Northern Mongolia - Mongolia - page 243

hotel, features exhibits dating back to Mongolia's independence movement of 1921.
Standout relics include heroic Soviet-style mosaics of Sükhbaatar, a life-size golden
statue of the man meeting Lenin and some of Sükhbaatar's personal effects - his boots,
gun and even his desk. Sükhbaatar's office was allegedly in the small red building out-
side the museum.
Minivans (T3500) run between Sükhbaatar and Altanbulag at various times during the
day, or you could charter a taxi (T10,000).
The border ( 8am-5pm) is located right at the edge of Altanbulag. If you're heading
into Russia, you cannot cross it on foot. The border guards can pair you up with any
private car that has room, and after you go through the border formalities, you can then
catch a bus from Kyakhta to Ulan-Ude.
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Dulaankhaan
Forty-seven kilometres south of Sükhbaatar, this tiny village is worth a stop if you have
your own vehicle. Dulaankhaan is home to a bow-making workshop ( 9913 1491; ba-
[e-mail] ) , one of only three in Mongolia. In a large, dusty room, exquisite
bows and arrows are made from ibex and reindeer horn, bamboo and even fish guts.
Only around 100 sets are crafted every year and each bow takes about four months to
complete. A set sells for about T400,000 (bow plus four arrows). If there are no finished
bows available, ask where they might be sold in Ulaanbaatar. It is far easier to ship your
acquisition home from the capital.
To find the workshop, cross the railroad tracks to enter the village then look for the
long, decrepit-looking warehouse with the 'Hornbow factory' sign pointing to it behind
the railway-station building.
The village is 6km west of the Sükhbaatar-Darkhan Hwy along a newly paved road.
Expect to pay at least T20,000 for a taxi from Sükhbaatar.
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Darkhan
7037, 01372 / POP 74,738
This minor city on the Trans-Mongolian Railway looks a bit like a mini-Ulaanbaatar, al-
beit with less traffic and with fewer new buildings going up, making Darkhan an appeal-
ing short stop en route to Amarbayasgalant Monastery or the Russian border.