The human statue of Mungut Khyasaa is located at Bichigtin Bulag in Bag Bogdyn Gol, 21 kilometres east of Aldarkhaan. It is protected by the state as an immovable historical and cultural monument. Its precise location and protected status provide a concrete starting point for exploring the area's cultural sites, from statue depictions to archaeological traces.
Human Statues and Monastic History
The human statue of Khoshootin Am is depicted wearing a headdress and a belted deel. It holds a cup in its right hand and a sword in its left. A 3.5-metre-high monument of a ritual enclosure stands to its left. The site of the human statue is protected by the state as an immovable historical and cultural monument.
Two human statues with different features are depicted at Jigstei Pass. One wears a patterned headdress and holds a cup in its right hand; weapons and a knife are positioned below the belt. The other holds a cup in its right hand and a sword in its left.
Yaruugiin KherĂĽĂĽ Monastery had 17 temple buildings. Individual surviving sections of the outer enclosure's earthen walls are 2 to 3 metres high; the foundations of collapsed sections are 3 metres wide. The number of buildings and the wall measurements indicate two different scales: the number conveys the former size of the monastery complex, while the measurements describe the enclosure.
A large Xiongnu archaeological site was discovered at Yamaan Us in Aldarkhaan in 2022. It may be the tomb of a nobleman from the golden lineage of the Xiongnu Shanyu, who may also have been a high-ranking representative of the western half of the empire. Numerous Xiongnu-period burial groups around Yamaan Us are considered an indication that the area was an important settlement zone. The possible interpretation as a tomb and the settlement interpretation offer different perspectives on the area's past.
Landscape and Routes
The strictly protected Otgontenger area includes parts of Aldarkhaan and extends across 192,748 hectares. This area figure refers to the protected area as a whole, not just the parts in Aldarkhaan. Mount Baruun Saikhan in Aldarkhaan is designated as a habitat for snow leopards, ibex and forest-dwelling ungulates.
On a documented outing by students from an eco club, a 3-to-4-kilometre walk up Mount Baruun Saikhan led to an area frequented by ibex in 2018. The outing connects the landscape with a specific hike undertaken in the past.
A 140-kilometre travel route passes through several stops, including Aldarkhaan, before reaching Uliastai. Another route runs from Uliastai via Bogdyn Gol and Mungut Khyasaa. Check current road conditions before travelling.
Discover more destinations: Uliastai.
Go to the main travel overview: Zavkhan Province.
