96 hours in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia – 29 May 2026

The program for the day was to visit places outside of the capital city. Before we started out on the tour I requested the driver to take me to Naiman Sharga road, which is the place where most of the money changers work out of in Ulaanbaatar. This is also where you get the best rates in Ulaanbaatar. The exchange process is hassle-less and in a trice I was done.

The office traffic had picked up considerably and leaving the city was a laborious affair. Finally, we hit the road for the Chinggis Khan equestrian statue. The Complex is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Mongolia and a major cultural attraction. The two-lane road was good in parts. The driver stopped at a place where double-humped Bactrian camels and kites were being readied to meet the requirements of tourists.

About 60 km from Ulaanbaatar, rising above the open steppe is the giant stainless-steel monument representing the legacy of Chinggis Khaan, the founder of the Mongol Empire and one of history’s most influential leaders. The complex attracts travelers, historians, photographers, and cultural explorers who wish to understand Mongolia beyond its capital city. The site has ample parking and facilities to cater to seasonal rush.

The construction of the 40-meter tall Chinggis Khaan Statue, the tallest equestrian statue in the world as certified by the Guinness World Records, was completed in 2008 to mark the 800th anniversary of the founding of the Mongol Empire. Besides the statue, the site includes a museum and exhibition halls, cultural displays, an observation deck and open steppe surroundings. Mongolians revere Genghis Khaan as the father of the nation and a symbol of unity and strength.

The statue depicts Chinggis Khaan riding his horse towards the east, using a golden whip, representing the beginning of Chinggis Khaan’s life and empire. According to historical legends, the site where the statue is located is associated with the early life of Chinggis Khaan. Some other legends indicate that he once discovered a golden whip in this region, which was a symbol of his later power and leadership.

The sheer scale of the monument and its significance as a symbol of Chinggis Khaan and modern Mongolia provide travelers with an understanding of this country that goes beyond what is available through other means.

From the Chinggis Khaan Statue complex we drove through the Gorkhi-Terelj National Park to one of the famous sights in it, the Turtle Rock. I was amazed by the profusion of lodges, resorts and accommodation in the national park.

The most prominent type of accommodation, as is to be expected in these parts of the world, is the stylised ger. A ger is a traditional portable, circular dwelling used for centuries by nomadic herders in the steppes of Central Asia, particularly in Mongolia. It is built with a wooden lattice frame, covered in thick sheep's wool felt, and topped with a canvas outer layer.

The park has a picture postcard alpine landscape which include many rock formations popular with rock climbers. One such is the Turtle Rock for the shape it resembles. Well known among tourists, the gigantesque rock was shaped into a turtle over millennia by only wind and rain. The amazing art by nature is just off the main road into the park. The park has been called the Switzerland of Mongolia, for its natural and healthy environment.

There are opportunities for horse and camel riding, hiking inside the rock and nearby. My driver told me to take my time and hike up the Turtle Rock. Not wanting to spoil his attempt to motivate or humour me I walked a few places up the base of the rock and sauntered back. This was not for old legs, whatever the driver thought of me.

A legend related to the Turtle Rock states that the King Galdanboshigt hid all his treasures during the war with Manchu Troops in 1600 somewhere near the rock. Since then, the locals consider the rock as bringing wealth to those who visit it. I shall wait for the legend to come true in my case.

From the Turtle Rock we drove to the parking lot of the Aryabal Meditation centre. From the parking lot it was a long walk up along winding, slopey path and steps to the meditation temple. Entrance fee to the temple is 2000 MNT for foreigners. Along the path are 144 placards with mantras, written in English and Mongolian, to be read by visitors as they walk up to the temple, which was built in the early 19th century by Mongolian and Tibetan artists in Terelj National Park.

The present-day temple was built between 1998 and 2004 in the scenic and energetic area. The final assent to the Aryabal Meditation Temple is a set of 108 stone stairs. High up on a rock phase of the National Park is inscribed a mantra in Tibetan language, " Om Mani Padme Hum", to be chanted which climbing the 108 steps to the main temple. Around the temple are placed 108 small stupas and 108 prayer wheels. The vast expanse of the National park from the temple is a sight to behold.

The itinerary for the day was complete. All that remained was the drive back to the accommodation. The traffic hold-up was such that it took us more than 2 hours to navigate the final 12 km. I wondered if that final lap was more arduous or the walk up to the Temple!

Traffic congestion is horrendous in Ulaanbaatar city because there is no alternative to surface transport in the packed city. A metro system has been in the works for more than a decade. It is expected that construction will start in 2026. It is certainly long overdue. Dinner consisted of Egg fried rice preceded by a couple of cans of lemon laced Sengur beer.