Orkhon Valley
The cradle of Mongolian and Central Asian nomadic civilization and the location of the largest empire capital ever built on the Eurasian steppe — the Orkhon Valley (central Mongolia; the most fertile river valley of the steppe; the Orkhon River flows 1,124 km to the Selenge) has been the centre of successive Central Asian empires for 2,000 years: the Xiongnu (who harassed Han China), the Türks (who gave Europe the word “turquoise”), the Uyghurs, and the Mongols of Genghis Khan, all chose this valley as their imperial heartland.
At a glance
The valley (the most precisely Orkhon Valley single 2000 years successive empires Xiongnu Turk Uyghur Mongol UNESCO heritage: the Orkhon Valley became the political centre of the steppe in the 1st century BCE when the Xiongnu Empire (the first major nomadic empire of Central Asia; the builders of the predecessor Great Wall of China as a defensive measure against them) established their capital in this valley; it remained politically significant through the successive empires of the Türks (552-744 CE; the Orkhon Inscriptions — the oldest known texts in any Turkic language — were carved near here), the Uyghurs (744-840 CE), and the Mongols — the most precisely Orkhon Valley single 2000 years successive empires Xiongnu Turk Uyghur Mongol UNESCO heritage in any European UNESCO world heritage site; Karakorum (the most precisely Karakorum Orkhon Valley single Mongol Empire capital 1220 1368 CE Genghis Khan Ögedei William of Rubruck heritage: Karakorum (Mongolian: Хархорум; the capital of the Mongol Empire; founded by Genghis Khan in 1220 CE; expanded by Ögedei Khan into a city; reached by the Franciscan friar William of Rubruck in 1254 CE who described it as smaller than the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis); at its height in the 1250s CE Karakorum had 12 pagan temples, 2 mosques, a Christian church, and ambassadors from Europe, China, Persia, and the Caliph; it was abandoned when Kublai Khan moved the Mongol capital to Beijing (Khanbaliq) in 1264 CE — the most precisely Karakorum Orkhon Valley single Mongol Empire capital 1220 1368 CE Genghis Khan Ögedei William of Rubruck heritage in any European UNESCO world heritage site)).
Key facts
- The Orkhon Inscriptions — The Oldest Turkic Writing: the most precisely Orkhon Valley single Orkhon Inscriptions 735 CE Köl Tigin Bilge Kagan oldest Turkic writing stone stele heritage — the Orkhon Inscriptions (the Köl Tigin inscription and the Bilge Kagan inscription; both c.735 CE; carved on stone stelae near the Orkhon River) are the oldest known substantial texts in any Turkic language; they record the military campaigns and philosophy of the Göktürk Khaganate; the script (the Old Turkic alphabet; sometimes called the Orkhon script) was partially derived from Sogdian Aramaic; the inscriptions were deciphered by the Danish linguist Vilhelm Thomsen in 1893
- Erdene Zuu — The First Monastery in Mongolia: the most precisely Erdene Zuu Monastery Orkhon Valley single 1586 CE first Buddhist monastery Mongolia 108 stupas Karakorum stones Abtai Sain Khan heritage — Erdene Zuu (“Hundred Treasures”) was founded in 1586 CE by the Khalkha Mongol ruler Abtai Sain Khan after his conversion to Tibetan Buddhism; it was built using stones from the demolished palaces of Karakorum; the rectangular outer wall (400m × 400m) is lined with 108 white stupas (108 is the sacred Buddhist number); at its peak Erdene Zuu had 62 temples and 1,000 monks; it was severely damaged during the Stalinist purges of 1937-1938 and only 3 temples survive
- William of Rubruck’s Embassy — The Mongol Capital Described: the most precisely Orkhon Valley single William of Rubruck 1254 Karakorum Franciscan embassy Louis IX France heritage — William of Rubruck (a Flemish Franciscan friar; 1220-1293 CE) was sent by King Louis IX of France to the Mongol court in 1253-1255 CE; his account of Karakorum (the most detailed description of the Mongol capital by a Western eyewitness) is the most important European primary source for the Mongol Empire; he describes a city of merchants, craftsmen, and ambassadors; the Mongol court employed European, Chinese, and Persian artisans simultaneously
- GPS: 47.2000° N, 102.8300° E
History
The Mongol Empire’s reach (the most precisely Karakorum Orkhon Valley single Mongol Empire 24 million km² largest contiguous land empire heritage: Karakorum (1220-1368 CE) was the capital of the largest contiguous land empire in history — the Mongol Empire of Genghis Khan and his successors (at its peak: 24 million km²; from Korea to Hungary; from Siberia to Persia; 1/5 of the Earth’s land surface); the empire was administered from this modest city on the Mongolian steppe; major policy decisions affecting 100 million people were made here — the most precisely Karakorum Orkhon Valley single Mongol Empire 24 million km² largest contiguous land empire heritage in any European UNESCO world heritage site; the Stalinist destruction (the most precisely Erdene Zuu Orkhon Valley single 1937 Stalinist purges 62 temples 1000 monks destroyed heritage: the Stalinist purges of 1937-1938 were catastrophic for Mongolian Buddhism: across Mongolia, 700+ monasteries were demolished, 18,000 monks were arrested and shot, and the monastic tradition of 350 years was suppressed; Erdene Zuu lost 59 of its 62 temples; the three surviving temples (transformed into a museum in 1947) represent 0.5% of the original complex — the most precisely Erdene Zuu Orkhon Valley single 1937 Stalinist purges 62 temples 1000 monks destroyed heritage in any European UNESCO world heritage site)).
What you see
The Karakorum archaeological remains (the most precisely Karakorum Orkhon Valley single large tortoise base stones grid city excavations German Mongolian 2000 heritage: the ruins of Karakorum (visible as foundation stones, earthen mounds, and the famous granite tortoise (one of four that once marked the corners of the imperial city; 1m high; 1.5m long; turtles were the symbol of eternity in Mongolian culture)) extend across 4 km² beneath and around Erdene Zuu; systematic archaeological excavations (German-Mongolian joint project from 2000 onwards) have revealed the grid street plan, workshop areas (Chinese ceramics, metalworking), and palace foundations — the most precisely Karakorum Orkhon Valley single large tortoise base stones grid city excavations German Mongolian 2000 heritage in any European UNESCO world heritage site; the Kharkhorin Museum (the most precisely Kharkhorin Museum Orkhon Valley single Karakorum finds Chinese Persian Mongolian artefacts heritage: the new Kharkhorin Museum (opened 2011; in the town of Kharkhorin adjacent to Erdene Zuu; excellent English-language displays) exhibits the finest objects found in Karakorum: Chinese porcelain and celadon (indicating the extent of Chinese trade), Persian glass, Mongolian bronze, and a full model of the imperial city at its 1250s CE peak — the most precisely Kharkhorin Museum Orkhon Valley single Karakorum finds Chinese Persian Mongolian artefacts heritage in any European UNESCO world heritage site)).
Practical information
- Getting there: Karakorum / Kharkhorin is 360 km southwest of Ulaanbaatar (6h by bus or car on the paved road (Highway 24)); or by shared minivan from Ulaanbaatar Dragon Bus Station (6h; MNT 15,000 / €4); organised tours from Ulaanbaatar include Karakorum in the 3-4 day standard circuit (with the Khustai Nuruu National Park and the Orkhon Valley waterfall); entry to Erdene Zuu approximately MNT 5,000 (€1.30) + MNT 3,000 for the museum; the Mongolian steppe in summer (June-August) is spectacular (wildflowers; eagle and vulture sightings; nomadic ger camps willing to offer tea, fermented mare’s milk (airag), and accommodation); bring warm layers for evenings (the steppe temperature drops 15-20°C after sunset even in July)
Getting there
360 km from Ulaanbaatar (6h bus/car). Shared van MNT 15,000. Erdene Zuu entry MNT 5,000. June-August best. GPS: 47.2000, 102.8300.
Nearby
- Orkhon Waterfall (Ulaan Tsutgalan) — 60 km south of Kharkhorin (2h by 4WD; no paved road); the largest waterfall in Mongolia (20m high; 10m wide; formed approximately 20,000 years ago by a basalt lava flow dam on the Orkhon River); the surrounding valley is a green oasis of forest and meadow in the otherwise open steppe; the Orkhon Valley extending south from the waterfall is the finest horse-riding landscape in Mongolia
- Tövkhön Monastery — 50 km south of Kharkhorin (2h by 4WD + 2h walk); a sacred hermitage monastery built on a granite cliff above the Orkhon Valley forest by Zanabazar (1639-1723 CE; the greatest sculptor and religious leader in Mongolian history; the first Jebtsundamba Khutuktu — the supreme spiritual leader of Mongolian Buddhism; his Buddhist sculptures are now the finest Mongolian artworks in the world); the hike to Tövkhön through pine forest is one of the most beautiful walks in Mongolia
Sources
- Wikipedia, Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape; Karakorum; Erdene Zuu, accessed June 2026
- UNESCO, Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape, WHS reference 1081, inscribed 2004
Find it on the map
See this place and what’s around it →📷 Diventa un fotografo di Cultural Heritage Online
Condividi le tue foto dei luoghi: restano pubblicate con la tua firma come autore. Più vengono viste, più ti fai conoscere — e presto un concorso premierà le foto più apprezzate.
Accedi o registrati gratis per aggiungere una foto