Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Shadavdarjaliin Khiid
BUDDHIST MONASTERY
Shadavdarjaliin Khiid, in the western part of town near the Sports Palace, is a freshly
painted, walled temple complex with some
ovoo
(shamanistic offering) trees and a dozen
monks. The original monastery in this area was built in 1660 and housed the first
Buddhist philosophy school in Mongolia and at its peak, before the Stalinist purges of
1938, the monastery was home to more than 1000 monks.
Aimag Museum
MUSEUM
(admission T2000; 9am-1pm & 2-6pm Tue-Sat)
The small Aimag Museum features a mas-
todon tusk, a Protoceratops skull, some Chinggis Khaan-era armour and an array of
stuffed aimag wildlife, including a saluting bear. In the central park, across the road,
you'll find
statues of famous wrestlers
from this aimag - a popular photo stop for loc-
als.
Balbal
MONUMENT
(GPS: N 47°16.722', E 110°36.096')
A well-preserved Turkic-era
balbal
(stone grave marker)
is 7km west of Chinggis Khot, past the airport. The squat-figured statue, covered in blue
silk
hadak
(ritual scarves), has a disproportionately large head with pronounced eye-
brows and deep-set eyes. His long hair is curled behind his ears, an unusual feature for
this type of statue.
Sleeping
If you want to camp, head south past the wrestling stadium, and walk along the Kherlen
Gol to the west until you've found a quiet spot.
Negdelchin Hotel
HOTEL$
( 01562-22333; d T15,000-30,000, lux T50,000)
The Negdelchin sports some of the best
rooms in town, though still with ubiquitous box-spring beds. The cheapest doubles share
facilities and have enough room to swing only the smallest of cats. Try a lux room for a
little more space. There is a decent Chinese restaurant downstairs.
Jonon Hotel
HOTEL$
