Mongolia - Great Burkhan Khaldun Mountain and its surrounding sacred landscape

"The site is situated in the north-east of the country in the central part of the Khentii mountain chain where the vast Central Asian steppe meets the coniferous forests of the Siberian taiga. Burkhan Khaldun is associated with the worship of sacred mountains, rivers and ovoo-s (shamanic rock cairns), in which ceremonies have been shaped by a fusion of ancient shamanic and Buddhist practices. The site is also believed to be the place of Genghis Khan’s birth and burial. It testifies to his efforts to establish mountain worship as an important part of the unification of the Mongol people."

Source: UNESCO World Heritage


Burkan Khaldun mountain at Kentii. Thanks to Tugstennuun of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

Mongolia - Petroglyphs Complexes of the Mongolian Altai

"The numerous rock carvings and funerary monuments found in these three sites illustrate the development of culture in Mongolia over a period of 12,000 years. The earliest images reflect a time (11,000 - 6,000 BC) when the area was partly forested and the valley provided a habitat for hunters of large game. Later images show the transition to herding as the dominant way of life. The most recent images show the transition to a horse-dependent nomadic lifestyle during the early 1st millennium BC, the Scythian period and the later Turkic period (7th and 8th centuries AD). The carvings contribute valuably to our understanding of pre-historic communities in northern Asia." Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Rock carving and Turkic funerary monument historical relics. Thanks to Edvard of USA for mailing from Mongolia with nice Kublai Khan stamp.

Mongolia - Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape

"The 121,967-ha Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape encompasses an extensive area of pastureland on both banks of the Orkhon River and includes numerous archaeological remains dating back to the 6th century. The site also includes Kharkhorum, the 13th- and 14th-century capital of Chingis (Genghis) Khan’s vast Empire. Collectively the remains in the site reflect the symbiotic links between nomadic, pastoral societies and their administrative and religious centres, and the importance of the Orkhon valley in the history of central Asia. The grassland is still grazed by Mongolian nomadic pastoralists.” 

Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Postcard 1

Erdene-Zu Monastery is one of the earliest surviving Buddhist monasteries and is located near the ancient capital of Karakorum in the Orkhon Valley. Thanks to Edvard of USA for mailing from Mongolia.

Postcard 2

Okhon Waterfall. Thanks to Marnie of Finland who visited Mongolia and bought this postcard.

Postcard 3

View of confluence of Orkhon River and Selenge River. Thanks to Sini of Finland who bought this postcard when visiting Mongolia.