| Karakorum (city) Хар Хорум, or ᠬᠠᠷᠠᠬᠣᠷᠣᠮ | |
 | |
| State | Mongolia |
|---|---|
| Territory | Central Mongolia |
| Surface | 2,072 km² |
Karakorum (or Qara Qorum, in Mongolian modern Хар Хорум, read Kharkhorin; in classical Mongolian ᠬᠠᠷᠠᠬᠣᠷᠣᠮ, transliterated into Cyrillic Каракорум, Qaraqorum) is an archaeological site of the Mongolia.
To know
Karakorum, literally Black Mountains (traditionally in Chinese Ka la kun mon, today 哈拉 和 林, Hā lā hé lín, following the modern Mongolian pronunciation) is an ancient city of the Mongolia located in the westernmost part of the Övörkhangai province.
Its ruins are located in the vicinity of the Mongolian city of Harhorin and the monastery of Erdene Zuu, and are included in the cultural landscape of Orkhon Valley, an area of geographical and archaeological significance that has been part, since 2004, of the World Heritage Sites in Mongolia.
Geographical notes
The Karakorum site is as the crow flies about 300 km west of Ulaanbaatar. The Karakorum and its surroundings have been home to many imperial capitals throughout history, including that of the Uighur Empire (9th century), the Mongol Empire (13th century) when Marco Polo visited and, later, the Northern Yuan dynasty.
Background
Founded in 1235 by Ögödei Khan, Karakorum served as the capital of the Mongol Empire for thirty years until 1264 when Kublai Khan moved the seat of the empire to Beijing. With the fall of the Yuan dynasty, it again became a Mongolian capital in 1368, but was destroyed by the Ming twenty years later.
In July 1246 it was visited by the Franciscan Giovanni da Pian del Carpine, who delivered a bull to Gran Can Guyuk as the papal legate. A few years later, in 1254, the friar minor Flemish William of Rubruck he saw Karakorum and described the imperial palace, erected in the center of a courtyard surrounded by walls and divided into five wooden naves.
In 2004, then Prime Minister Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj appointed a working group of professionals to develop a project to build a new city on the site of the ancient capital Karakorum. According to him, the new Karakorum was to be designed to be an exemplary city, with the vision of becoming the capital of Mongolia. After his resignation the project was abandoned.
How to get
By bus
Microbus from the dragon bus station a Ulaanbaatar. The Dragon Bus Station is located on the west side of Ulan Bator along Peace avenue. Check the bus timetables inside. There will be small minivans outside Koreans; there is usually a sign in the front window. Look for Karakorum, but also KharKhorin or Harhorin.
There are also tour companies that make the direct route from Ulan Bator to Karakorum.
Permits / Rates
How to get around
What see
- 1 Xar Bulgas (Also called Har Bulgas or Khar Bulgas) (He went out Harhorin to the west, on the west side of the city, the road turns northwest and crosses the Orhon River. This is an asphalted road. Then there is a stretch of dirt road and then again asphalted. The sidewalk ends for the second time about 13.5 km from Harhorin, there are signs indicating the mileage. Take the easternmost road (i.e. the one on the right), generally go north past the iurte degli herder (a Mongolian nomadic community). At this point the road goes northwest, continues towards the GPS point 1 47 ° 23'56.8 "N 102 ° 36'05.5" E, finally turn right towards the northeast towards the GPS point 2 47 ° 25'50.3 "N 102 ° 39'30.4" E). Ancient capital of the Uigher Empire in 800 AD
- 2 Bilge Khaan Memorial (To Harhorin there is a paved road on the west side of the Erdene Zuu monastery. This road leads north to the museum, approximately 45 km).
daytime. This is a new government funded museum Turkish. Here there was an ancient Turkish empire and two stone steles with Turkish inscriptions at Bilge Khaan and Kul Tigin. Bilge Khaan lived between 683 and 734 AD. There is a caretaker who lives on the north side of the museum who will let you in.
daytime. This is a new government funded museum 
- 3 KharKhorum (Harhorum), Harhorin, Mongolia (Take the main paved road west of Ulaanbaatar, in the district of Lùn, the road splits and you can take both branches, but most of them follow the southern branch. Once you enter, you will find a completely asphalted road, except for a stretch of 50 km east of the district of Lùn).
Free. Mon-Sun 00: 00-24: 00. The capital is located on the north side of the Erdene Zuu Monastery. Go to the northwest corner of the monastery, enter the enclosure (here was a sign indicating that the United Nations had paid for the fence). About 100 meters to the north you will come to some small fenced areas and a stone turtle, one of the two within the urban area. Between the turtle and the stupa are the remains of Ogodei Xaan's palace. A team German and Mongolian has excavations here. The other stone turtle is in the southeast corner. A third is in the hills south of Erdene Zuu. - 4 Erdene Zuu Monastery (Erdenezuu Monastery) (Just outside the city of Kharkhorin, north of the Kharakhorum Museum). Free admission, but a tour inside the old temples costs 3,000 ₮; 5,000 more to take photos inside. Mon-Sun. This monastery was originally built in 1500 but has been destroyed several times. In the northwest corner there is an active temple that serves the local population; this temple is Tibetan style.
- 5 Tovhon Temple (Tovkhon Temple) (From Harhorin go south, climbing up the western bank of the Orhon River. The entrance will be on the right (west). After passing the park entrance, continue up the valley until you see the numerous blue cloths turning up the hill on the southwestern side. The upper part of the road is in poor condition. Alternatively, from the Orhon waterfall, go northeast along the river until you reach the bridge and follow the river on the west side to the turn mentioned above). 3 USD / person. Mon-Sun. Great view from the top.
- 6 Orhon waterfall (Orkhon waterfall) (Southwest of Harhorin, west side of the Orhon River until you reach the bridge. Cross the south side and continue west to the falls).
Free. What to do
- Horsetrails, Uvurhangai Aimag, Harhorin Sum, Erdene Zuu St. (From Erdene Zuu, go west for about 2 km), ☎ 976 99242980. Horse riding in the countryside near Harhorin.
Shopping
Where to eat
During the summer, there are several restaurants in the shopping area. The white hotel between the Erdene Zuu monastery and the commercial area, on the north side of the canal, serves meals.
Several small cafes are open during the day near the container shopping area, 1.5km west of Erdene Zuu Monastery.
- Morin Jim Guesthouse, Uvurhangai Aimag, Harhorin Sum, Erdene Zuu St. (From Erdene Zuu, go west for about 2 km), ☎ 976 99242980. Meals: USD 3/5, Overnight: USD 8 / person. 7:00-22:00. Pension and café where you can find classic grilled chicken as well as typically Mongolian dishes. Connected with the Horsetrails tourist agency. Bed in shared yurt. Clean but no shower. See the website for horseback riding.
Where stay
There are several hotels, guesthouses and camps with yurts.
- 1 Ikh Khorum Hotel ("Их Хорум" Зочид буудал) (TO Harhorin), ☎ 976 70327007. Modern steppe hotel with bar and restaurant. Breakfast included, free wifi and hot tub and whirlpool.
- 2 Family Guesthouse (In the north of the city of Harhorin), ☎ 976 96458188. 66 ₮. Establishment with accommodation in yurt, brazier and food.
- 3 Gaya's Guest House (In the southern area of the city of Harhorin), ☎ 976 99893809. Suitable for those who want to experience the real life in the yurt. Open and tidy common area (dining room and bar). Dear manager. Wifi and shower available.
Safety
How to keep in touch
Around
Take a shared car or jeep or minivan for Ulaanbaatar, the district of Hužirt o Cecerleg (sometimes Tsetserleg) from the east side of the container market in the city center.
Other projects
Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Karakorum (city)
Commons contains images or other files on Karakorum (city)
