Must-see Sites Around the Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape
Located in Mongolia’s central region is the Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape. Listed as one of Mongolia’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Orkhon Valley has a surprisingly rich history, is home to the ancient capital of the Mongol Empire, and has stunning natural beauty. There are archaeological sites scattered throughout the region, cultural landmarks, and beautiful nature areas that make the Orkhon Valley worth visiting. Visiting the Orkhon Valley can be done as a day trip from Ulaanbaatar or over several days. Join me and learn about some of the must-see sites around the Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape.
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Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was inscribed in 2004.
According to UNESCO the Orkhon Valley is listed as a World Heritage Site because of the several archaeological sites found in the area, the city of Kharkhorum, and the unique landscapes and environments.
How to Visit Mongolia's Orkhon Valley
The Orkhon Valley is located roughly 360 km from Ulaanbaatar.
There are paved roads between the capital city of Ulaanbaatar and Kharkhorum. Technically, if you have a rental car in Mongolia, it can be done on your own. But I recommend booking a tour either through Viator or Get Your Guide.
The reason I recommend visiting the Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape with a guide is because they take care of everything for you. The itinerary is already planned, you will have a driver, and the guide will explain so much of the area. You get a lot more out of a tour as opposed to exploring the Orkhon Valley on your own.
When I visited Mongolia, I booked a 5 Day Central Mongolia Tour and we spent full days in the Orkhon Valley.
Must-see Sites Within the Orkhon Valley
I spent two full days in Mongolia’s Orkhon Valley as part of a 5 Day Central Mongolia Tour. Our Central Mongolia itinerary included the Orkhon Valley and these days were some of my favorite days and most interesting. I learned a lot about historical events that took place in Mongolia and got to see and experience amazing attractions while visiting the Orkhon Valley. The attractions and sites below were all included in my Orkhon Valley itinerary and were very much worthwhile.
Kharkhorum Museum
The Kharkhorum Museum is a must when visiting the Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape.
This museum is a great introduction to learning about the region, seeing archaeological artifacts discovered in the area, and has a lot of additional information on Mongolia’s history.
There are over 3,000 artifacts at the museum. One of the more interesting exhibits is the tomb of an aristocrat from the 7th century.
According to the museum, the tomb was 42 meters long, 1.8 meters wide, and 7.5 meters high. 550 artifacts were discovered within the tomb.
Erdene Zuu Monastery
Considered to be the first Buddhist monastery in Mongolia, Erdene Zuu Monastery dates back to around 1586. In its prime in 1872, Erdene Zuu Monastery had over 60 temples and over 500 structures.
Unfortunately, in 1939, most of the monastery was destroyed under communist rule. Communist leader Horloogiyn Choybalsan destroyed much of Mongolia’s religious sites.
After the fall of communism in Mongolia, the monastery was handed over to the monks and once again became a place of worship.
Today, only a few temples and structures remain within the walls. Visitors can walk within the walls and enter a few of the temples. It is still a must visit site in the Orkhon Valley.
Monument for Mongol States
Just outside the city of Kharkhorum is the Monument for Mongol States. Although the attraction itself isn’t particularly interesting to non-locals, the view of the valley behind the monument is worth the stop alone.
This monument is also known as the King’s Monument. It’s a cone shaped monument surrounded by a walls.
The Orkhon River below and the surrounding valley makes for a picture perfect setting.
Ulaan Tsutgalan Waterfall (Orkhon Waterfall)
The Ulaan Tsutgalan Waterfall or simply Orkhon Waterfall is a 20 meter tall waterfall that is kind of in the middle of nowhere.
Visiting the Orkhon Waterfall was part of my 5 Day Central Mongolia Tour, we drove hours on an offroad trail to get here and ended up staying with a local nomadic family. We even rode Mongolian horses from the yurt camp to the waterfall.
You can view the waterfall from above or you can hike to the bottom (About 15-20 minutes). Our guide told us that people swim in the pool below during the hot summer month.
Conclusion
The Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape is one of Mongolia’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Orkhon Valley is unique due to the beautiful landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and interesting archaeological finds. This truly is one of Mongolia’s most beautiful areas and is a must visit. An easy trip from Ulaanbaatar, the Orkhon Valley deserves at least two days to explore and will leave a lasting impression on you.
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Plan Your Trip: 🗺️✈️🇲🇳
Booking Accommodations ⛺️🛖
For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com
Activities and Tours 🏖️🚁
Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options.
In need of a car rental? 🚗🚘
I recommend checking with Rental Cars.
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