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6 MUST SEE THINGS FOR NAADAM FESTIVAL

Naadam is the most important holiday event for Mongolians. Therefore, there are a lot of tourists direct to Mongolia during Naadam festival. But most of them end up only scratching the surface of the rituals and misinterpreting their meanings, and even city Mongolians are unaware of some of the great things happening. Hereby, pay attention for this news and catch up must see things for Naadam festival before you visit.

Mongolian horse racing, wrestling and archery are consisted in Naadam three manly games.

Horse racing

During the festival, participating horses are divided into six categories based on their ages and race for 10-26 kms. Horse jockeys are usually between 5 and 13. Due to the lengthy distance of the horseracing, jockeys are preferred to be light, yet experienced. During the race, jockeys not only ride horses, but also they are responsible for cherishing their horses with a special song called “giingoo” and raising their spirits. Several months before the race, both horses and jockeys go through intense training. Especially the horses are given a special diet and treated with tenderness during the said period. In the race, horses and their jockeys coming in first five are rewarded and revered.

Wrestling

Mongolian wrestling has certain uniqueness such as no weight or field limitation, expanded time and countless tricks. Mongolian wrestlers do a “special dance”, before and after the wrestling, resembling mighty birds like eagles, hawks, and vultures both as an expression of elegance/ strength and warm-up for the games. During the Naadam festival, each five-and-more round winning wrestler has been given different titles, and one elite wrestler was once given the title “Champion”.

Archery

During the Naadam festival, all male, female and child archers wear traditional costumes and compete in three categories: Khalkh, Buriad and Uriankhai, which have differences in the bows and arrows used, as well as the distance of the target. Khalh is the name of the majority group of Mongolia. It is played by teams of ten. Each archer is given four arrows; the team must hit 33 "sur", which is a small woven or wooden cylinder used as target. Men shoot their arrows from 75 meters away while women shoot theirs from 65 meters away.

Anklebone shooting

It is a game of players flicking a small rectangular soum at a stack of anklebones nine tokhoi (4.72 m) away. Anklebones of sheep and other livestock have been a source of recreation for nomad children, and this is one of them. UNECSO officially announced that it has inscribed Mongolian ankle bone shooting on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2014.

Deeltei Mongol Parade

Jul 13th, when the Deeltei Mongol Parade marches around Central Square, like an army of mellow Mongols peacefully invading the city and persuading its citizens to wear traditional clothing. Mongolian traditional costume “Deel” is a variety of styles depending Mongolia’s ethnic groups and geographical positions. You can stand by and enjoy them to take pictures or you might as well join them.

Traditional food

Around Central Stadium, which will be teeming with events and spectators between July 10 and 12, you should visit and try bite of Naadam khuushuur. Khuushuur is a crispy, deep-fried flat dumpling. Khuushuur is for Mongolia what sushi is for Japan. Also you should try airag, or fermented mare’s milk. Airag is a staple drink for any festive occasion. Mongols even drink airag as punishment for losing in khuruu, a Mongolian rock-stone-scissors game, or dembee, a Mongolian finger guessing and singing game.

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Your Itinerary For Your Visit To Mongolia

A classic itinerary for Mongolia combines the Soviet era architecture of capital Ulaanbaatar, beautiful monasteries, the expansive steppe, dinosaur fossils, towering mountains, sand dunes of the Gobi Desert, and offers glimpses into the nomadic life of the locals with camping opportunities at ger sites around the country.

Ulaanbaatar: Discovering Monasteries, Palaces and Museums

Start your journey in the Tuul River valley, home to the capital of Mongolia. Here, you can explore a mix of Buddhist monasteries, palaces and get a glimpse into the soviet past of the city over a couple of days.

Start your day at the Gandan Khiid. This monastery sees over 600 monks practice here - mornings are a good time to observe a ceremony in progress. The Winter Palace of the Bogd Khan with its collection of gifts from foreign dignitaries and beautiful examples of Buddhist artwork in the temples on the grounds, is a must see. Those with a love of theater will enjoy a Mongolian theater performance at the National Academic Drama Theater. If you have kids in tow, the puppet theater is a delight. Make time to catch a view of the city from Zaisan Hill.

After hours, enjoy the nightlife in this commercial center before you move on to more tranquil parts of the region the next day.

The Gobi Desert: Dinosaurs and dunes

Fly into South Gobi for your next leg of the journey where you can spend a few days to a week. Begin your travel back in time a few million years ago at Bayanzag, the site where dinosaur eggs were first discovered nearly a century ago in 1922. The Flaming Cliffs with their surreal orangery hue and the stark desert vegetation give you a glimpse into those ancient lands. Return to your ger tent for a back to nature night in.

Riding a double humped Bactrian camel through the Khongor sand dunes in Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park is the experience of a lifetime. The dunes put on a show for you, seeming to change color as the day progresses, going from yellow to silvery and then a rosy orange at sunset. Make time to meet a camel herdsman's family to understand the local culture, customs and lifestyle.

While in the area, also visit nomadic farms or take a detour to the Yol Valley. This thin steep gorge is nestled in the Saikhan range and is home to the bearded vulture. Another great option is checking out the 6000 year old Petroglyphs at Havtsgait.

Extensions to your Mongolia itinerary

While the South Gobi region tops the must-do list, there is more to be explored if you have the time.

Lake Hövsgöl National Park

Fly in to Hatgal or Mörön before journeying to the lake in the Ardavhar Peninsula. Enjoy a 3-4 day trip here, spent meeting with nomadic families in the grasslands and cruising the lake. Hike up to the hills of Tsomo, and camp near the gorgeous crystal clear waters of the lake.

Hustai National Park

Within easy reach of the capital, a couple of days are easily spent exploring the Hustai ridges as well as the Moltsog Els sand dunes. There are plenty of opportunities for wildlife spotting - from red-footed falcons, eagles, and black vultures to red deer and even wolves. Also nearby are the graves of the Öngut, a tribe that was around during the reign of Genghis Khan.

Khan Khentii

Drive here or arrive in by charter flight to the northeastern region of Mongolia, to experience some of the most amazing displays of horsemanship over a two day trip. Take a horseback safari and appreciate the majesty of these beasts as you pass rivers, grasslands and forests. Hike the Hentii Mountains and camp in a felt ger.

Chinggis Khaan Statue:

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6 Reasons to Make Mongolia Your Next Travel Destination

If Mongolia isn’t at the top of your travel destinations right now, you’re not alone...

In a world of over 7 billion people, fewer than 500,000 visited Mongolia last year—and that’s actually not a bad thing. Unlike China, which sees about 25 million tourists a year, or Australia (which gets about 6.5 million), Mongolia remains unblemished and unaffected by the consumerism that accompanies such a huge influx of visitors. Mongolia is one of the last countries on earth that preserves its traditional customs and way of life. Its vast expanses of barely populated deserts and plains are virtually unchanged over the millennia. When you visit Mongolia, you are one of the rare souls who gets to experience a simple and authentic way of life that has survived for thousands of years—and that alone is reason enough to come. Of course, there are many more reasons to make Mongolia your next destination—and if you’re searching for reasons to visit this magical place, here are six to tips to you.

1. Mongolia Has a Long and Significant History

Mongolia’s natural history contributions extend to the late Cretaceous period, some 70 million years ago. The world’s first confirmed dinosaur eggs, as well as one of the largest dinosaur footprints, were discovered in the Gobi. Anthropologically, humans have lived in Mongolia since at least the Bronze Age; the Havtsgait Valley is renowned for for its petroglyphs from that era. In the 13th century, Chinggis Khan reshaped history, forcing a clash between East and West and commanding the largest contiguous empire the world has ever seen, stretching from the Sea of Japan to the Caspian Sea. Then followed centuries of Chinese rule, beginning with the Manchu-led Qing Dynasty. This ultimately collapsed in the 20th century, when Mongolia declared its independence. A 70-year alliance with the Soviet empire ended in the 1990s, leading to our current democratic state. When you visit Mongolia, each layer of our distinct cultural history is still present, waiting for you to discover and explore.

2. Mongolia’s Cuisine is Like None in The World

You might guess that Mongolian cuisine has much in common with Chinese cuisine, but China’s—and Russia’s—influence is less than you’d imagine.

Much of Mongolia’s food culture is traced to our extreme climate and nomadic way of life. Meat and fat from animals, including camel, sheep, goat, cattle, and even horse (which we call the “Five Snouts”), form the basis of our diet. These are supplemented by rich dairy cream (urum) and soft kefir yogurt, with the occasional vegetables and starches. Hearty stews and meat-filled dumplings are customary. Traditional Mongolian foods such as khorkhog, a meat stew cooked with hot stones. Boodog, goat or marmot prepared by placing heated stones into the animal’s cavity and cooking the meat from the inside out. Airag, is our national drink made of fermented mare’s milk are all unique to our country—and made more delicious when shared with a nomadic family around a campfire. Mongolian barbeque prepared the traditional way offers visitors a unique way to “taste” our amazing country. And all visitors should experience our suutei tsai, the Mongolia salty milk tea.

3. Mongolia Has an Endless Expanse of Unexplored, Pristine Terrain

The Gobi is a mysterious region, lying in the rain shadow of the Himalayas.

It’s a cold desert measuring 500,000 square miles; only 5% is covered in sand dunes. Unlike other desserts, it has abundant plant and animal life. This includes trees, grasses, flowers—and camels, gazelles, wild asses, and snow leopards. Eastern Mongolia is the land of Chinggis Khan, with endless steppes and glorious mountains, the center of mysterious stories from ancient times. Western Mongolia is known for its spectacular rivers, lakes, and glaciers—and the steep Altai Mountains. It’s also the home of a large concentration of nomadic families, ethnic Kazakhs, who are proud to display their eagle hunting expertise. Central and northern Mongolia offers a vast panorama of spectacular natural scenery.This area includes wetlands and grasslands, some of which are protected by their status as national parks and UNESCO heritage sites. It’s a birdwatcher’s paradise; there are over 400 species of birds native to Mongolia. No matter the type of terrain that appeals to you, you’ll find it in abundance in Mongolia.

4.Mongolia is Home to Rare Nomadic Peoples

Mongolia is the home of some of the world’s last riaining nomadic cultures, who follow a way of life that extends unbroken over 3,000 years. There are hundreds of thousands of nomads in Mongolia; estimates suggest that between 25% to 40% of our population is nomadic. There are three main nomadic cultures here: >The horse nomads who primarily herd sheep and goats on horseback. >The camel nomads >The Tsaatan or Dhuka people, whose lives are structured around reindeer. Tsaatan people rarely slaughter their reindeer, they are used primarily for milk. Reindeer yogurt and cheese are staples of their diet. They also ride the reindeer and use this as pack animals in the taiga forest area.

They are extraordinarily uncommon; only a small number of Tsaatan families remain in the world. Nomad families live in gers, or rounded felt tents, which are still assembled in their centuries-old style.

Staying with a nomadic family, learning to milk the animals and make fresh dairy products, eating traditional nomadic food is one of the highlights of a visit to Mongolia.

5. Mongolia's Incredibly Vibrant National Cultural Diversity

The name “Mongol” first appeared in our lexicon in the 10th century, but there was no unified “Mongol” culture until Chinggis Khan united the warring tribes and factions in our country in the 13th century. In fact, even today, our national identity and culture, from our governance to our societal structures are largely related to our nomadic, pastoral lifestyle and the legacy of Chinggis Khan. Although a large majority of the population is ethnic Khalka Mongols, there are many different ethnic minority populations. These include Dorvod, Bayad, Buriad, Dariganga, Zahchin, and Torguud.

The largest ethnic minority is Kazakh, which makes up about 4% of the population. Although Shamanism was the largest religion until the 16th century, today, most Mongols are Lamaist, a sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Prior to the Stalinist period of Mongolian history, there were thousands of Buddhist temples in the country, but some 700 of these were destroyed in the religious purges of that era. There are still hundreds of monasteries, the oldest of which, Erdene Zuu, dates back to the 1500s. About 4% of the population is Sunni Muslim, mostly the Kazakhs in the west. There are a few thousand Christians in Mongolia by most estimates. A Mongolian Celebration Should Not Be Missed

Mongolia’s people love an excuse to celebrate. There are many different festivals and events throughout the year.

Naadam is the king of all, however, with a history dating back to the time of the Khans. Naadam celebrates the skills most revered in our country: Horsemanship and horse racing, archery, and wrestling. Naadam is celebrated each year in July. The Mongol New Year, another major celebration, is called Tsagaan sar. This occurs sometime between January and March, depending on the lunar phase. Tsagaan sar preparations begin a month in advance and culminate in feasting and gift-giving—one gigantic party. Throughout the year, there are also many other regional and seasonal festivals and events. Including the Eagle Hunting Festival celebrated by the Kazakhs. The Winter Snow and Ice Festival, which features sledding, ice skating, sleigh rides, and even ice sumo. The Camel Festival celebrates our rare Bactrian camels and the mysterious Gobi Desert.

6. Mongolia’s Unmatched Biodiversity

It’s a common misconception that Mongolia’s extrie climate limits its biodiversity; quite the opposite is true. Mongolia is a country of 1.5 million square kilometers (605,000 square miles), making it the 18th largest country in the world, and the least densely populated. The Mongolian-Manchurian Steppe is a temperate grassland Biome of savannahs and feather grass. It is home to an incredible variety of wildlife. Including pheasants, marmots, wolves, gazelles, and Przewalski’s horse, the last surviving subspecies of wild horse. Mongolia is also a very mountainous country, with many peaks reaching over 4,000 meters into the sky. Mountain sheep, ibex, wolf, elk, lynx, argali, and brown bears make their homes in the Mongolian mountains. The country’s bountiful lakes, rivers, and streams are packed with taimen and trout and other freshwater fish. In fact, Mongolia has a reputation as a fisherman’s paradise. Beautiful Lake Hovsgol, our “Dark Blue Pearl,” is one of the clearest lakes in the world, surrounded by lush forest and carpeted with wildflowers and meadows. The Most Enigmatic Feature Is...

The Great Gobi National Park is one of the world’s largest biospheres, larger in size than the country of Switzerland. The last of the world’s Bactrian camels live in the Gobi, along with the Gobi bears, the only bears that live in a desert. The Gobi’s extreme climate can range from -40℃ to +40℃ with winds of up to 140 kilometers per hour. The desert is dotted with oases where agriculture flourishes—tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers, peas, and beans are cultivated. As you can see, there is far more to Mongolia than the casual tourist could possibly imagine. Perhaps this explains why it is such an elusive—and exclusive—place to visit. Although it has been the destination for only the most daring and committed world traveler, Mongolia is far more accessible than ever before. In fact, there are direct flights from several major international cities now. If you dream of discovering somewhere virtually unknown and unexplored, Mongolia is the place for you. If your passion is to experience life as it was hundreds, even thousands, of years ago, Mongolia is for you. If only the rarest and most unique travel adventures will cure your wanderlust, Mongolia is for you.

read more: https://www.discovermongolia.mn/6-reasons-to-make-mongolia-your-next-travel-destination/

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Morin khuur – Horse headed fiddle

The two-stringed fiddle Morin khuur has figured prominently in Mongolia’s nomad culture. String instruments adorned with horse heads are attested to by written sources dating from the Mongol empire of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. The fiddle’s significance extends beyond its function as a musical instrument, for it was traditionally an integral part of rituals and everyday activities of the Mongolian nomads.

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Hidden Gems of Mongolia: 8 Experiences for the 60+ Traveler

 In a youth-obsessed culture, there’s a tendency to think that exotic travel adventures are only for the young. But nothing could be further from the truth—travelers in their 60s, the young at heart, are at the prime place in their lives to enjoy new experiences and untouched destinations. Think about it: The 60+ traveler has everything one needs to make the most of exotic travel. They’ve got the time to really explore a new place, pacing themselves so they can see and do everything that interests them. They’ve got more flexibility to travel when exotic locations are at their best—no school schedules, work deadlines, or other obstacles to taking an adventure on the fly. And they’ve got disposable income to treat themselves to the once-in-a-lifetime vacations they’ve been dreaming of for years. Mongolia is a bucket-list destination, especially for the 60+ traveler. Despite its tremendous tourism growth, the country remains unaffected and unchanged, its authentic cultures and traditions carefully preserved. If you’ve ever wondered what’s in store for the 60+ traveler visiting Mongolia, take a look at these eight spectacular experiences that await you.

read more: https://www.discovermongolia.mn/blog-news-hidden-gems-of-mongolia-8-experiences-for-the-60-traveler/ 

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MONGOLIAN UNBELIEVABLE CULTURES YOU SHOULD KNOW

Mongolian children are sometimes given odd names like Nergui (Meaning: without a name) or Enebish (Meaning: not this one), or boys would be dressed up as girls. Since people of the steppe received only one name in life, its selection carried much symbolism, often on several levels; the name imparted to the child its character, fate, and destiny. Some children get sick nearly because his or her name is too hard for him or her. That’s why in certain times families give odd names to protect their children safe.

When someone is traveling far away/long distances, you spray milk with a wooden spoon. Mongolians respect milk as pure, kind-heartedness, therefore they tell that “The best refreshment is a milk”. That’s why they wish someone, who is traveling far away, well future like a milk. Not only in this condition but also when welcoming, doing farewell, wishing, blessing, wedding and all other cultures include milk to wish happiness.

read more: https://www.discovermongolia.mn/mongolian-unbelievable-cultures-you-should-know/

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The most pleasant time of the year for most Mongolians is Tsagaan Sar (Traditional Mongolian Lunar New Year). It is particularly pleasant for our domestic food manufacturers as they are busiest at this time. Food manufacturing businesses are generally successful in our country as there are many celebrations and holidays that revolve around food. Singers and bands also earn good amounts during the New Year celebrations. https://www.discovermongolia.mn/blog-news-tsagaan-sar-the-most-pleasant-time-of-the-year/

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While dogs have always played a crucial part in traditional Mongolian life, the idea of dog sledding is a relatively new idea. With temperatures reaching -40 degrees Celsius in winter, Ulaanbaatar is the coldest capital city in the world so making use of dog sleds to get around is both practical and great fun. Guided trips are the best way to experience this method of travel, which is an ideal way to see the landscape and wildlife as well as visit some of the nomadic locals. There is even the chance to cross frozen rivers and lakes to see Mongolia from a unique perspective.  https://www.discovermongolia.mn/dog-sledding/