Karakorum

History

Genghis Khan's camp in the Orkhon valley grew into a settlement around 1220, but Karakorum became a true city only in 1235, when his son Ögedei Khan built city walls and a permanent palace. For the next quarter-century it was the capital of the Mongol Empire, where princes gathered, tribute arrived and envoys from Europe, Persia and China came to the Great Khan's court.

The Flemish friar William of Rubruck reached the city in 1254 and left a detailed account, including the famous silver tree made by the Parisian goldsmith Guillaume Boucher, whose pipes poured drinks for the Great Khan's guests.

After 1260 Kublai Khan moved the capital to Dadu (modern Beijing), and Karakorum declined into a regional centre. It served again as a capital of the Northern Yuan after 1368, until Ming armies destroyed it in the 1380s. Much of its stone was later reused to build Erdene Zuu monastery beside the ruins.

What to See

• The ruins of the imperial city and its palace area beside Erdene Zuu
• Granite turtles, thought to have marked the boundaries of the city
• The Kharkhorum Museum in town, with finds from the excavations

Visiting

• Kharkhorin is roughly 360 km by road west of Ulaanbaatar, about 6–7 hours by car; most travellers combine it with Erdene Zuu and other Orkhon valley sites.
• The town has guesthouses and ger camps, and is the usual base for exploring the Orkhon valley.
• Summer (June to September) is the easiest season; winters are long and very cold.

Distances and travel times are approximate. Check local conditions, opening hours and permits before you travel.