Why visit Kharkhorin?

My ger guesthouse is located in Kharkhorin  -  considered one of the highlights of a visit to Mongolia. It is roughly 335 km from Mongolia's capital city Ulaan Baatar but did you know that Kharkhorin used to be the capital of the Mongol Empire? Kharkhorin is also the home of Erdene Zuu Khiid - the oldest monastery in Mongolia. In more modern times, when Mongolia was part of the USSR, Kharkhorin was a state farm. My home town is an area  important to the history of the founding of the Mongolian Empire and of Buddhism in Mongolia.

The Golden Stupa at Erdene Zuu

Mongolia's weather can change very quickly and sometimes Kharkhorin is very windy and dusty. If you visit on day's like this, it can be hard to imagine what Kharkhorin once was. There is now a really good museum - it is small but with lots of information on the history of the area.


Kharkhorin is located close to the Orkhon River and since 2004, the Orkhon River Valley and Kharkhorin have become part one of Mongolia's three World Heritage Sites. Even if you are not that interested in history, I think Kharkhorin is a really interesting place to visit. Erdene Zuu is beautiful and so is the Orkhon River. 

The Orkhon River

Above my ger camp is a hill that has artefacts left over from Ogodei Khan’s capital city including one of the four turtles said to have been located at each of the main city gates. This hill provides a great view out over the entire town and the surrounding steppe and I think it is a great location to watch the sunset from and to spend time imagining just what the capital city of Ogodei Khan must have looked like.

Both my daughters Ganju and Nomioko  like to walk by the river and into the mountains. I think you will too. My old school friend Jargal and her husband Tumee are herders who live close to the Orkhon River in the summer months and then in mid-September move around 25km away. They are happy to offer horse trekking along the river and I am happy to organise this.

If you like the sound of Kharkhorin, my ger guesthouse is open to all travellers. Please just get in touch - I am happy to help and would love to welcome you to Kharkhorin.

Thank you for spending time on my blog. I will be back soon.

Saikhan Amraarai, Gaya