons and Gandan Monastery, one of the few temples to survive Stalin’s purges since the Russian soldiers used it to stable their horses. Many plan their visit to coincide with the National Naadam Festival held on the 11th July each year, during which the locals compete in the three manly sports of archery, horsemanship and wrestling in the capital’s national sports arena. For more information about the National Naadam and other festivals in Mongolia please refer to our what’s hot, and what’s on when sections.
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Terelj National Park
Located just 50 miles from Ulaan Baatar, Terelj is a popular retreat for the residents of the capital, and those looking for a day trip from their hotel. A visit to Terelj is the perfect introduction to Mongolia, with alpine landscape of green pastures and rocky outcrops that is as wild and beautiful as the remotest parts of the country. The park lies at 1,600 m with areas of both Siberian taiga forest and grass steppe. Three river systems have their sources in this protected area; the Tuul River which flows into Lake Baikal and continues to the Arctic Ocean, and the Onon and Kherlen which flow east to join the Amur River before emptying into the Pacific Ocean. Popular activities in the park include horse riding, hiking and rafting, and there is a well serviced ger camp which can provide lunch and overnight accommodation.
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Hustain Nuuruu National Park
The Hustain Nuuruu National Park is located 60 miles to the west of Ulaan Baatar and is an area of green pastures, undulating hills and streams. The park is run by a Mongolian conservation association with co-operation from a Dutch foundation, who in 1993 successfully re-introduced the Mongolian Wild Horse to its native habitat at Hustain Nuuruu. The takhi, or Przewalski horse, is a short stocky species believed by some scientists to be the wild progenitor of the domestic horse, and was declared extinct in the wild in the late 1960s following hunting and encroachment of their habitat by herdsmen. Several takhi horses survived in zoos and private collections, and after the Cold War steps were taken by the WWF to breed the group that would be re-introduced. Since the programme began 39 foals have been born in the wild, and there is a population of around 250 in the National Park. At the park there is a Takhi Information Centre telling of the wild horses return to Mongolia, and walking trails to see the horses in their enclosures.
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