Khangai Region
Övörkhangai Aimag
Övörkhangai runs from the southern slopes of the Khangai mountains down toward the Gobi. Its northwest corner holds the Orkhon valley, where Karakorum, the capital of the Mongol Empire, once stood.
- Aimag centre
- Arvaikheer
- Area
- 62,895 km²
- Population (2025)
- 113,486
- Population (2020 census)
- 116,732
- Soums
- 19
- From Ulaanbaatar
- About 430 km by road
Overview
The town of Kharkhorin, beside the ruins, is the main base for exploring the valley's monuments.
Highlights
- Karakorum and Erdene Zuu Monastery at Kharkhorin
- Tövkhön Monastery, Zanabazar's mountaintop hermitage
- The Orkhon waterfall (Ulaan Tsutgalan) in the upper Orkhon valley
When to Go
June to September.
Soums
Övörkhangai has 19 soums. Fuller guides to individual soums are in preparation.
| Soum | Mongolian | Population (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| ArvaikheerАрвайхээрAimag centre | Арвайхээр | 37,220 |
| TaragtТарагт | Тарагт | 3,115 |
| KhairkhandulaanХайрхандулаан | Хайрхандулаан | 3,216 |
| Züünbayan-UlaanЗүүнбаян-Улаан | Зүүнбаян-Улаан | 3,547 |
| NariinteelНарийнтээл | Нарийнтээл | 3,101 |
| UyangaУянга | Уянга | 8,980 |
| KharkhorinХархоринKarakorumErdene Zuu Monastery | Хархорин | 11,805 |
| KhujirtХужирт | Хужирт | 6,418 |
| Bat-ÖlziiБат-ӨлзийThe Orkhon waterfall (Ulaan Tsutgalan) lies in this soum. | Бат-Өлзий | 7,367 |
| YesönzüilЕсөн зүйл | Есөн зүйл | 2,448 |
| BürdБүрд | Бүрд | 2,573 |
| ÖlziitӨлзийт | Өлзийт | 2,070 |
| SantСант | Сант | 3,107 |
| Bayan-ÖndörБаян-Өндөр | Баян-Өндөр | 3,198 |
| BayangolБаянгол | Баянгол | 3,367 |
| Guchin-UsГучин-Ус | Гучин-Ус | 1,974 |
| BogdБогд | Богд | 5,165 |
| TögrögТөгрөг | Төгрөг | 2,423 |
| Baruunbayan-UlaanБаруунбаян-Улаан | Баруунбаян-Улаан | 2,392 |
Also in the Region