Khogno Khan National park

Khogno Khan (officially Khogno Tarna National Park) is located 250km in Gurvanbulag soum of Bulgan province. The area is a beautiful combination of sand, steppe, forests, mineral water sources, and mountains all in one location as well as rich with many diversities of fauna and flora. 

In 1997, the area became a natural reserve, then a natural park in 2003, protected by the State for its educative, historical, cultural, or environmental value. Today National Park covers an area of 844km2. This area is pleasant for many activities such as hiking, mountain climbing, and horse riding.

Attractions in Khognu Khan National Park

Khogno Khan Mountain

It is a mountain located at a height of 1962 meters above sea level in Gurvanbulag and Rashaant soum of Bulgan aimag. The Mountain features the presence of 2-3 zones with forest, taiga, and steppe vegetation at the same time.

Additionally, it was the venue for many historical events. The most famous and the masterpiece of historical movies in Mongolia, “Mandukhai Setsen Khatan” was filmed in the Khögnö Tagna National Park) in 1989. Meaning of the Mountain name “Khogno khan”
During Middle Age feuds between Western and Eastern Mongolians, just before Manchu Domination, Western Mongolia (Dzungarian) leader Galdan Boshigt had a conflict with Khalkh Mongolian leader Zanabazar over the issue of whether to submit to Manchu or not. Then Galdan arrives at Khögnö Tarinii Khiid to kill Zanabazar, he couldn’t find him.
   He raged and massacred around 100 partisan monks, tying their necks with a rope (the Mongolian verb for the action is khognokh) as if they were goats and sheep. This is the meaning of the name of the mountain. After the democratic revolution in 1990, the monastery was restored by the granddaughter of the monks who was living at the monastery.

Erdene Khambiin Khiid

In 1693, Saint Zanabazar built the Old and Young Monasteries in honor of his teacher, the lama Erdene. The monasteries were destroyed during the Khalkha Oirat war, and about 200 monks escaped north to Lake Baikal, which is believed to have contributed to the spread of Buddhism in Buryatia. By the beginning of the 20th century, there were more than 1,000 monks. 

In 1937, after a religious purge and the arrest of more than 30 monks with Gabj ranks, the temple's architecture, precious sutras, and the main idol, the Red Amulet, were destroyed. After the democratic revolution, the temple is renovated. Today once or twice a month, some lamas come and do religious ceremonies at this temple.