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KHENTII

where Temujin became Chinggis Khan

By Kim Lau

KHENTII province in Eastern Mongolia is revered as Chinggis Khan’s homeland where the embattled Temujin became Chinggis Khan. The northern precinct is Siberian Taiga (forest) and it is the homeland of the Mongol tribe. Traversing the province passes through many locations that were mentioned in the Secret History of the Mongols: Burkhan Khaldun where Temujin prayed to the blue sky, Kokh Nuur where he proclaimed Chinggis Khan; Kherlen, Onon and Tuul river, where Temujin lived his childhood. This area is in entirety sacred to the Mongols. This area has pristine nature, and it gets very wet in July; saving a bogged jeep and getting bogged is the norm.

KHENTII

CHINGGIS KHAN EQUESTRAIN STATUE

Entry into Khentii province sees a forty metre tall statue of Genghis Khan on horseback erected on the bank of the Tuul River at Tsonjin Boldog, 54km east of UB. This is clearly Chinggis Khan homeland

KHENTII

KHOKH NUUR (BLUE LAKE)

Located at the foot of Mountain Kharzurkh, “black heart“, its full name is Khar Zukhnii Khukh Nuur, “blue lake of the black heart”. According to the Secret History of the Mongols, Temujin first proclaimed himself Khan of the Mongol Tribe here.

KHENTII

DAWN AT KHOKH NUUR : Mist shrouds the lake at dawn, creating a magical scene at the lake.

KHENTII

KHANGIL NUUR

Forty-nine kilometers east of Khokh Nuur.

KHENTII

CATTLES AT KHANGIL NUUR : Curious cattle grazing the area and brining the landscape to live.

KHENTII

CROSSING THE ONON RIVER

Little girl crossing the Onon river with her grandfather on horseback. At Binder, locals cross the Onon river with horses and trackers.

KHENTII

Its either you cross the river here, and a big detour. So trackers are here to provide lucrative services.

KHENTII

On the other side after crossing the Onon River

KHENTII

MOBILE BRIDGE ACROSS THE ONON

It was hours of wait, all heading to Dadal for the festival. An amazing feat of make-do, with mobile bridges across the Onon river.

KHENTII

Giuiding a UAZ onto a mobile bridge across the Onon river.

KHENTII

WET IN JULY

Eastern Mongolia is fairly wet in July, making travels difficult.

KHENTII

STUCK IN MUD : This is part and parcel of travelling in Eastern Mongolia for wet summers. They are all heading for Dadal Altargana.

KHENTII

BRAVING A BIG PUDDLE : Sometimes you have no choice but to brave crossings like these, with no alternatives.

KHENTII

Write your story here. (Optional)

Home : LANDS FROM THE MONGOL EMPIRE

This Chapter: MONGOLIA

Next Chapter: CHAGATAI KHANATE

Next Story : DADAL

Footnotes

Captured with OLYMPUS digital systems camera, E-systems from 2004, mirrorless PEN from 2009 and the OM-D from 2013

FootNotes

Captured with OLYMPUS digital systems camera, E-systems from 2004, mirrorless PEN from 2009 and the OM-D from 2013

© 2026 Kim Lau

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