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Eastern Mongolia – Khan Khentii and the Great Plains Eastern Mongolia, encompass¬ing the Khan Hentii Mountain Range and Great Eastern Plains, has a lot to offer travelers and Mongolians alike. Frequently mentioned in "The Se¬cret History of the Mongols", a rare Mongol-centric historical account, the remote and almost totally uninhabited wilderness area of the Khan Hentii Mountains is the birthplace of Ching¬gis Khaan. The Eastern Mongolian Plains feature expanses of verdant grasslands, which extend as far as the eye can see, as well as lakes, mineral springs and gently rolling hills. This steppe per¬mits an array of wildlife to thrive, but is dominated by thousands of white-tailed gazelle (Mongolian gazelle). Traditional folk songs, blacksmith and silversmith skills, and the handi¬crafts of the Dariganga people, who inhabit the southern end of the plains, are also parts of the region s famous reputation.
Khentii Mountain Range and Khan Khentii Protected Area Distance: 160 kilometers from Ulaanbaatar Duration: 4-6 hours by road Accommodation: camping Activities: hiking, horseback rid¬ing, climbing, nature trips, wildlife viewing, photography and videography tours Hentii, one of Mongolia’s three prime mountain ranges, stars from just east of Ulaanbaatar and stretches to the great eastern plains. There are several peaks that rise to 2500 meters above sea level, the highest one being Asralt Khairkhan (2,800 meters). The ancestral home of Chinggis khan the Hentii Mountain range enclose many places that played important roles in the great khaan s life, making it a popular destination for history buffs patriots. The Khan Hentii Protected area covers over 1.2 million hectares of the rugged Hentii Mountains bordered by Terelj National (see terelj national Park) to the west. Covered by forests, wetlands, alpine itundra and even some permanent ice fields, the core of this remote region can only be accessed on foot or horseback. Three large rivers, the Tuul, the onon and the Herlen, owe their existence to sources from the Hentii Range’s springs. Therapeutic hot springs, used for medicinal purposes, can be found in some parts of the region, The Hentii Range houses over 1,150 species of plants and more than 50 species of mammals, including endangered musk dear and moose, brown bears, wolves, lynx, foxes, badgers, wolverines, weasels, sable, roe deer and elk. It also provides shelter for 253 bird species including whooper swans, spoonbills, great white egrets and raptors. Archaeologists have discovered more than 800 ancient burial sites near Khan Hentii Mountain. A ruined monastery, Gunjiin Sum, falls within the Khan Hentii Protected Area. Gunjiin Sum Temple Distance: 100 kilometers from Ulaanbaatar Duration: 2 hours by road from Ulaanbaatar to Terelj, then 2 hours by horse Accommodation: Ger camps in Terelj or camping Activities: cultural tours and horseback riding, hiking and nature trips in the surrounding area About 90 kilometers east of Ulaanbaatar, the ruins of Gunjiin Sum Temple mark the VIRTUAL center of Terelj National Park. A combination of ancient temple and beautiful roundings make the spot an attractive site for tourists. Despite it’s cheery location, the temple has a sad origin. In the 18th century, Ephu (title) Dondovdorj, the son of Tusheet Khaan, one of the most influential Mongolian noblemen of his day, married the 6th princess of Enkh-amgalan Khaan, king of the Manchus. The princess did much for the sake of Mongolian people suffering under Manchu rule at the time. White her charity pleased her newly adopted countrymen and women, it did not sit well with their Manchu overlords who had he princess killed in I740 “Ephu” Dondovdorj erected a marble monument and the burial temple in memory of his beloved queen. Onon river and its basin Distance: 200 kilometers from Ulaanbaatar Duration: 2-3 hour drive to Ondorkhaan the capital of Khentii aimag, from Ulaanbaatar Accommodation: Terelj ger camps or camping ACTIVITIES: cultural tours and horseback riding, hiking and nature trips in the surrounding area like several landmarks in eastern Mongolia, the Onon River and its basin closely connected with important events in ancient and medieval Mongol history, particularly the life of Chinggis Khaan, who grew from an impoverished nomad child to become ruler one of the largest empire's the earth has ever seen flowing down the northern slope of the Khan I Ientii Range, the Onon filters into the Amur River, which gradually runs northeast into the Pacific Ocean the Onon River abounds with various fish species, Amur catfish, umber lenok, Amur chub, Amur graying and many others swim around the river, while rare birds, including while naped crane and swan geese can be spotted from its banks. Kherlen river Distance: 100 kilometers from Ulaanbaatar Duration: 2 hours by road to reach the Hentii Range, where the river begins. Accommodation: Ger camps ACTIVITIES: fishing, hiking, horse back riding and various nature trips Another of the three large rivers that begin in the Khan hentii range. the Herlen River divided tuv and Hentii aimags in eastern Mongolian plains. The Herlen is a lively body of water, teeming with fish including Amur catfish, umber, taimen, Amur chub, mirror carp, golden carp, and occasionally graced by migratory birds like geese and ducks.
Huduu aral and the ruins of Chinggis Khaan’s palace Distance: 240 kilometers Duration: 5-6 hours by road Accommodation: Ger camps Activities: historical and archeological logical expeditions, horseback riding and nature trips On the Huduu Aral plains, 13 kilometers southeast of the Khan Hentii Protected Area, a traveler can find the Aurug or the Palace of Chinggis Khan. In 1240 The Secret history of the Mongols was completed at this sight, in the midst of the 30 kilometers long and 20 kilometers wide plains, The 750th anniversary of this great historical work was held at Huduu aral in 1990, and a monument was erected to honor the great khaan. The area is also historically relevant because of the ancient burial sites found throughout the area.
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