Manlai: Fossils, Rock Art and Monastery Ruins

Manlai tells stories of very different eras: paleontological sites contain remains from the Cretaceous period, while rock art depicts people and animals, and monastery ruins recall the religious history of the local area. This variety makes the place interesting for travellers who want to combine natural history and culture on one trip.

Fossils from Different Geological Eras

The Shar Tsav paleontological monument area dates from the Late Cretaceous, more specifically the Bayan Shiree period (K2 bs). Finds there include fossilised wood and molluscs, as well as sauropods, Avimimus and dinosaur tracks. The range therefore extends from plant and small-animal remains to tracks and remains of large dinosaurs. Those interested in early life forms will find a different way to explore the past here than at Manlai’s cultural sites.

Another paleontological area is Mogoin Del, which dates from the Early Cretaceous (K1) and contains remains of plants, insects, molluscs, ostracods and fish. The two areas thus represent different parts of the Cretaceous period, and each has its own distinct mix of finds. Mogoin Del is also included in the national list of protected immovable historical and cultural monuments under Mongolian Government Resolution No. 13 of 2020.

Another paleontological site, with remains of ancient plants and animals, is located on Mount Mogoyt in Bag Dalai. It lies about 7 km northeast of the centre of Manlay Sum. Mogoin Del lies about 6 km northeast of this centre. Shar Tsav is also included in the national list of protected immovable historical and cultural monuments; the site is covered by Mongolian Government Resolution No. 13 of 2020.

Rock Art and Religious History

The rock art at Badrakhyn Am depicts ibex, goats, people, riders and archers. It is carved into the flat southern face of a small rock. The images and their precise location on the rock give the site a different character from the paleontological areas: here, depictions of animals and people take centre stage. This offers a cultural contrast to the fossil finds for travellers with varied interests.

Historical sites include the ruins of Zasgiin Shütein Monastery in Ögöömör. With six datsans and seven jast, it was considered one of the larger monasteries in the local area. The number of these facilities gives a concrete sense of the monastery’s size at the time, without suggesting that the ruins are an active monastery today. The site is in Bag Ögöömör, about 70 km southeast of the centre of Manlay Sum.

Another religious destination is the ovoo on Mount Khanbogd in Ögöömör. The mountain is considered especially sacred, and a stone cairn used for worship stands on it. This, too, is in Bag Ögöömör, about 65 km southeast of the centre of Manlay Sum. The monastery ruins and the ovoo are distinct examples of religious traditions in the area.

Local History in the Museum

Manlai’s local history room began serving the public in 1974 with more than 20 exhibits. In 2017, the museum was expanded into a standards-compliant local history museum. Today it displays 303 exhibits in 122 categories across four halls. These details tell the story of both the museum’s beginnings and its later expansion, giving culture enthusiasts their own way to explore Manlai’s local history.

Choosing Places to Visit

The distances are measured in different directions from the centre of Manlay Sum: Badrakhyn Am is in Bag Ögöömör, about 44 km to the northwest. The ovoo on Mount Khanbogd, the ruins of Zasgiin Shütein and Shar Tsav are also in Bag Ögöömör, about 65, 70 and 75 km respectively to the southeast of the centre. If you are looking for a holiday rental in Manlai, you can consider which of these places and themes are most important for your trip when making your choice.

You can also include Bayan Bulagiin Hural in your exploration of Manlai.

For the wider travel overview: Umnugovi.