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A Visit to Karakorum the Ancient Capital of Mongolia

Once you get outside of the new capital, Ulan Baator, there aren’t a lot of tourist “sights” in the rest of Mongolia. The ancient city of Karakorum, along with the Buddhist temple not far from there was a joy to walk around.

The wind whistles over the steppes, and the long grasses wave to and fro as if in rhythm. We were a very small group, and other than a few monks, no one else was around so the visions of ancient Mongols riding in on their mounts, descending from their saddles, and sheathing their swords as they entered the great halls could easily be evoked.

The swooping roofs, the curved towers on the wall, the wooden floors…all bring you back to a time when fermented horse milk was the drink of kings and conquerors.

Karakorum Mongolia

I loved traveling around this wild, still untamed, country. There are so few roads that we got lost a couple of times and our driver had to ask at the nearest ger how to get back on the track. We saw an abundance of wild birds, marmots, dried up bones, and plenty of people as we traveled. It was really magical.

Other Posts and Photos of Mongolia on Reflections Enroute:

World Heritage Site – Orkhon Valley
Portrait of a Camel Herder
In Middle of Mongolia
Mongolian Horseman

Have you been to Mongolia? What were your impressions, your favorite parts? Did you like the food?

Author Bio: Corinne Vail is a travel photographer, food lover, and a perpetual traveler who has been travel writing for over 14 years. For many years she lived overseas in Germany, Japan, Turkey, South Korea, and the Netherlands teaching the children of the US. military. She’s visited over 90 countries, and she’s not stopping anytime soon.

Sophie

Sunday 19th of January 2014

Fascinating. Would love to visit Mongolia. Soon...

Corinne Vail

Monday 20th of January 2014

Sophie, Visiting Mongolia was fantastic. Just make sure to get out of Ulan Baator! Enjoy!

Becky Padmore

Sunday 19th of January 2014

Beautiful, I haven't been but would love to go one day!

Corinne Vail

Monday 20th of January 2014

Becky, I'm sure you would love it. It is beautiful!