Darkhan-Uul Province: Sacred Mountains and Rock Art

Darkhan City, the center of Darkhan-Uul Province, lies at the junction of the Ulaanbaatar–Altanbulag international highway and the Ulaanbaatar–Sükhbaatar international railway line. This location provides a practical point of reference for planning your trip. When choosing a hotel, you can consider whether the city’s highway and rail connections or particular natural and cultural sites should be the focus of your stay.

Sacred mountains and traces of history

Darkhan Mountain is a sacred local mountain standing 1,239 meters high, north of Sharyn Gol Soum. Forests, rare wildlife, springs, streams and ovoo shrines characterize the mountain. In 2008, the Provincial Presidium of the Citizens’ Representative Khural placed it under local protection; regulations for the rituals were also approved. Here, natural features and religious significance are intertwined.

Buural Mountain is also a sacred local mountain; it stands 1,007 meters above sea level. At its foothills, north of the center of Khongor Soum, are 27 graves dating from the Mongol Empire. The site links the mountain landscape with archaeological traces of that era.

Springs and local traditions

The Love Tree is located in a recreation area on the Zulzagan River and consists of two intertwined trees. Local young people traditionally pray there for a good spouse. This place brings together a distinctive natural feature and a local custom.

Dondov Lama’s Spring lies between Erkhet Khairkhan Mountain and the Kharaa River, on the southern side of Salkhit Bag in Khongor Soum. The spring was named after Lama Dondov, who is said to have drunk from it daily. Its water was traditionally used in summer to make high-quality milk vodka. The spring’s location, the story behind its name and its traditional use give it a cultural dimension.

Sharyn Tsagaan Lake in Khongor Soum is listed in Darkhan-Uul Province as a scenic natural site. At the regional level, Darkhan-Uul Province belongs to the Orkhon and Selenge river basin region. This classification places the specific local sites within a broader landscape context.

Rock art in different forms

The Sharyn Gol ochre drawings depict an eagle taking flight and four horses. At the upper reaches of the Khuiten River, in the area of the second Bag of Khongor Soum, inscriptions in Mongolian and Phags-pa script and red ochre drawings are found in the shelter of the Bichigt Khoshuu rock. These rock art sites offer different insights: the Sharyn Gol images depict animals, while those along the Khuiten River also include writing and red pictorial traces.

Cultural context in Mongolia

The national cultural calendar can also help put your trip in context. In Mongolia, Naadam is celebrated every year from July 11 to 13. The national festival centers on horse racing, wrestling and archery. Its nationwide dates and three traditional sports provide a cultural reference point for a trip around Mongolia.

Discover more destinations: Darkhan, Khuvsgul, Uvurkhangai, Ulaanbaatar, Töw, Zavkhan Province, Umnugovi.

Return to the main travel overview: Mongolia.