4 Tourist Spots in Ulaanbaatar, the Mongolian Capital that Produced Genghis Khan

Mongolia is the country that produced Genghis Khan, a hero who swept the world from East to West. Its capital, Ulaanbaatar, is the country's largest city, gathering nearly half of Mongolia's population. However, even so, the population is only about 1.3 million, which is considered sufficiently quiet and calm compared to major Japanese cities.

Ulaanbaatar has plenty of tourist attractions, including facilities related to Genghis Khan, Mongolia's vast natural scenery, and Tibetan Buddhist architecture! There are also tours that allow you to stay in "ger," traditional Mongolian mobile dwellings.

We will introduce 4 carefully selected recommended sightseeing spots in Ulaanbaatar, which is full of charm that inherits the culture and tradition of nomadic people.

1. Bogd Khan Palace Museum

Bogd Khan was the last monarch of Mongolia, who reigned in the early 20th century when Ulaanbaatar was still called Urga. He is sometimes called Jevzundamba Khutuktu VIII, as an incarnation lama of Tibetan Buddhism.

The Bogd Khan Palace Museum is a renovated winter palace of his, and it is a representative tourist spot in Ulaanbaatar as a representative historical building of the nomadic country. The palace, based on wood framing, is vivid in the vermilion color of the walls and the green of the roof tiles, making it worth seeing.

The interior is an exhibition that clearly shows the lives of successive Khans and the culture of the time, and daily necessities and clothes actually used by the Khans are also exhibited. Guided tours are available, and participation is recommended. They will carefully explain even the parts that you tend to skip.

2. Genghis Khan Equestrian Statue

If you have come to Mongolia for sightseeing, you will want to see the figure of Genghis Khan, a hero who built a world empire. The Genghis Khan Equestrian Statue, located east of Ulaanbaatar, is recommended for such people.

A huge statue of Genghis Khan suddenly appears in front of you as you drive through the Mongolian land, where only grasslands spread. The impressive Genghis Khan statue, shining in silver, stands in the magnificent steppe. The closer you get, the more you will be surprised at its unbelievable size.

There is also a museum attached, so it would be a waste to just look and leave. Inside the museum, artifacts from the time when the nomadic people of Mongolia were called the "Xiongnu" are exhibited. There are many words that appear in history textbooks, so it is a tourist spot that history lovers will love.

There are also shops in the equestrian statue building, so you can buy souvenirs for your Ulaanbaatar sightseeing, such as Genghis Khan related goods. Genghis Khan goods, which everyone knows, will surely be appreciated as gifts.

3. Gorkhi-Terelj National Park

A 2-hour drive from the center of Ulaanbaatar will take you to Gorkhi-Terelj National Park, where magnificent natural scenery spreads out.

This is the natural park that we imagine when we think of Mongolia! The land of grasslands and rocky mountains continues. There are also sightseeing tours where you can stay in a traditional Mongolian dwelling "ger," and it is a tourist spot where you can have a unique Mongolian experience. The inside is surprisingly spacious and a comfortable dwelling that can withstand heat and cold. At night, you can enjoy the night sky studded with stars.

You can also apply for horse riding tours in Ulaanbaatar. Riding a horse and strolling through the grasslands will make you feel like a nomad.

By the way, because the sunlight is strong, it is recommended that people who do not want to get sunburned take thorough measures.

4. Gandantegchenling Monastery

Gandantegchenling Monastery, commonly known as Gandan Temple, was built in 1727 by the Qing Emperor Yongzheng. As it is considered the head temple of Tibetan Buddhism in Mongolia, it is crowded with many worshipers every day. You will see many locals carefully and diligently turning the Mani wheel and praying.

Inside, there is a powerful Kannon statue with a height of 25m. The golden and dazzlingly shining Kannon is worth seeing.

There is a tree where wishes come true in the square, so let's make a wish as a souvenir of sightseeing. Gandan Temple is the largest Buddhist monastery in Mongolia and is a must-see. It is one of the highlights of sightseeing in Ulaanbaatar.

◎ Summary

Ulaanbaatar is full of attractions such as facilities related to Genghis Khan, who is familiar from history textbooks, vast natural scenery, and Tibetan Buddhist architecture.

In recent years, it has become a city that is familiar to Japanese people as the birthplace of sumo wrestlers. Why don't you visit the fascinating Mongolia once?