06Gazetteer
Places
Roughly half the list is famous because it should be. The rest is how the country actually lives — markets, a forgotten monastery, horses that are not a show.
Gandantegchinlen
The working monastery, not a museum.
Entry about ₹130–₹270 (₮5,000–10,000). Donation extra. Free to walk the courtyard.
Sükhbaatar Square
The civic living room. Walk it, do not linger.
Square free. National Museum about ₹270–₹530 (₮10,000–20,000). Verify at the desk.
Narantuul Market
The city's real warehouse. Saddles, jeans, and meat.
Free to enter. A decent second-hand del coat ₹2,500–₹6,500 if you bargain in tugrik. Fake cashmere is not a bargain.
Gorkhi-Terelj
The nearest countryside. Worth a day, rarely worth the only countryside night.
Park fee about ₹80–₹160 (₮3,000–6,000). Horse hour ₹530–₹1,060 (₮20,000–40,000). Tourist ger with meals ₹4,000–₹8,000.
Hustai Nuruu
Wild takhi horses on a real grassland, close enough for a day.
Park fee about ₹270–₹530 (₮10,000–20,000). Park ger with meals ₹3,800–₹6,400. No private-car roaming off-track.
Erdene Zuu & Kharkhorin
The old capital, a monastery in a stone box, and a town that still works as a town.
Monastery about ₹160–₹320 (₮6,000–12,000). Town guesthouse ₹1,600–₹3,200. Ger with meals in the valley ₹4,000–₹7,500.
Orkhon Valley
UNESCO grassland, a basalt waterfall, and family gers that are still family gers.
Family ger with three meals ₹3,200–₹5,900 pp. Horse day ₹1,060–₹1,860 (₮40,000–70,000). Park/valley fees small, ₹80–₹270.
Tsenkher Hot Springs
A soak that herders actually use, if you pick the right pool.
Simple camp with soak and meals ₹3,200–₹6,400. Day soak only ₹400–₹800. Avoid anything advertising 'spa ritual'.
Yolyn Am
A Gobi canyon that holds ice into summer.
Park fee about ₹130–₹400. Included in most jeep-tour day rates. Water and a hat are not optional.
Bayanzag
The Flaming Cliffs. Dinosaurs, red light, one hour that has to be sunset.
Small site fee, often bundled, ₹80–₹270. Sunset is free once you are there.
Khongoryn Els
The singing dunes. Climb them at dawn.
Park fee bundled. Camel hour ₹530–₹1,060 (₮20,000–40,000). Camp with meals ₹4,000–₹8,000 pp. Climbing is free.
Ongiin Khiid
A ruined monastery on a nothing river. The pause that makes the Gobi drive make sense.
Small site fee ₹80–₹200. Simple ger ₹3,200–₹5,300 with meals.
Lake Khovsgol
A freshwater sea in the taiga. Worth the extra days.
Ger with meals ₹4,000–₹7,500. Boat hour ₹800–₹1,600. Horse day ₹1,060–₹1,860. Park fee ₹200–₹530.
Amarbayasgalant
The monastery UB tours forget. A full valley to itself.
Small entry/donation ₹160–₹400. Simple overnight ₹2,700–₹4,800 with meals.
Bayan-Ölgii eagles
Kazakh hunters, not a Mongol costume show. Needs its own week.
Festival entry a few hundred rupees. Family stay with meals ₹3,200–₹5,900. Driver-day ₹5,300–₹9,000. Festival jeeps surge — book the stay, not a package from UB.
A family ger
The actual room of the country. Not a hotel shape.
₹2,100–₹4,300 pp with meals is fair. Paying ₹8,000+ usually means you have been put in a tourist camp.