Khogno Khan National park

Khogno Khan, officially known as Khogno Tarna National Park is located 250km in Gurvanbulag soum of Bulgan province. The park is a stunning natural area where sand, steppe, forests, mineral water sources, and mountains come together in one place. It is also home to rich diversity of plants and wildlife.

Originally declared a natural reserve in 1997, the area gained Nationak Park status in 2003 due to its educational, historical, cultural, and environmental value. Today, it is protected by the Statue and spans an area of 844 km².

Khogno Khan National Park is perfect for outdoor activities such as hiking, mountain climbing and horseback riding, offering visitors both adventure and breathtaking scenary.

Attractions in Khognu Khan National Park

Khogno Khan Mountain

Khogno Khan Mountain stands at 1,962 meters above sea level, stretching across Gurvanbulag and Rashaant soums of Bulgan province. The mountain is unique because it features three different ecological zones—forest, taiga, and steppe—coexisting in one place.

In addition to its natural beauty, the mountain is rich in historical significance. One of the most famous Mongolian historical films, “Mandukhai Setsen Khatan”, was filmed here in 1989.

Origin of the Name "Khogno Khan"
The name "Khogno Khan" has a tragic backstory. During internal conflicts between Western and Eastern Mongolia—just before the Manchu domination—the leader of Western Mongolia (Dzungar), Galdan Boshigt, opposed Zanabazar, the spiritual leader of the Khalkh Mongols, who supported submission to the Manchu.

Galdan came to Khogno Tarnyn Khiid Monastery looking to capture Zanabazar, but he was gone. In anger, Galdan massacred around 100 partisan monks, tying ropes around their necks like livestock. In Mongolian, the verb "khognokh" refers to binding animals this way—thus, the mountain got its name “Khogno Khan” from this horrific event.

After the Democratic Revolution in 1990, the monastery was rebuilt by the descendants of the monks who once lived there.

Erdene Khambiin Khiid

In 1693, Saint Zanabazar built the Old and Young Monasteries in honor of his teacher, Lama Erdene. These monasteries were later destroyed during the Khalkha–Oirat war, and around 200 monks fled north to Lake Baikal. It is believed that this migration helped spread Buddhism to the Buryatia region.

By the early 20th century, the monasteries housed over 1,000 monks. However, during the religious purges of 1937, more than 30 high-ranking monks (Gabj) were arrested, and the temple’s architecture, sacred sutras, and main idol known as the Red Amulet were destroyed.

After the Democratic Revolution of 1990, the temple was restored. Today, religious ceremonies are held once or twice a month, led by visiting lamas