Manlai: Fossils, Rock Art and Monastery Ruins

In Manlai, the points of interest range from Cretaceous fossil sites to rock art, a consecration ovoo and the ruins of a monastery. The local museum adds a cultural and historical perspective, with a history of its own exhibitions. The cardinal direction and approximate distance from the centre of Manlai Sum also help place the sites geographically.

Fossils from different periods of the Cretaceous

Shar Tsav dates to the Late Cretaceous, more specifically the Bayan Shiree period (K2 bs). The paleontological monument site contains fossilized wood, molluscs, sauropods, Avimimus and dinosaur tracks. The site therefore encompasses a variety of paleontological evidence. In accordance with Resolution No. 13 of the Mongolian Government from 2020, Shar Tsav is included in the national list of protected immovable historical and cultural monuments.

Mogoin Del offers a different timeframe and focus: this monument site dates to the Early Cretaceous (K1) and contains remains of plants, insects, molluscs, ostracods and fish. Compared with Shar Tsav, the focus shifts to a different period of the Cretaceous and other fossil groups. Mogoin Del is also included in the national list of protected immovable historical and cultural monuments in accordance with Resolution No. 13 from 2020. The fossil site on Mount Mogoyt adds remains of ancient plants and animals to the story.

Rock art, an ovoo and monastery history

The rock art at Badrakhyn Am depicts ibex, goats, people, horse riders and archers. The images are carved into the flat southern face of a small rock. Both the depicted motifs and the specific rock surface are part of the description of this site. The motifs combine images of animals and people; horse riders and archers are among those depicted.

Mount Khanbogd is considered especially sacred; a consecration ovoo built of piled stones stands there. With six datsans and seven jast, the ruins of Zasgiin Shütein Monastery were considered one of the larger monasteries in the local area. This historical description refers to the monastery ruins and names the datsans and jast as specific components of the former complex.

Manlai Local Museum

In 1974, Manlai’s local history room opened to the public with more than 20 exhibits. In 2017, it was expanded into a museum meeting the required standards. The museum presents 303 exhibits across 122 displays and four halls. Together, these details offer insight into the institution’s development: from the start of its public operations to its later expansion and the layout of its current exhibition. The museum thus complements local cultural and heritage sites with the history of its own collection and displays.

Distances for orientation

Badrakhyn Am is in Bag Ögöömör, about 44 km northwest of the centre of Manlai Sum. Southeast of the same centre, also in that bag, are the ovoo on Mount Khanbogd, about 65 km away; the ruins of Zasgiin Shütein Monastery, about 70 km away; and Shar Tsav, about 75 km away. These details distinguish the direction and approximate distance of each site. The paleontological site on Mount Mogoyt is in Bag Dalai, about 7 km northeast of the centre.

Discover more travel destinations: Bayan Bulagiin Hural.

Return to the main travel overview: Umnugovi.