Töv: National Parks, History and Buddhist Art
Accommodation in Töv
Travel interests in Töv range from national parks and wildlife to archaeological sites and Buddhist art. There are also community-based tourism activities offering insights into the Mongolian way of life and horseback riding. For a shared trip, you can start by considering which themes are especially important to you and your family—and which places you would like to learn more about.
National Parks and Wildlife
Hustai National Park lies within the boundaries of the Altanbulag, Argalant and Bayankhangai sums in Töv Province. Its recorded biodiversity includes 51 mammal species, 223 bird species, 16 fish species and 2 amphibian species. Visitors with a particular interest in nature and wildlife will find a clear focus here when choosing places to visit. The figures give an idea of the range of animal groups recorded in the park and make this natural area a destination in its own right alongside the province’s cultural and historical sites.
Gorkhi-Terelj National Park is another destination that connects Töv with other administrative areas: part of it lies in Erdene Sum in Töv Province, and another part in the Nalaikh District of Ulaanbaatar. The national park was established, among other reasons, to develop organized tourism and ensure appropriate use of the area. It is an interesting addition for travelers who, alongside visiting a natural area, are also interested in how tourism should be organized in a national park.
Noyon Uul and Xiongnu History
The Xiongnu elite burial site at Noyon Uul extends across the Batsumber, Bornuur and Mandal sums in Töv Province. It was discovered in 1912. The site on Kharaagiin Noyon Uul covers an area of 129.6 hectares. These details give the archaeological site a distinct scale: it is not just a single name on a map, but an extensive burial ground spanning several sums. If history and archaeology are among your main travel interests, Noyon Uul is a clear point of reference when choosing places to visit.
Art and a Hiking Route at Aglag Monastery
Aglag Monastery is a Buddhist temple and museum. It was built in the landscape of Mount Gariid, characterized by rock and forest formations. Buddhist artworks are displayed there, created using traditional thangka painting, silk appliqué, gilded metal casting and papier-mâché techniques. The different techniques give the visit a specific focus on art: the materials and the way they are used are also important, alongside the works themselves. Families who enjoy including different interests in their trip can distinguish a museum and art visit from nature or history destinations.
An adventurous hiking route also begins behind the temple at the monastery. It follows a designated path secured with ropes. Art and physical activity are therefore two different reasons to visit Aglag. If you include the route in your travel plans, keep in mind that it is a secured path and plan it as a separate activity.
Insights into the Mongolian Way of Life
In 13 sums of Töv, 98 households run community-based tourism activities. They receive up to 829 guests per group and offer insights into the Mongolian way of life as well as horseback riding. These activities complement visits to national parks and historical sites with opportunities centered on encountering a way of life and taking part in an activity. Families can consider whether these insights and horseback riding would be of interest to them when choosing the focus of their trip; the activities are located across 13 sums.
Choosing the Right Place for Your Trip
When looking for a holiday apartment in Töv, it helps to first decide on the specific destinations for your trip. Hustai and Noyon Uul are each associated with several sums; Gorkhi-Terelj also lies partly in Töv and partly in Ulaanbaatar. So take the locations of the sites that interest you into account when choosing where to stay. This lets you tailor your search to the destinations that matter to you, rather than treating different places as a single base.
The subregions Bayandelger and Balhin Chuluu are also useful for finding your way around Töv.
For the broader travel overview: Mongolia.
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