Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(tw T45,000-60,000; )
This new hotel offers an OK alternative if you're desperate to
sleep in something other than a ger. Rooms are large, clean and bright and come with
wall-mounted TV and attached bathroom. There's no English spoken, but staff are wel-
coming. Wi-fi wasn't working when we were here.
Dream Land
TOURIST GER CAMP$$$
$$$
( 9908 8605, 9191 1931;
www.asa-travel.com
;
GPS: N 47°11.586', E 102°47.374'; ger s/d US$36/64,
lux ger s/d US$60/84; )
A stone's throw away from Mönkh Tenger, but secreted
away from the grassy valley behind an oasis of trees, Dream Land, owned by a famous
Mongolian suma champion, is Kharkhorin's top luxury ger-camp option. The standard
gers are similar to those at any decent ger camp, but the luxury gers come with a king-
sized bed, upholstered furniture, a fridge, air- conditioning and even cable TV! There are
also nine, good-quality rooms (twins are US$90 to US$130) within the main building
which houses reception. A beautiful Japanese-style sauna and bathhouse completes the
picture. English is spoken.
OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
SHANKH KHIID
Shankh Khiid
(GPS: N 47°03.079', E 102°57.236'; admission T1000)
, once known as the West
Monastery, and Erdene Zuu are the only monasteries in the region to have survived
the 1937 purge. Shankh was founded by the great Zanabazar in 1648 and is said to
have once housed Chinggis Khaan's black military banner. At one time the monas-
tery was home to more than 1500 monks. As elsewhere, the monastery was closed
in 1937, temples were burnt and many monks were shipped off to Siberia. Some of
those that survived helped to reopen the place in the early 1990s.
The monastery is about 26km south of Kharkhorin. You'll see it on the right side
of the road as you approach the village of Shankh.
Eating
All the accommodation options reviewed serve meals, too.
Morin Jim Café
MONGOLIAN$
MAP
( 9924 2980; mains T3500-6500; 8am-10pm; )
This French-run restaurant has a
simple, but excellent-value menu containing mostly Mongolian dishes, but also salads,
