In between the giants China and Russia the fascinating country of Mongolia really is something else. It brings to mind the times when the Mongols were feared for their extraordinary fighting skills that delivered them the largest empire ever known to mankind. But these times are long gone. What we call Mongolia today is a country of about twice the size of Texas inhabited by peaceful people. Excluding the capital Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia has an amazingly low population density of half a person per square kilometer (less than one person a square mile).
Still Mongolians have a rather distinct way of life, which they have been living for hundreds of years. Nomadic herdsmen wonder around the country in their advanced movable dwellings called gers and face temperatures from 30° C down to -50°c. The diet is for a great deal based on mutton and dairy products; the things given to them by the animals. The preferred local drink is airag, fermented mare's milk.
In the last century the nomadic society did come under threat by the destructive ideals of communism. When in 1990 Mongolia became a democracy, many people left the town and cooperatives and went herding again. Not withouth risk. A lot of the traditional knowledge had faded and only slowly did some of them readapt to the nomadic way of life.
Visa is issued by Mongolian Embassies and Diplomatic Missions abroad or can be obtained at the international airport by those with a formal letter of invitation. If traveling on an organized tour, visa can be obtained through tourism companies or travel agencies.
Domestic travel includes planes, trains and automobiles. For foreigners, flying is expensive as there are two rates applied to all tickets: local and foreign. Airfares for trips from Ulaanbaatar to a provincial center range in cost from $200-$300 round trip.
The Trans-Mongolian Railway operates on a 24-hour basis and connects northern Mongolia with the south. Trains are clean and comfortable, and offer a choice between a hard seat (second-class) and a sleeper cabin. They are not equipped with restaurant cars. The line linking Moscow and Beijing via Ulaanbaatar, which was completed in 1955, provides a shorter route between Russia and China than the older line through Manchuria. As trains operate on time and are reliable, they are the most convenient way to travel in-country.
Travel among cities by bus, van, or Russian-made jeep is almost completely on unpaved roads. The price of rides, which depends on the price of the fuel supplied by Russia, has fluctuated greatly in recent years. Note that Volunteers are prohibited from driving motorized vehicles in Mongolia or from riding on or operating motorcycles.
Climate
There are four well-defined seasons, and on average, the sun shines for well over 250 days a year. The climate is extremely continental with low precipitation. Average summer temperature is +20’C, average winter temperature is -26’C, average rainfall -200-220 mm. winter lasts from November to late April. Although winter is cold with lot of snowfall, it also has many sunny days.
Sightseeing
Mongolia’s best travel routes and attractions are classified into 6 main categories by the geographical locations: Ulaanbaatar and around, Southern Mongolia – the Gobi Desert region, Western Mongolia, Central Mongolia, Northern Mongolia and the Eastern Mongolia – Great Eastern Plains.
Like nearly one half of the Mongolian population, the capital city of Ulaanbaatar is herself a nomad. The city has changed locations more than twenty times over the past 350 years before taking root in her current location in a sweeping valley bounded by four sacred peaks, including Bogd Khan mountain to the south.
Along with her location, the capital has changed names over the years, having been called Urguu from 1639 to 1706, lh Huree from 1706 to 1911, Niislel Huree from 1911 -to 1923, and finally Ulaanbaatar since 1924). But despite her many transformations, Mongolia’s capital has remained constant as the political, economic, and cultural center of the nation, and as a city rich in both character and contrast. Indeed there aren’t many world capitals in which you can ride a horse, visit a nomadic family, and enjoy fine dining and luxurious spa treatments all in the same day.
Ulaanbaatar today is a vibrant city of more than one million residents. The city reflects a close and sometimes amusing juxtaposition of nomadic traditions and modern society, perhaps best summarized by her skyline dotted with both gers (felt tents) and towering skyscrapers. The city’s contrast can also be found among those who call it home, from traditional-clothing-clad herders, to Armani suit-wearing business men and women, to a growing number of ex-patriots hailing from nearly every corner of the globe. Only in Ulaanbaatar might you find a horse cart bouncing down the central avenue alongside a Mercedes Benz, or a market selling both livestock and designer clothing. In short, there is something for everyone, and always a site to behold in Ulaanbaatar.
If cities have a heart, and they certainly do, then the heart of Ulaanbaatar is Sukhbaatar Square. This sprawling plaza situated in front of the capital building, Is THE PLACE where residents and visitors gather for celebrations, exhibitions, and concerts, or just for a leisurely stroll with friends. Running along the southern edge of the square is Enkh Taivanii Orgon Choloo (Peace Avenue), Ulaanbaatar’s main thoroughfare, which spans from East to West across the city. On Peace Avenue, you’ll find a myriad of shopping hotspots, selling everything from cashmere, to antiques and souvenirs, to high fashion couture. You’ll also find a surprising variety of restaurants, bars, and cafes, serving up Italian, French, Korean, Chinese, Turkish, American, and Mongolian cuisines, to name but a few.
Time zone
GMT+8
Language
Mongolian Language. Common spoken foreign languages –English and Russian.
Currency
Tugrik, All major currencies can be exchange at banks and licensed exchange centers in Ulaanbaatar. Credit cards are accepted at biggest hotels, restaurants and supermarkets..
All commercial banks are authorized foreign exchange dealers. Major hotels, however, are only licensed to buy or accept foreign currencies in the form of notes and travelers' checks.
Essentials
Internet
Internet access is available in Ulaanbaatar at business centers (often located in hotels), Internet cafes and at the telephone exchange on Suhkbaatar square.
Electricity
Power supply is 220 V and 50 Hz. Sockets require a two – pin type plug or an adapted.