Bulgan

Introducing Bulgan

Bulgan’s lack of major tourist sights has kept it off the beaten track. Most visitors to northern Mongolia charge through the aimag en route to more prolific sights such as Khövsgöl Nuur and Amarbayasgalant Khiid, but travellers with a bit of time on their hands can find some interesting, rarely visited sights in Bulgan, as well as some beautiful scenery that makes for nice cycle touring.

The aimag is rich in natural resources; it’s home to the Erdenet copper mine, one of the largest of its kind anywhere, as well as agricultural areas and a small-scale timber industry. The ethnic groups comprise Khalkh, Buriat and Russian people.

A small mountain range, the Bürengiin Nuruu, bisects the aimag, and though it only reaches a maximum altitude of 2058m, it provides plenty of lush habitat for wild animals and livestock. A few adventurous travellers have seen this spectacular landscape while floating down the broad Selenge Gol on a raft, although to do such a trip you’d need to be completely self-sufficient. In the south of the aimag are two unique historical sights, Tsogt Taijiin Tsagaan Balgas and Khar Bukh Balgas, which are both geographically more in line with sights found in central Mongolia.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009