South Part of Mongolia - Gobi Desert

1. South Gobi Desert - Gobi Gurvan Saikhan Park 2. Middle Gobi Desert - Dundgobi Province 3. Gobi "A" Park- Bayankhongor & Gobi Altai province 4. Eastern Gobi Region- Dornogobi Province

EASTERN GOBI & DORNOGOBI PROVINCE

HOW TO GET: by jeep: 600 km and 15 hours driving

The eastern Gobi desert has an open landscape of arid grasslands prone to episodes of severe drought and dust storms. Except from its numerous sandy desert, there are many small lakes, streams and springs in the East Gobi.

Ikh Nart Nature Reserve

The Ikh Nartiin Chuluu Nature Reserve (Ikh Nart) is a nature reserve located in the Dornogobi Aimag or East Gobi Province of Mongolia. Established in 1996, Ikh Nart covers an area of about 66,000 hectares of grassland and semi-desert steppe environments and harbors one of the last remaining populations of Argali Sheep.

Ikh Nart harbors a wide diversity of plant (flora) and animal (fauna) species, including 33 mammals, 6 reptiles, 125 birds, and over 200 plants. The highlighted and endangered species of animals are: Argali sheep, siberian ibex, goitered gazelle, asiatic wild ass, marbled polecat, eurosian badger, cinereous vulture and so on.. In Present time Mongolian Science Academy and Zoology Foundation in Denver are cooperating on implementation of long period research project around this national park.

Zagiin Us Nature Reserve

Zagyn Us (also written as Zagiin Us) is a Nature Reserve of Mongolia for keeping its natural beauty of Zag (means saxual) Forest. Its squire is 2736 km sq and is protected since 1996. The main protected animals in this park are black-tailed Gazelle, White Gazelle, Small Lizard, Wild Camel and Gobi Bear. The park is good place for wildlife watching, trekking and jeep safari.

Suihent Mountain Nature Reserve

Suikhent Uul is home of petrified trees. Suihent Petrified Forest was formed 150-180 millions of years ago during the Jurassic Period of the Mesozoic Era. Nature Reserve was established in 1996 and it covers for area of 4800 hectares of around Suikhent Mountain.

The Suihen fossilized forest occupies an area 500 meters in length and 80 meters in width. Fallen trunks of numerous petrified trees sometimes reach 20 meters in length. Their diameters range from 50 centimeters to 1.5 meters.

Ergeliin Zoo Nature Reserve

This Nature reserve is distinctive natural formation plateau of the Gobi plain terrain that is containing remaining of ancient world dated to 30 million years. Purpose of keeping natural virgin formation, the nature reserve was proclaimed in 1996 to protect the land of 600 hectares, which preserving the "nature art" - numbers of imprints of ancient animals.

Also some skeletons of giant dinosaurs were discovered in Ergeliin Zoo Natural Reserve. The rocks of Ergeliin Zoo Natural Reserve are World famous for its paleontological remains of Dinosaurs of the Mesozoic Era.

Buddhist monk Danzanravjaa's Museum

Danzanravjaa was born in 1803 in eastern gobi area and he was a famous and higly respected educated and well re-qualified buddhist monk and he had a title Terrible Noble Saint of the Gobi Fifth. He was 19th century Mongolian educator and literary figure in Mongolian history.

An outspoken critic of the society, in which he lived, Danzanravjaa fought against the rigid class and gender distinctions of his day. He devoted great efforts to the cause of public education, which he promoted at Hamriin Hiid Monastery through the establishment of an inclusive public school, theater, museum and library.

In the 1840s Danzanravjaa also established what is considered to be the first museum in Mongolia. As many as ten thousand objects were stored and exhibited at the 'exhibition temple' at Khamar Monastery, including personal works and possessions, gifts from the public or from high-ranking religious and political authorities, and unusual objects collected during Danzanravjaa's extensive travels. Alongside this museum was a public library, where visitors could have books read aloud or translated by library staff.

Danzanravjaa's known literary output included more than 300 poetic works, over 100 songs, a philosophical treatise, the ten-volume Saran Khukhuu operetta, and numerous religious tracts written in both Mongolian and Tibetan. Several of Danzanravjaa's songs and poems remain popular to this day, with songs such as 'Ulemjiin Chanar' being commonly sung at holidays and celebrations. In addition Danzanravjaa created several dozen paintings on religious themes.

Monk Danzanravjaa composed the great festival music drama of Saran Khukhuu, which contains frequent references to the 'terrible dishonest times' in which Ravjaa saw himself as living, and which he considered to be the source of the evil and corruption prevalent even amongst the high-ranking officials he satirized on stage.

In present time Danzanravjaa's museum is presenting his original artistic works and literary manuscripts, along with his books, religious items, theatrical costumes for the Saran Khukhuu Drama Theatre, personal possessions, and similar objects illustrating his life and work.

Khamriin Khiid Monastery

This historical sites including Hamariin Hiid monastery, where 19th century great poet playwright Damzabrabja staged his famous “Saran Huhuu” in 1830. Burdene Bulag sand dunes are some of the largest and most extensive dunes in the Gobi.

Danzanravjaa the let all his disciples gather in the midst of many colored hills nearby the Hamriin Hiid Monastery to make proportional drawings of the Shambala Land. They created a meditation practice land with wooden stupas, a door and a heap of stones. At that place, His Holiness uttered prayers to meet with his all disciples in the Holy Shambala Land. That’s why this place is known as the Shambala Land and became one of the holiest places for prostration and circumambulation nowadays.

There pile of stones, 108 caves, Wish Black Mountain, Tara hill and other historical places will be discovered in this area. The area is interesting place for adventure seekers, people, who have buddhism believe, history interested and as well as for someone, who likes listen to stories of "extraordinary" people.