Dundgobi is the 21st province of Mongolia. It is approximately 254 km south of Ulaanbaatar, and we moved towards this dry, arid desert land. With my guide Anima by my side, I felt safe and confident that my journey would be pleasant and fruitful. Our mission was to find the White Stupa, also known in the local language as the Tsagaan Suvarga. Dundgobi is the second least populated province of Mongolia. It is also famous for the traditional Mongolian fermented drink called Airag, which is made from fermented horse milk.
From Ulaanbaatar to Dundgobi to The Khongor Sand Dunes
The White Stupa is 60 meters tall with a width of around 400 meters. The area where it is situated is also known as the Mini Grand Canyon and was once a seabed. It was also an ancient dinosaur land where dinosaurs roamed freely during the Jurassic age.
The entire area has a red sandy look. There are two famous caves that lie 7 km east of the Tsagaan Suvarga. The caves are called Khevtee Bosoo Agui and are a major tourist attraction.
Driving ahead, we also ventured into the Khongor Sand Dunes, which were a hotspot for dinosaur fossils and dinosaur eggs. This is also the most important sand mass, covering an area of more than 900 sq km. The wind constantly blows from the north towards the west, and the dunes can reach breathtaking heights between 100 to 300 meters. The Khongor Sand Dunes are more than 180 km long and can reach a width of 27 km. The dunes are very imposing and are also called the Singing Sand Dunes (Duut Mankhan) due to the noise made by the wind when it moves over the sand. The varied colors and texture of the sand dunes are very beautiful indeed. There is also an oasis in the middle of the sand dunes.
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