Khatanbulag

Overview

Khatanbulag, "Queen's Spring", is the largest and southernmost soum of Dornogovi, covering 18,669 km². Local legend links the name to Börte, Genghis Khan's queen, who is said to have stayed here during his campaigns.

The soum is the site of Khamar Monastery, founded in 1820 by the poet and Nyingma lama Danzanravjaa, burned in 1937 and rebuilt after 1990. It is divided into six bags: Agaruut, Aman-Us, Ergel, Khaliv, Sulinkheer and Zamiin Shand.

What to See

• Khamar Monastery and the meditation caves to its north
• The wide plains of the eastern Gobi

Visiting

• Khamar lies about 45 km south of Sainshand, the aimag centre, reached by 4x4.
• Late April to October is the practical season; Gobi winters are harsh.