Kharakhorum Museum
Kharakhorum Museum
4.5
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.5
217 reviews
Excellent
101
Very good
95
Average
16
Poor
4
Terrible
1
chaletaria
London, United Kingdom558 contributions
Sep 2019
Only go if you are passing or visiting Erdene Zuu. The request (demand) to pay to take photos is tiny and easily missed (I did until a fierce looking attendant told me off). You HAVE to see an a/v show first, of interest to me as an historian but not others in the party, before being allowed to see the objects.
Written August 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yoshi_1221
Niigata, Japan20 contributions
Sep 2013 • Solo
in Ulaanbaatar, there r a lot of tours. but almost all ones r expensive. if u want to see real Mongolia cheaply, visit here. from long distance bus station in Ulaanbaatar, daily bus leaves at 11 a.m. it takes 6-7 hours. the landscape from the window is nice. this bus costs about $10. in Karakorum, there r some guest houses. they cost about $6-8/person. u can stay at Gel, Mongolian style tent. some guest house have their own horses. u can ride them in very reasonable price.
Written September 17, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
boris_agafontsev
Moscow, Russia42 contributions
Kharkhorin is worth to visit if you`re in Mongolia, but don`t expect a lot. On the big territory rounded by strong walls, there`re only few temples and other buddhist and historical sights and the most part of this territory is only plane field with grass. It`s hard to believe that here was Mongolian capital before.
The best way to visit Kharkhorin is by day tour from Ulaanbaatar. If you start in early morning by Jeep you have chance to return back about midnight. If you prefer to get to Kharhkhorin by plane, check the airline schedule, several airlines offer tours for 1, 2 or 3 days to Kharkhorin, but it could cost a lot and I`m not sure that there`re so many sights near that you can explore for 3 long days. I think it`s enough 2-3 hours for Kharkhorin monastery which is almost unique interesting place in this area.
The best way to visit Kharkhorin is by day tour from Ulaanbaatar. If you start in early morning by Jeep you have chance to return back about midnight. If you prefer to get to Kharhkhorin by plane, check the airline schedule, several airlines offer tours for 1, 2 or 3 days to Kharkhorin, but it could cost a lot and I`m not sure that there`re so many sights near that you can explore for 3 long days. I think it`s enough 2-3 hours for Kharkhorin monastery which is almost unique interesting place in this area.
Written December 13, 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
moviegeekjn
Phoenix, AZ2,350 contributions
Jul 2013 • Solo
Remote and relatively small, it's hard to imagine that Karakorum was once the capital of Mongolia (thus, the central hub of civilization during the times of the great Mongolian empire). Most of the city has since fallen except for a few structures that remain inside the monastery of Erdene Zuu.
The monastery is a "must see" and really should be included for any introductory tour of Mongolia. I'd highly recommend getting a local guide at the monastery. Ours spoke excellent English and shared very enlightening information about the Mongolian form of Tibetan Buddhism as it relates to the various items inside the temples on the grounds.
The complex is historical and has numerous sights that are well worth checking out--lots of good photo ops.
The local museum is also worth a visit. You don't need a guide there. The displays are well organized and have concise explanations in English. This is a very new and modern facility that appears to be still being expanded, so expect continued improvements. It also has a small gift shop with a good selection of souvenirs.
The monastery is a "must see" and really should be included for any introductory tour of Mongolia. I'd highly recommend getting a local guide at the monastery. Ours spoke excellent English and shared very enlightening information about the Mongolian form of Tibetan Buddhism as it relates to the various items inside the temples on the grounds.
The complex is historical and has numerous sights that are well worth checking out--lots of good photo ops.
The local museum is also worth a visit. You don't need a guide there. The displays are well organized and have concise explanations in English. This is a very new and modern facility that appears to be still being expanded, so expect continued improvements. It also has a small gift shop with a good selection of souvenirs.
Written September 15, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Susan L
Tucson, AZ182 contributions
Aug 2013 • Couples
We drove from Ulaanbataar to Karakorum, stopping in Hustai National Park for one night to see the park and the wild horses. This overnight stay helps to break up the long drive to Karakorum because the road, though mostly paved, has numerous large potholes and is under construction in some places. Sometimes we were driving on the equivalent of a dirt track.
Continuing on the road to Karakorum the next day, we stopped for more Bactrian camel-riding in smaller dunes, compared to Hongoryn Els. I liked riding the camels here better than at Hongoryn Els, since the camels appeared to be better-cared for. Also we rode the camels up and down the smaller dunes, which was fun, whereas at Hongoryn Els, the camels stayed on the level ground beyond the dunes.
We finally arrived Karakorum mid-afternoon and toured both the monastery and the museum. Our guide at the monastery was great in that she explained alot about the Buddhist religion (Mongolian's version is far more complicated than the Thai version) and the artifacts at Erdene zuu. The 108 stupas, the sculptures and artwork were impressive. Outside the monastery walls are tables of "schlockmeisters" (this term was coined by our guide, Hugh Swift, on a trek in Nepal years ago to describe the same) where you can pick up a memento of Mongolia.
The Museum, very modern and new, provided some interesting displays and information about the history of Mongolia. You really don't need a guide here as the exhibits' descriptions include English. And we weren't that impressed with our guide at the museum. BTW, I highly recommend reading Jack Weatherford's book, "Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World" before going to Mongolia, which is available at either Amazon or your local library. I know I appreciated Mongolia and the various museums and what they had to offer much more after reading that book.
We stayed in a ger at the Munkhtenger tourist camp at Karakorum, a convenient location. We quite liked this camp and thought the food at the restaurant was good. Management/owners should expand the # of public showers, but the water was ample and hot, unlike some of our experiences at tourist camps in the Gobi. The gers were cozy with comfortable beds.
The next day we looked around the old Soviet town of Karakorum, which is a bit depressing for its sameness and lack of character. We did enjoy walking up to the top of the hill to see the monument showing the geographical size of the different "empires", i.e., the Huns in the 3d and 4th centuries, the Turks in the 7th century, and finally Genghis Khan and his sons/grandsons in the 13th century. We much enjoyed the 360-degree views of the area, including the Orkhon River.
We wished we could have stayed longer at Karakorum. Because of the long drive to and from, we think spending 3 nights/2 days there would have been better.
Continuing on the road to Karakorum the next day, we stopped for more Bactrian camel-riding in smaller dunes, compared to Hongoryn Els. I liked riding the camels here better than at Hongoryn Els, since the camels appeared to be better-cared for. Also we rode the camels up and down the smaller dunes, which was fun, whereas at Hongoryn Els, the camels stayed on the level ground beyond the dunes.
We finally arrived Karakorum mid-afternoon and toured both the monastery and the museum. Our guide at the monastery was great in that she explained alot about the Buddhist religion (Mongolian's version is far more complicated than the Thai version) and the artifacts at Erdene zuu. The 108 stupas, the sculptures and artwork were impressive. Outside the monastery walls are tables of "schlockmeisters" (this term was coined by our guide, Hugh Swift, on a trek in Nepal years ago to describe the same) where you can pick up a memento of Mongolia.
The Museum, very modern and new, provided some interesting displays and information about the history of Mongolia. You really don't need a guide here as the exhibits' descriptions include English. And we weren't that impressed with our guide at the museum. BTW, I highly recommend reading Jack Weatherford's book, "Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World" before going to Mongolia, which is available at either Amazon or your local library. I know I appreciated Mongolia and the various museums and what they had to offer much more after reading that book.
We stayed in a ger at the Munkhtenger tourist camp at Karakorum, a convenient location. We quite liked this camp and thought the food at the restaurant was good. Management/owners should expand the # of public showers, but the water was ample and hot, unlike some of our experiences at tourist camps in the Gobi. The gers were cozy with comfortable beds.
The next day we looked around the old Soviet town of Karakorum, which is a bit depressing for its sameness and lack of character. We did enjoy walking up to the top of the hill to see the monument showing the geographical size of the different "empires", i.e., the Huns in the 3d and 4th centuries, the Turks in the 7th century, and finally Genghis Khan and his sons/grandsons in the 13th century. We much enjoyed the 360-degree views of the area, including the Orkhon River.
We wished we could have stayed longer at Karakorum. Because of the long drive to and from, we think spending 3 nights/2 days there would have been better.
Written September 3, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
aspan024
Stockholm, Sweden64 contributions
Jul 2010 • Couples
The old capital of Djingis Kahn, Karakorum, in Mongolia. provides a wonderful link between the glorious past and the exciting present and the intriging future. If you are interested in cultural and religious development over centuries, Mongolia will captivate you in an awe-inspiring way: the Buddhist temples and monasteries of the past still play an important role for every-day life in Mongolia; you have to try to talk with the natives, not least in Karakorum, but do observe the sensitivities when it comes to religion and twentieth century political advancement over the ninety years of Mongolian independence from Chinese and Soviet influence. Old-style meditation in Mongolia could offer something also for openminded and responsive Westeners who are inclined towards Buddhist philosophy. And do enjoy the vaste, remote landscape, the enchanting environment, stay in gers (tents), appreciate the holy places and the blessings of positive thinking and sharing of ideas.
Written June 13, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mibaba4
188 contributions
May 2015 • Couples
My husband and I visited Karakorum on May 28, 2015 during our recent trip to Mongolia. We were delighted to be inside the walls of what used to be the Capital of the Great Mongol Empire. Inside the walls you can find several temples. We were very impressed with the tour guide. We were amazed of his knowledge of the Erdenezuu Monastery as he described dates and details of everything. We took lots of photos of the outside of the temples. You are not allowed to take photos inside the temples. You could find several people selling their arts and crafts, just outside the white walls. I am glad this site was included in our itinerary. You must visit while your stay in Mongolia. Hope this helps while making your travel plans.
Written June 7, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dkayrenick
Ventura, CA703 contributions
May 2015 • Family
After bumping across the vast grasslands from Ulanbataar with mainly horse herds, sheep herds, and an amazing number of golden eagles along the way, the museum and Erdene Zuu monastery really take your breath away. The few remaining temples have been restored to their former grandeur, and the museum provides a concise history in English of what a monumental historic site this once was, when Chinggis Kahn proclaimed it capital of the Mongolian Empire in the 1200s. A tour of the temples and relics was provided in English.
Outside the monastery, the tables laden with brass souvenirs is something you won't see elsewhere, so join in the lively bartering and buy a singing bowl, or a brass horse or dragon at a reasonable price. We stayed at a guesthouse in a ger less than a mile from the site so we could visit the monastery in the afternoon, and the museum the next morning..
The monastery is open from 9 to 6 May-Sept, and 10-5 Oct-Apr.
Museum is open from 9 to 8 Apr-Sept, and 9-5 Oct-Mar, Mon-Fri. Admission T5000, around $2, and triple that to bring your camera, so leave your camera at a free locker.
Outside the monastery, the tables laden with brass souvenirs is something you won't see elsewhere, so join in the lively bartering and buy a singing bowl, or a brass horse or dragon at a reasonable price. We stayed at a guesthouse in a ger less than a mile from the site so we could visit the monastery in the afternoon, and the museum the next morning..
The monastery is open from 9 to 6 May-Sept, and 10-5 Oct-Apr.
Museum is open from 9 to 8 Apr-Sept, and 9-5 Oct-Mar, Mon-Fri. Admission T5000, around $2, and triple that to bring your camera, so leave your camera at a free locker.
Written June 3, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Antone_J
San Antonio, Texas, United States3 contributions
Jun 2013 • Friends
The Monastery of Erdene Zuu and the monument of Genghis Khan. The monastery of Erdene Zuu is surrounded by a wall of 400m from the side, with 108 "chorten" or stupas. Inside, a set of grouped around three magnificent temples monuments give us an idea of ​​the splendor of the scene in the 19th century! Unfortunately, thirty years saw a lot of havoc, but there are enough monuments to be impressed by the beauty of these places. You can meet an elderly artist who speaks excellent
Written July 26, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SingaTrav3ll3r
Singapore, Singapore614 contributions
Jun 2019 • Family
It's about an hour of tour to read snd understsnd the exhibits. Need to pay for rights to take photos within museum. So no photos of the inside of museum.
Written June 13, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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