It was the last day of our tour and it was one of the days that I waited for! 😍😍😍 I will finally see Genghis Khan! 😍😍😍 I got up early before 6 in the morning. But bloody hell! 😫 The heater was still not working! 😫 I had no choice but to take a quick shower. 🥶🥶🥶🥶

Before 9 in the morning, the guesthouse helper prepared our breakfast. It was my friends’ last breakfast together. 😭

We checked out in the guesthouse and had our luggages ready to hit the road again. We met Sachiin, our new guide, we also had a new driver that took us to some places on our last day of the tour.

Genghis Khan Statue Complex

The moment I have waited for started to unveiled! 😍😍😍 We were about to vist the Genghis Khan Statue Complex. It is also called as Chinggis Khan Statue Complex from Genghis’ local name. Chinggis Khan Statue Complex is the tallest figure of Genghis Khan in equestrian-style made in stainless steel. It is the tallest equestrian figure in the entire world.

The construction of the complex started in 2006. In just two years, it was opened to the public depicting the life of the Khans focusing to Genghis Khan – one of the world’s greatest known land-strategist and conqueror. He was the first Khan of Mongolia and built the entire Mongolian empire. His power stretches almost half of Asia during his time.

As a history geek, I was always fascinated of the life of Genghis Khan. How on Earth this man built an empire and defeated even the Chinese? 😱🤔 He was a hero of many during his reign. He was indeed one of the legends in world history that defined the real power of an empire.

I was also astonished by the life of his grandson, Kublai Khan. Kublai was an incredible ruler too in his time. His power was remarkable that opened its way for what we called the Silk Road. With the help of Marco Polo as one of his trusted emissary, Kublai’s empire grew.

We parked our car outside then headed inside the complex. I was indeed very blessed to see the statue of Genghis Khan in my own eyes. 😍🥰😍 It was really gigantic that boast the life of the first Khan of Mongolia. Inside the complex, there were too many tourists inside.

The largest Mongolian boot was displayed. It stood 9-feet tall made by local craftsmen of Mongolia. It was placed in the entrance so it felt like it was the foot of Genghis Khan for me. 😂👢

The complex inside became a museum of all things related to the Mongolian empire that started from Genghis Khan. From war attires, paintings and oldest artifacts, everything was inside the complex.

To climb the observation deck, we used the spiral staircase. Elevator is available for senior citizens or PWD. However, there was only one elevator. Thus, it can be crowded too. While we climb, the staircase gets narrower. I was unable to breathe so I stopped for a while in the souvenir shop. 😪

After a short breather, I continued climbing the stairs. In just few minutes, I reached the observation deck! 😍😍😍 I was able to see the figure of Genghis Khan up-close! 😍😍😍 His strong might face made of steel depicted his will as a warrior and a leader.

However, the observation deck was crowded. 😅 We did not had too much time as the queue to take a photo of Genghis was not stopping. There were some Koreans that time too that were too loud. When we found out why they were shouting, it was because someone was already on the edge of the deck. 😰

To make the most out of it, I grabbed my phone quickly to take photos with Chinggis! 🥰🥰🥰 It was amazing to see his figure in personal and exactly with my own eyes. 🥰🥰🥰 After some minutes, we went downstair.

When we reached the entrance area, a group of young children were preparing for a performance. We asked Sachiin, our guide, if we can wait to watch it. She said yes but we need to go immediately after.

In just few minutes, the band started to play. It was amazing to see young Mongolians played traditional instruments. In my eyes and ears, everyone from their group were a pro! 🤩 They beautifully played the songs and everyone was cheering them. 👏👏👏

After one to two songs of the band, we left the complex. We were allowed by Sachiin to stroll around the statue complex. On that point, I was able to see and experience the enormous respect of the Mongolian people to Chinggis Khan. 🥰🥰🥰

This statue complex will not be built if he was no one. Yet, Chinggis Khan played a huge role in Mongolia up to this modern age. His life and works will forever be cherished by Mongolians. 🥰🥰🥰

Second Eagle Picture Taking

While outside the Chinggis Khan statue complex, Sachiin, our guide, told us that we will have a short time to see the eagles! 😍😍😍 I thought that we will just actually see or pet the eagle. I did not know that we will have another photo-session with them as we did that in Erdene Zuu Monastery.

However, Sachiin asked us to line up to take photos with the eagle. So, we did. 😍😍😍 This time around, the eagle was heavier. But since it was my second time to carry them in my arms, I was more familiar that I should be shaking my arm to let the eagle spread his wings. 🦅

One thing to take care in carrying the eagle was not let your face too much close to its claws. The eagle might harm you if you are not paying attention to your guide or the eagle owner. Luckily, in both of my experience, the eagle was gentle and kind. After 1 to 2 minutes with the eagle per each person, we managed to get good photos took by our guide. 😍😍😍

As we completed our tour in the Genghis Khan Statue complex, we hit the road again. We stopped by in a nearby local restaurant to have lunch. The restaurant where we ate was a ger-type. It felt very cozy yet suited for a time to share meals. 🥰

As we completed our meal, we went straight ahead to Terelj National Park.

Terelj National Park

Also known as Gorkhi-Terelj National Park. This national park is very close to Ulaanbaatar. The park was established in 1993, where tourist ger camps resided. The Terelj National Park is approximately 292,000 hectares. It features granite rock formations, alpine meadows, pine forests and the Terelj River.

Before we enter the National Park, the unpaved road welcomed us. 😅😅 It was bumpy and muddy.😅😅 However, down below, in few seconds, it felt like a view of Shirakawa-go. 😍 Yet, my focus returned again to Mongolia. 😍

For me the national park has been commercialized too much. 😟 There were too many ger camps, some were under construction. These ger camps were actually luxurious. Not the one we experienced in Central Mongolia.

The road became narrower as we head to our next destination in the national park. Nevertheless, the narrower the road it became closer to nature for me, away from the luxurious ger camp that I saw. 😍

Aryabal Meditation Temple

One of the peaks inside the Terelj National Park resided a Buddhist Temple called Aryabal Meditation Temple. Aryabal Meditation Temple is dedicated to Aryabal who is a Buddhist God who listens to all the prayers of humankind and releases them from suffering.

To reach the Aryabal Meditation Temple, we hiked first to a paved road. Though it was paved, I felt in my feet that somehow I was elevated as the road gets higher. I stopped by in some seats yet my tourmates where ahead of me. 😅

We reached a stop where we rung a bell then it pointed us to a number that can be part of our destiny. ✨ While walking, we searched for the numbers we got. As I searched for mine and read about it, it was too complex and with deep Buddhist knowledge. Same with Chinese zodiac sign reading, I felt that it was a bit similar to my current situation.😅

As we walked further, the beauty of Terelj National Park was seen more. 😍😍😍 The trees, the mountains, the cold wind, the big blue eternal sky of Mongolia were greeting us before we reached the peak. 😍😍😍

However, I felt drowsy. 🤧 The cold wind and I guess the cold shower I took in the morning combined. 🤧 Thus, my throat started to itch. 😪 When my throat itched, fever and flu will follow. 😪 Also, the path going to the temple was getting narrower and steeper for me. I told Sachiin that I will return to our car instead. 🤧

While going down, the sky turned to gray with small droplets of rain. Since I was not feeling well, I started to walk faster so I can return to the car and drink medicine. Before the rain completely fall, I had some few minutes to experience the beauty of the surrounding of the Aryabal Meditation Temple. 😍

Though I was not able to reach the temple, I guessed, the temple and I was on the same sky of Mongolia. By that time and for me, that was more than enough. 😇😇😇 As I wait for my tourmates, I relaxed inside the car and drunk my medicine. 😪

Turtle Rock

Before we reached the Aryabal Meditation Temple entrance, I already saw the Turtle Rock along the way. But we stopped by here before we complete our tour in Terelj National Park.

The Turtle Rock became a signature spot of Terelj National Park. It is a natural rock formation that looked like a turtle. 🐢 While in the Battle of Zuun Mod, Galdan Boshigt, the Khan of Western Mongolia suffered a great loss. He managed to escape from the siege and gathered his remaining troops around the Turtle Rock.

To avoid enemies, it was said that Boshigt kept all the jewelries and silverware he had in the cliffs of Turtle Rock. From then on, the Turtle Rock became like a legend deemed with treasures. It was also called as Silver Rock. However, until today, no jewelries or silverware were found. 😅

As a traveller, I was not into the treasures but on how these rocks were formed like that. Was it just nature? 🤔 But it was just near the road with no other kind of living form that can built it. 🤔 Anyways, I was just happy that I finally saw it in person. 😍😍

At last, I completed the four-day tour in Central Mongolia! 😍😍😍 It was amazing to see and experience a part of Mongolia that I was just reading in books before. 😍😍😍Another bucket list has been ticked! ✅🙇‍♀️✅

I highly recommend the tour company that assisted me and our group for the entire four days. 🙏🙇‍♀️🙏 It was an amazing journey that I will never ever forget in my life. 💜✨💜

After the tour, our guide and driver started to drop us off one by one to our hotels in Ulaanbaatar. I stayed in the same hostel when I arrived in Ulaanbaatar. I said goodbyes to my new friends, guide and driver. 😭I was very lucky and blessed to crossed their lives specially the part that we were in Mongolia. 🥰🥰🥰

I still had a one full day in Ulaanbaatar where I had a DIY itinerary. You may follow my blog too for my complete tips when planning and what I experienced in Mongolia.

Bayarlalaa, Central Mongolia! 💜💜💜