Heritage Site · Mongol Empire
Deluun Boldog
A hill near Dadal in Onon-Balj National Park, one of several places named as the birthplace of Genghis Khan.
- Location
- Dadal, Khentii aimag
- Period
- Mongol Empire
- Date
- Traditional birthplace of Temüjin, c. 1162
History
The Secret History of the Mongols says Temüjin, the future Genghis Khan, was born at Deluun Boldog on the Onon river, traditionally dated to 1162. Several places claim the name; the hill a few kilometres north of the village of Dadal is the best known, and has become a place of pilgrimage.
The area lies in the forested north of Khentii, close to the rivers and mountains where the young Temüjin grew up and gathered his first followers.
What to See
- An engraved stone telling the story of Temüjin's birth, and a large ovoo
- Walks in the hills and forests of Onon-Balj National Park around Dadal
Visiting
- Near Dadal, roughly 590 km northeast of Ulaanbaatar; most travellers take two days by road.
- Dadal has ger camps and guesthouses and makes a good base for the surrounding national park.
- Summer is the best season; roads in the north can be difficult after rain.
Sources