Karakorum.
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Overview

For other destinations with the name "Karakorum", see Karakoram. Karakorum (also spelled Kharahhorin, Karakorin, Karakorum, and Kharkhorin) is a city in Central Mongolia, about 300 km west of Ulaanbaatar as the crow flies. Locals call it Har Horin or Harhorin. Karakorum and its surroundings have been the location of many imperial capitals throughout history, including that of the Uighur Khaganate (9th century), the Mongol Empire (13th century) when Marco Polo visited, and later on, the Northern Yuan. Karakorum is the closest city to the site of the imperial capital of the Mongol Empire.

Understand

While the Mongols were primarily nomadic peoples who didn't establish permanent settlements, Karakorum eventually became the site of the imperial ordu (literally a "collection of traveling tents" but later used by Mongolic and Turkic peoples to refer to settlements) where the main Khan held courts and received tributes. Since the vast majority of the "buildings" that made up the imperial ordu were felt or animal skin tents that could easily be moved, there aren't many physical remnants of buildings.

The region around Karakorum was the site of capital "cities" for numerous nomadic polities, including the Göktürks, the Uighur Khaghanate, and the Xiongnu, before becoming the site for the Mongol capital. William of Rubruck, a Flemish missionary, visited the site in 1254 and left accounts of the city and of the Khan, which are the best extant primary sources describing what the city was like. By the time the Mongol Empire was partitioned into four quadrants (the Golden Horde, the Ilkhanate, the Chagatai Khaganate, and the Empire of the Great Khan/Yuan Dynasty China), Kublai was the Khan who ruled over Karakorum, but after the defeat of Song China the capital was moved to Shangdu (the Xanadu of Marco Polo's travels) in China proper and Karakorum became nothing more than a simple provincial administrative center before fading into myth and obscurity. Karakorum was later decisively destroyed by Xu Da, a Ming-era general who took control of the town and destroyed it purely out of spite.

Karakorum, being the seat of Mongol political power during the height of the empire, was most likely the site where Tibetan Buddhism was introduced to Mongolia proper. The Erdene Zuu Monastery in/near Karakorum is the oldest Buddhist monastery in Mongolia, and was built by reusing stones from the ancient site of Karakorum.

Get in

Buses leave Ulaanbaatar daily at 11:00. The trip takes about 7 hours with a lunch break. Buses may not be heated. They start at the Nomin Bus Terminal approximately 2 km west of the Dragon Bus Terminal on Peace Ave./Moscow Street.

There are also tour companies that ply the route from Ulaanbaatar to Karakorum. Karakorum can easily be visited on a 2- or 3-day trip from Ulaanbaatar (depending on if you want to stop and visit the many national parks between the cities) as part of a guided tour.

See

Xar Bulgas. Anyone who's interested in steppe history and/or the history of the Turkic peoples should visit Khar Balgas, the ancient capital of the Uighur Khaganate. Across the river a short distance are the Orkhon inscriptions, which contain the earliest recorded Turkic writing.

Kharkhorum. The capital is located on the north side of the Erdene Zuu Monastery. Go to the northwest corner of the Monastery, enter the fenced compound, used to be a sign here stating that the UN had paid for the fence. About 100 m north you will come to some small fenced areas and a stone turtle, one of two inside the city fence. Between the turtle and the stupa is the remains of Ogodei Xaan's palace. A German and Mongolian team has been excavating here. The other stone turtle is in the SE corner. A third is in the hills south of Erdene Zuu.

Erdene Zuu Monastery. This monastery was built in the 1500s, but has been destroyed several times. In the NW corner is an active temple serving the local population, this temple is in Tibetan style.

Tövkhön Monastery. Continue up the valley until you see the many blue cloths turn up the hill on the SW side. The upper part of the road is in poor condition. Alternately, from the Orhon Waterfall, go NE along the river until you come to the bridge at N46 48.503 E102 1.668 follow the river on the west side to the turn mentioned above. Great view from the top.

Orkhon Waterfall. Southwest on the west side of the river to the bridge at N46 48.503 E102 1.668. Cross to the south side and continue west to the falls.

Kharkhorum Museum. Dedicated to exhibiting artifacts from the Mongolian history.

Mongolian Calligraphy and Art Center. Art center specialized in creating and preserving traditional Mongolia script calligraphy. Exhibition halls are placed inside various ger.

Tolgoin Boolt. Run-of-river dam along Orkhon River.

Do

Horseback riding. Horse trips through the countryside near Xar Xorin.

Eat

During the summer, there are several restaurants in the shopping area.

Several small cafes were open during the day near the container shopping area 1.5 km west of the Erdene Zuu monastery.

Morin Jim. Guesthouse and cafe. Grilled chicken. Connected with Horsetrails tour agency.

King Restaurant. Mongolian restaurant

Drink

Zochin. Restaurant, karaoke and bar.

Sleep

There are several hotels, guest houses and ger camps.

Ikh Khorum Hotel. Modern hotel out on the steppe with restaurant/bar, free breakfast, hot tub.

Family Guesthouse. Establishment with yurt accommodation, fire pit, and some food. On north edge of town.

Gaya's Guest House. More yurt life. Open, neat common area (dining room, bar). Friendly host. Wifi and shower.

Orkhon Ger Motel. Ger accommodation, with shower.