Karakorum

For other destinations with the name "Karakorum", see Karakoram. Kharahhorin (also spelled Karakorin 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 Uyghur Khaganate (9th century), the Mongol Empire (13th century) when Marco Polo visited, and later on, the Northern Yuan.

Understand

Get in

By bus

Microbus from the Dragon Bus station in Ulaanbaatar. The Dragon Bus station is on the west side of UB, along Peace ave. Check the bus schedule inside. Outside will be small Korean minivans; usually, there is a sign in the front window. Look for KharKhorin or Harhorin.

There are also tour companies that ply the route from Ulaanbaatar to Karakorum.

Get around

See

Xar Bulgas (ancient capital of the Uigher Empire (800AD)), 47.25838°, 102.39506°. Also called Har Bulgas. Western sources might call Khar Bulgas. Exit Harhorin to the West, at the west side of the town, the road turns NW and crosses the Orhon River. This is a paved road. Then there is a section of unpaved road then paved again. The pavement ends the second time at about 13.5 km from Harhorin, there are mileage posts. Take the Eastern (right) most track, generally go North past the Herder's Gers. At this point the road is going NW, continue to N47 23.946 E102 36.092. Turn right going NE. N47 25.838 E102 39.506
Bilge Khaan Memorial, Harhorin, Mongolia (In Harhorin there is a paved road on the west side of the Erdene Zuu Monastery. This road leads North to the museum, about 45km.), 47.33644°, 102.50410°. daytime. This is a new museum funded by the Turkish Government. There was an old Turk Empire located here and two stone stele with Turkish inscriptions to Bilge Khaan and Kul Tigin. Bilge Khaan lived 683-734AD. There is a caretaker living on the Northside of the museum who will let you in. N47 33.644 E102 50.410

KharKhorum (Harhorum, KharaKhorum), Harhorin, Mongolia (Take main paved road west from Ulaanbaatar, At Lun, the road splits you can take either branch, but most take the southern branch. If you take the southern branch the road is paved all the way, except for a 50km section East of Lun.), 47.12361°, 102.50473°. any. The capital is located on the North side of the Erdene Zuu Monastery. Go to the North west corner of the Monastery, enter the fenced compound, used to be a sign here stating that the UN had paid for the fence. About 100m 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. N47 12.361 E102 50.473 none
Erdene Zuu Monastery (Erdenezuu), 47.20101°, 102.84141°. Daily. This Monastery was originally built in the 1500s, but has been destroyed several times. It is free to enter the grounds, but a tour inside the old temples costs 3000 ₮, 5000 more to take pictures inside. In the NW corner is an active Temple serving the local population, this temple is in Tibetan style. none
Tovhon Temple (Tovkhon Temple), SW of Harhorin (From Harhorin go south, upstream on the west side of the Orhon River.), 47.00749°, 102.15412°. Daylight. Go Southwest from Harhorin on the west bank of the Orhon River to N46 56.000 E102 22.322 turn right (west) There is a park entrance with US$3 fee per person. 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. USD3
Orhon Waterfall (Orkhon Waterfall), SW of Harhorin (Southwest from Harhorin, the west side of the Orhon River), 46.47151°, 101.57648°. 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 at N46 47.151 E101 57.648

Do

Horsetrails, Uvurhangai Aimag, Harhorin Sum, Erdene Zuu St. (From Erdene Zuu, go west about 2km), +976 99242980. Horse trips through the countryside near Xar Xorin (Har Horin, Khar Khorin)

Buy

Eat

During the summer, there are several restaurants in the shopping area. The white hotel between Erdene Zuu Monastery and the shopping area, on the North side of the canal serves meals.

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

Morin Jim, Uvurhangai Aimag, Harhorin Sum, Erdene Zuu St. (From Erdene Zuu, go west about 2km), +976 99242980. 7am - 10pm. Guesthouse and Cafe. Grilled Chicken, Mongolian Connected with Horsetrails tour agency US$3-5

Drink

Sleep

There are several Hotels, guest houses and ger camps.

Morin Jim Guesthouse, Uvurhangai Aimag, Harhorin Sum, Erdene Zuu St. (From Erdene Zuu, go west about 2km), +976 99242980. Bed in shared ger (yurt). Clean, outhouse, no shower. See the webpage for local horse trips. $8
Ikh Khorum Hotel, Restaurant ("Их Хорум" Зочид буудал, ресторан), in Kharkhorin, 47.19624°, 102.82402°, +976 70327007. Modern hotel out on the steppe with restaurant/bar, free breakfast, wifi, hot tub. 2020-08-23
Family Guesthouse, in Kharkhorin, 47.20808°, 102.81908°, +976 96458188. Establishment with yurt accommodations, fire pit, and some food. On north edge of town. 66 ₮ 2020-08-23
Gaya's Guest House, Kharkhorin (south side of town), 47.18760°, 102.83843°, +976 99893809. More yurt life. Open, neat common area (dining room, bar). Friendly host. Wifi and shower. 2020-08-23

Connect

Go next

Get a shared car or jeep, or minivan to Ulaanbaatar, Hujirt, or Tsetserleg from the east side of the Container marketplace in the middle of town.

Karakorum - first capital of the Mongol empire, established in 1220