Great Burkhan Khaldun Mountain and its surrounding sacred landscape, Mongolia

Associated with mountain worship, Chinggis Khan and the creation of the Mongolian Empire

Location (2015) by Great Burkhan Khaldun Mountain and its surrounding sacred landscapeUNESCO World Heritage

Located in North-East Mongolia, the Great Burkhan Khaldun Mountain and its surrounding sacred landscape was inscribed as a cultural property on the World Heritage List in 2015, meeting criteria (iv) and (vi) of the selection criteria. The property covers an area of 443,739 ha.

Khentii mountain range (2015) by Great Burkhan Khaldun Mountain and its surrounding sacred landscapeUNESCO World Heritage

The Burkhan Khaldun Mountain is one of the highest in the Khentii mountain range, which forms the watershed between the Arctic and Pacific Oceans. Forests cover the mountains’ highest slopes while the valley below consists of open grasslands and rivers which feed swampy meadows.

Tsagaan Aral, Kherlen River (2015) by Great Burkhan Khaldun Mountain and its surrounding sacred landscapeUNESCO World Heritage

This is a pristine, unspoilt landscape with rich biodiversity, where nomadic cultural expressions and traditional pastoralism survive, and ancient shamanic and Buddhist practices prevail.

The Secret History of the Mongols (2015) by Great Burkhan Khaldun Mountain and its surrounding sacred landscapeUNESCO World Heritage

The Great Burkhan Khaldun Mountain is frequently referred to in ancient written sources, such as The Secret History of Mongols, in association with significant events in the life of Chinggis Khan, the first Great Khan (Emperor) of the Mongolian Empire.  

Chinggis Khan’s birth and burial place (2015) by Great Burkhan Khaldun Mountain and its surrounding sacred landscapeUNESCO World Heritage

Considered to be one of the country’s most sacred mountains, this site is believed to have been both the home and the final resting place of Chinggis Khan, as well as being the birthplace of the Mongolian Empire, which he founded in 1206.

On the way to the Great Burkhan Khaldun Mountain (2015) by Great Burkhan Khaldun Mountain and its surrounding sacred landscapeUNESCO World Heritage

The mountain is located at the end of a valley which stretches for 20 km from east to west and approximately 2 km from north to south. Hard reeds growing along the banks of the river create a favourable habitat for animals.

A challenging road (2015) by Great Burkhan Khaldun Mountain and its surrounding sacred landscapeUNESCO World Heritage

The road to the Great Burkhan Khaldun Mountain is challenging, with many twists and turns, yet the Mongolian people's desire to reach its revered summit is enduring.

Bosgo Tengeriin Davaa (2015) by Great Burkhan Khaldun Mountain and its surrounding sacred landscapeUNESCO World Heritage

To reach the mountain, pilgrims must cross the Bosgo Tengeriin Davaa (Threshold Pass of Heaven), which is located 20km south of the mountain at the confluence of the venerated Bogd and Kherlen rivers. 

When pilgrims arrive at the Pass and its large ovoo (sacred rock cairn), they dismount and make offerings. A legend which states that foreigners and women cannot cross the Pass is still adhered to by locals today.

Tengeriin Ovoo (2015) by Great Burkhan Khaldun Mountain and its surrounding sacred landscapeUNESCO World Heritage

The Tengeriin Ovoo (Heavenly Hill) is located at the summit of the mountain. This natural formation, that may otherwise be described as a pile of stones, is believed by some to be the tomb or burial site of Chinggis Khan.

Kherlen River (2015) by Great Burkhan Khaldun Mountain and its surrounding sacred landscapeUNESCO World Heritage

Various streams and rivers surrounding the Burkhan Khaldun Mountain come together to form the Kherlen River, which flows through the provinces of Khentii, Tov and Dornod and eventually into the Dalai Lake in Chinese Inner Mongolia.

A worshipped river (2015) by Great Burkhan Khaldun Mountain and its surrounding sacred landscapeUNESCO World Heritage

It has a total length of 1090km and, according to archival sources, the river has long been worshipped.

Kherlengiin Bariyaa (2015) by Great Burkhan Khaldun Mountain and its surrounding sacred landscapeUNESCO World Heritage

To this day, the beginning of every summer sees the inhabitants of the Khentii and Dornod provinces carrying out rituals of worship at the river. During the rituals, they sing “Kherlengiin Bariyaa” and praise the Kherlen river. 

Deediin Deed Hundlel (2015) by Great Burkhan Khaldun Mountain and its surrounding sacred landscapeUNESCO World Heritage

The Tsagaan Aral ritual complex is a sacred place which is located on the west bank of the Kherlen River in the Tuv province. The monument was reconstructed at its original site in 2018 in a project that was impulsed and supported by the local people.

The complex is within viewing distance of the Great Burkhan Khaldun Mountain, and specific worshipping rituals were held here when the harsh weather conditions made it impossible to reach the mountain. Rituals of worship are still carried out here by locals today.

Khentii Lake (2015) by Great Burkhan Khaldun Mountain and its surrounding sacred landscapeUNESCO World Heritage

The freshwater Khentii Lake on the mountain’s southern slopes is another of the area’s numerous sacred places, where worshipping rites have been performed both in ancient times and more recently. The remains of early ritual sites may be found around the lake's shores.

Sacred Erdene Mountain (2015) by Great Burkhan Khaldun Mountain and its surrounding sacred landscapeUNESCO World Heritage

Another of the highest peaks of the Khentii Mountain Range is that of the Erdene Mountain. Its rivers and streams flow into the Kherlen River, which runs along the eastern side of the mountain. Historical records indicate that Erdene Mountain was also an ancient sacred site.

Worshipping rites (2015) by Great Burkhan Khaldun Mountain and its surrounding sacred landscapeUNESCO World Heritage

Numerous records describe the worshipping rites of the Great Burkhan Khaldun Mountain, and the people of Mongolia today still worship their sacred mountain with the greatest devotion and highest respect, preserving the rituals that have been handed down from time immemorial.

Protected area (2015) by Great Burkhan Khaldun Mountain and its surrounding sacred landscapeUNESCO World Heritage

Established in 2020, the Administration Office for the Burkhan Khaldun Mountains is committed to its conservation management plan to protect and preserve the mountain and its nearby sites and monuments in their original forms. 

Preservation of the cultural heritage (2015) by Great Burkhan Khaldun Mountain and its surrounding sacred landscapeUNESCO World Heritage

The Administration is active in implementing its short and long term plans to protect and safeguard the region's traditional livelihoods, cultural expressions and craftsmanship, as well as to preserve the site’s pristine nature and biodiversity.

Credits: Story

This exhibit was created by the Burkhan Khaldun Protection Administration - Ministry of Culture of Mongolia: moc.gov.mn/en

More on the Great Burkhan Khaldun Mountain and its surrounding sacred landscape and World Heritage: whc.unesco.org/en/list/1440/

Photos: Burkhan Khaldun Protection Administration

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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