Feel Mongolia, Land of the Chinggis Khaan

Step into the alluring land of Mongolia with its endless and picturesque sceneries!

Have you heard of Mongolia? It’s in this part of the world to the east, where the ancient and modern traditions face off, if you will. I am fortunate enough to have been there and experienced this beautiful country in person.

Mongolia is a landlocked nation in the middle of Asia, bordered to the north by Russia and to the south by China. It is a sweeping country with a low population density and a nomadic way of life that has survived from ancient times. Mongolia is acclaimed for its dramatic scenery with the great steppes, rolling terrains, and snow-capped hills. The country also houses rich wildlife, which includes the famous Mongolian horse, the Bactrian camel, and the vast Altai Mountains.

Our assignment took us to Darhan city where we were constructing a waste water treatment plant for the city. Darhan is the third most populous city in Mongolia situated 230 kilometers away to the north of Ulaanbaatar, the capital city. The city has a short history as it was established in the 1960s, mainly to serve as an industrial city. Darhan city has a mixed population of Mongolian and Russian, hence a very rich cultural diversity.

In that regard, I had to first board a flight to the Chinggis Khaan International Airport situated in Ulaanbaatar, and then drive all the way upwards to the city of Darhan prior. The drive there wasn’t the smoothest of highways, that’s for sure as it was a simple two way road and it gets quite risky I must say. Driving in these parts is no walk in the park, my friend. It was a long expansively stretched course of steppe with almost no road structures built on it so it was easy to lose direction and come across some dangers along the way.

However, on the course it is possible to come across some interesting contemporary spare houses and, as you may understand, plenty of empty ground because the route runs along in the plains with no other forms of nature blocking the way. Ger or yurts have been used by people for centuries in Mongolia who have relied upon the migration to higher lands during winter going to lower zones. These are contemporary structures that give the impression of old style tents or houses and modern design ideas are often used in them.

And once you reach Darhan, I liked the fact that the city has such a nice spacious central plaza where many interesting cultural activities take place. The central square has all sorts of other activities as well including markets, performances, and cultural activities. This is a cultural place for the people as it offers activities that tell the history of the country and its people, in a place whose population is already rich with culture, such as Mongolia.

As for Ulaanbaatar, the core area of the city is incredibly impressive, full of high rise buildings, lively streets, and a growing commercial area. On the contrary, the fringes are more of a country side scene where there are ger colonies and cows can be seen grazing on the vacant spaces. It’s quite a fascinating correlation, you see? The development of the city is very much representative of the developments taking place in Mongolia as it tries to balance between the old ways of being a nomadic country and living in cities.

Please do enjoy yourselves but do remember to get back to me on how everything works out - I am sure my suggestions would enhance your experience more if not all.

In the end, Mongolia is one of the most interesting countries that one could ever think of visiting as it has perfect ancient customs and modern aspects at the same time. This is a country where memories of the past and the reality of the moment go hand in hand which is what makes it so pleasant for one who travels.

Video Gallery Mongolia

The Darhan Cultural Festival, Mongolia

Ulanbaatar, Mongolia

Darhan, Mongolia