Mongolia is a great place to visit. It is far away from the hustle and bustle of the larger cities in the west, yet it is far closer to the ancient traditions and rich history of the Mongols. Mongolia is one of the last countries on earth that remain uninfluenced by Western culture – as you can see by the fact that the capital, Ulaanbaatar, is a Gothic revival city, and that the aim of its government is to keep away from the influences of the west. While this may sound rather difficult, especially in today’s world, Mongolia has a surprising number of attractions and experiences to offer. Mongolia does not follow the same kind of tradition of developing tourism that we are used to: it is a country that wants to keep its focus firmly on protecting its unique culture and traditions.
Mongolia is very much a country of long distance travelers. In order to reach Ulaanbaatar, the capital, you have to take a direct flight, which means flying into China and taking a train southward – but you do not have to cross the border at all. Instead, Mongolia’s land borders China on the north and South poles and a large amount of its economy still depend on the trading route between the two countries. Thus, the railway is an important link in this country.
When you are visiting this ancient country, one of the things that you will notice right away is that people tend to be more afraid of death than they are afraid of anything else. This is because most people who live here are nomadic herders – they go from one field to another, gathering cattle and taking part in their day-to-day activities. If they do not survive the trip, then they have nothing to lose and no possessions to gain. The transition is very painful for them, and so they are wary and respectful of other people, especially the foreign tourists who come to visit.
While nomadism is the most common way of life here, another important aspect of life is the bond forged between the Mongols and their horses – the only animals allowed inside the secure capital of Mongolia. The horse was one of the most important members of the Mongols, and his importance is even stronger today. A horse is considered sacred to the Mongols and so no torture is inflicted upon him while he is present in the country.
When you do go to Mongolia, you should not be afraid of getting your hands dirty. Most of the country is made of steppe and there is plenty of opportunity to ride on and hunt here. The most important aspect of tourism in Mongolia is the tourism industry, and the more developed and touristy areas of the country are not suitable for Westerners (at least not at first). As the country develops more, and more tourists begin to visit, more tourists will be accepted and able to enter the country.
One of the main attractions of the area right now is the Hogno Haan Uul, or the Blue Water Cave. It is located just north of the town of Bulgan and it is possible to drive there using your own car, but it is very difficult to get into the cave using an ordinary road. Instead, all vehicles are advised to use the new highway that is being built. This makes it far easier to go to the cave and also easier to access it when you do decide to go back there.
