Things to see and do Khovd

These caves, located at a hundred kilometers in the south of Khovd and at about twenty kilometers of the national park of Khar Us Nuur, are at the foot of the mountain Chandmani. They were discovered and explored for the first time in 1967 by Soviet and Mongolian archaeologists. The Upper Paleolithic rock paintings they contain were soon placed under state protection in 1971. Dated to about 15,000 BC, the paintings depict animals including camels, ibex, sheep and bulls, and possibly even ostriches and mammoths, indicating their ancient presence in the region. The pigments were made from red and brown earth. Traces of smoke in the nearly 20-meter-high cave seem to attest that it was already used as a shelter by the Paleolithic populations.

Since 1996, the paintings have been inscribed on the Unesco World Heritage tentative list. Unfortunately, some of them have been vandalized in recent years. Nevertheless, copies of the paintings, showing them in their original appearance, are presented in the museum of theaimag in Khovd, which is worth a visit.

The caves are located near the entrance to the Mankhan Nature Reserve, which protects a vast steppe. It is one of the few places in the country where you can still observe the saiga antelope.

It is possible to sleep in a ger camp near the caves. You will also find a small restaurant.

About 40 kilometers east of Khovd, the "Black Water Lake" covers an area of 1,153 km². It is the second largest freshwater lake in the country. With an average depth of 4 meters, with a large island in its center, it is a favorite gathering place for many migratory birds such as wild ducks, or sedentary birds such as capercaillies or partridges.

Near this large lake, a smaller body of water, Khar Nuur, hosts many migratory pelicans. A little further on, Dorgon Nuur, a third, even smaller lake containing salt water, is surrounded by sand dunes.

The national park, 8 503 km², combines large areas of desert and semi-desert steppes, framed by snowy peaks. Its specific ecological balance and the multitude of birds that find refuge there have contributed to its classification in 1999 in the list of the Ramsar Convention (Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, especially as a habitat for waterfowl).

At the entrance to the park, along the Khovd River in Myangad sum , resides a large ethnic community, the Myangad, numbering just over 6,000 at the last census. To the south of the park, Chandmani sum is famous for being the home of the famous khoomi singers.

If you are not motorized, the only way to get there from Khovd is to rent a car and driver for the day.