Few nations have had a more brutal and lengthy history as the Mongol people in central Asia. Squeezed between China and Russia, the alternating positions of occupied land and conquering victors define the character of this hearty people. One can see parts of many cultures throughout the land on Mongolian tours, providing access to an exotic land unlike any other.
Its violent history is the natural result of its juxtaposition with powerhouse China to the south and Russia to the North. Most of the pitched battle for superiority was between itself and China, with alternating victors over the centuries. The most well known of the Kahn leaders of the Mongol clans is Ghengis Kahn. But it was his heir Kublei Kahn that ruled over Mongolia and China in the Yuan dynasty.
Traditionally the people of Mongolia live in Gers, a felt lined circular tent which can be dismantled or reassembled within a few hours. The climate is extremely dry, with humidity in the single digits most of the time, and experiences more than 250 sunny days each year. The extreme continental climate means the winters are brutally cold with the capital of Ulaan Bataar being the coldest capital in the world.
While some 38 percent of the population has migrated to the capital city, there is still nearly half the population which live as nomads, just as their ancestors did. For the foreign tourists, the big city provides all the things any city does, good and bad. Prices outside the airport confines can be ridiculously low.
The major religion is Tibetan Buddhism which was the religion from ancient times, but during the period of Soviet occupation was all but eliminated. The Russians went after practitioners with a passion, and as many as 50,000 people lost their lives, yet they left one monastery open to demonstrate their tolerance. Golden statues of the Buddha were taken back to Russia and melted down.
The nation and its culture have rebounded since the soviet breakup, and with freedom of religion in place, Tibetan Buddhism returned as the majority practice. Festivals are held throughout the year, with the largest in Summer. Archery, horse racing and wrestling competitions are held with the national title at stake.
One decidedly unique aspect life for these people live is their diet, which consists almost exclusively of meat and dairy products. There are more animals per capita than anywhere else in the world, and they have learned to care for them and survive off from products derived from them. The nomadic lifestyle allows each family to graze its herd over a wide area, where they graze on the tall grasses.
Soon after arriving at the airport in Ulaan Baatar, one realizes this is a place unlike any they have ever experienced. The people are friendly and many speak their native language as well as Chinese and Russian and one has little to fear walking the streets in this city. The real value to Mongolian tours, however, is what one sees and experiences beyond the capital, where the land looks like most believe the wild west once did.
Its violent history is the natural result of its juxtaposition with powerhouse China to the south and Russia to the North. Most of the pitched battle for superiority was between itself and China, with alternating victors over the centuries. The most well known of the Kahn leaders of the Mongol clans is Ghengis Kahn. But it was his heir Kublei Kahn that ruled over Mongolia and China in the Yuan dynasty.
Traditionally the people of Mongolia live in Gers, a felt lined circular tent which can be dismantled or reassembled within a few hours. The climate is extremely dry, with humidity in the single digits most of the time, and experiences more than 250 sunny days each year. The extreme continental climate means the winters are brutally cold with the capital of Ulaan Bataar being the coldest capital in the world.
While some 38 percent of the population has migrated to the capital city, there is still nearly half the population which live as nomads, just as their ancestors did. For the foreign tourists, the big city provides all the things any city does, good and bad. Prices outside the airport confines can be ridiculously low.
The major religion is Tibetan Buddhism which was the religion from ancient times, but during the period of Soviet occupation was all but eliminated. The Russians went after practitioners with a passion, and as many as 50,000 people lost their lives, yet they left one monastery open to demonstrate their tolerance. Golden statues of the Buddha were taken back to Russia and melted down.
The nation and its culture have rebounded since the soviet breakup, and with freedom of religion in place, Tibetan Buddhism returned as the majority practice. Festivals are held throughout the year, with the largest in Summer. Archery, horse racing and wrestling competitions are held with the national title at stake.
One decidedly unique aspect life for these people live is their diet, which consists almost exclusively of meat and dairy products. There are more animals per capita than anywhere else in the world, and they have learned to care for them and survive off from products derived from them. The nomadic lifestyle allows each family to graze its herd over a wide area, where they graze on the tall grasses.
Soon after arriving at the airport in Ulaan Baatar, one realizes this is a place unlike any they have ever experienced. The people are friendly and many speak their native language as well as Chinese and Russian and one has little to fear walking the streets in this city. The real value to Mongolian tours, however, is what one sees and experiences beyond the capital, where the land looks like most believe the wild west once did.
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