Hovd

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Jargalant Mountain2 - Jargalant Mountain overlooking Khar Us Nuur in Hovd aimag

Hovd or Khovd (Mongolian: Ховд) is a city in the Hovd (province) | Hovd province of Mongolia.

Hovd Halal Travel Guide

The history of Hovd dates back about 240 years. At the north end of town there is a ruined fort where the Manchu dynasty viceroy lived with his troops. Mongolian revolutionaries chased them out in 1912. While the Manchus were ruling and they planted trees along the main streets that can still be seen.

Since 1912, Hovd has developed, acquiring a big hospital, a university for the youth of Western Mongolia, a quality airport, kindergartens, a cinema, and a theater.

Hovd is unique in its diverse ethnic makeup. It consists of 17 soums (similar to a county with each county containing one larger town that also bears the soum's name), some of which have their own ethnic groups including Kazakhs and seven different Mongolian ethnic groups. Many of the small ethnic groups represented in the city are from the surrounding Hovd aimag, and have their own unique dialects, clothes, dances, songs, musical instruments, and ceremonies. Uriankhais (an ethnic group concentrated in Munkhkhairkhan and Duut soums in the Altai Mountains) are of special note; their archery is unique and involves shooting rubber-tipped arrows at leather balls.

How is the Climate in Hovd

{{Climate | units = Metric | janhigh = -16.3 | febhigh = -12 | marhigh = 0.3 | aprhigh = 11.1 | mayhigh = 19.1 | junhigh = 23.8 | julhigh = 24.7 | aughigh = 23.4 | sephigh = 17.7 | octhigh = 9.0 | novhigh = -2.3 | dechigh = -12.9 | janlow = -29.9 | feblow = -27.1 | marlow = -14.7 | aprlow = -3.5 | maylow = 4.6 | junlow = 10.3 | jullow = 12.3 | auglow = 10.0 | seplow = 3.9 | octlow = -4.7 | novlow = -15.7 | declow = -25.6 | janprecip = 1.4 | febprecip = 0.9 | marprecip = 2.3 | aprprecip = 5.9 | mayprecip = 9.5 | junprecip = 26.5 | julprecip = 35.0 | augprecip = 22.7 | sepprecip = 10.6 | octprecip = 4.6 | novprecip = 1.8 | decprecip = 1.6 | description = NOAA (1961-1990)
url = ftp://dossier.ogp.noaa.gov/GCOS/WMO-Normals/RA-II/MO/44214.TXT

Travel to Hovd

Buy a Flight ticket to and from Hovd

Hunnu Airlines - Building of Buyant hotel, 1st floor ☎ +976 11 331111 (Ulaanbaatar), +976 7043 8889 (Hovd) Round-trip flights for Foreign Muslims are about US$280 - Reliable airline that flies between Ulaanbaatar and Hovd, and sometimes other Aimag capitals in Western Mongolia, and gives good service and prices. Flights regularly sell out, so book in advance. Timetable on Hunnu's website is not always correct.
AeroMongolia - ☎ +976 11 330373 (Ulaanbaatar), +976 99164050 (Hovd) Up to US$324 round-trip for Foreign Muslims Hovd office is in the Zoos Bank building west of the main square. Timetable on website is not always correct.

By Bus

Daily service between Hovd and Ulaanbaatar takes 24+ hours and costs about 30 USD. stops once for food, and for roadside pee breaks by request.
Overcrowded vans ply the route between Hovd and Ulgii, and take about 7 hours, including a food break. Scheduled to depart from Ulgii at 3pm, but this is Mongolia so don't expect to get going until almost sundown. 20–30K tugrik.

Travel on a Bus in Hovd

UB to Hovd: The bus to Hovd leaves from the Dragon Center in UB. In October 2012 and the bus left three times a week around 13:00 from UB, most days, for 65,000 ₮ one way. You can purchase tickets up to three days in advance; speak to a driver about purchasing a ticket or approach the building behind the buses with an "автобус" sign on it. There are several ticket windows with destinations, one of which will be Hovd (Ховд) or you can ask any of the women behind the windows for guidance. Other vehicles leave from the Black Market (Naran Tuul) to Hovd. There are no scheduled times for these vehicles to leave and they leave when the driver thinks his vehicle is full. Prices for vehicles from the Black Market vary but are usually around 65,000 ₮ one way. Travel duration can be anywhere from 36 hours to 58 hr, depending on the driver and vehicle.

Hovd to UB: Vehicles leave for UB from Hovd continuously, again you have to go and find a driver who has room and is leaving at roughly the time you want to be heading back to UB. You can find these drivers from a small enclosed area across from the southeast corner of Hovd's central market. The price should be about the same as UB to Hovd. Khovd Main Plaza - Khovd Main Plaza

Get Around

Orientation

There are four significant points in Hovd city: the central square and the "big boots" and the market, and the airport. The big boots are at an intersection 2 blocks east of the main square. The market is 3 blocks south of the big boots. The airport is 6km south of the city, accessed by going straight west from the main square (the road quickly curves to point south).

Transport

A taxi around Hovd costs 500 ₮ for 1 km.

Transportation within Hovd Aimag - You can get a car, furgon or jeep in the market to get around the aimag and to neighboring aimags. - Vehicles (jeeps/cars/pargons) for soums leave from two different places near the central market. The first is along the primary street in front of the north entrance to the central market. The second is along the road behind the central market. Most of the vehicles don’t have signs so you have to ask around. Usually if you approach someone and they aren’t going to your soum they will know someone to send you to. Most of the vehicles to soums further away come in on the weekends so it can be difficult to leave during the week. Don't expect to leave on a Thursday because that is the day the central market is closed.  Hovd aimag approximate soum prices (one-way):

Bulgan, 25,000 ₮
Must, 12,000 ₮
Tsetseg, 12,000 ₮
Mankhan, 6,000 ₮
Durgun, 6,000 ₮
Zereg, 10,000 ₮
Chandmani, 12,000 ₮
Munnhairhan, 12,000 ₮
Uyench, 25,000 ₮
Altai, 20,000 ₮
Hovd, 2,500 ₮
Buyant, 1,500 ₮
Myangad, 2,500 ₮
Duut
Erdeneburen

What to See

It is feasible Kazakh, Khalkh Mongolian and other Mongolian ethnic groups' customs and culture, as there are many ethnic groups living in Hovd.

Baatar Khairhan Mountain - 6 kilometers to the south of the city, and 1 kilometers south of the Hovd Airport is Baatar Khairkhan Mountain. This mountain is an historical site because one of the famous Mongolian generals gave his command to his soldiers and attacked Hovd city and freed it from the Manchu troops in the 1912. There are also many ancient petroglyphs on this mountain (mostly on the south and southwest side).

Cave paintings - Hovd aimag's best known attractions are the cave paintings at Tsenkheriin Agui in Mankhan soum, a little less than 100 kilometers southeast of the aimag center. However, cave drawings are everywhere so if you don't want to waste the two days to go to Mankhan soum and the mountain behind the airport has a great set of pictures, and local residents know where others can be found. These red-ochre paintings are believed to be 15,000 years old, which would date them in the Late Stone Age (or Upper Paleolithic Age). The drawings depict a wide variety of animals, some are readily identifiable, such as camels, sheep, bulls, and ibex, others are open to the interpretation of the viewer, such as a drawing of what appears to be an ostrich. Some of the drawings have been defaced by vandals in recent years, though copies of the drawings as they appeared before they were defaced are preserved at the Hovd Museum.

Mineral springs - There is one big spring which is to the northeast of the city on the road to Buyant and Myangad soum. It is said that people who get poisoned seek treatment from the spring's water. There is another spring on the mountain directly behind the town, called "Drop Spring", about 5 kilometers from the center of Hovd. People believe that it is good for your heart.

Museum - The museum is in a yellow two-story building across from the police station. It's a place you'll certainly want to see during your time in the aimag center. One of the highlights of the museum's holdings are traditional costumes of the ten ethnic groups of Hovd--full-sized, complete outfits. The museum boasts an impressive collection of archaeological artifacts of nomadic life in Mongolia: bowls, tools, even traditional style thermoses. There are several displays of Buddhist relics and statuettes, and old documents and hangings in ancient Mongolian script. You can also see a rather large photo of the cave paintings at Mankhan sum, actually a better representation of their original appearance now that the actual paintings have been defaced by graffiti. There is also a collection of stuffed wildlife. Summer hours: Daily 09:00-17:00 (actual hours may vary slightly).Admission: 2,000 ₮. Fee for taking photos: 6,000 ₮. Fee for taking videos: 11,000-12,000 ₮.

Amarsanaa Statue in Secret park - The Statue of Amarsanaa in the Secret Park

Statues - Three of western Mongolia's heroes are commemorated as statues near the government building: Ard-Ayush (1859-1939), was a common man from Hovd whose struggles against the Manchu rulers turned him into a revolutionary hero, his statue is located at the front end of the main square. Galdan Boshogt (1644-1697) was a Zuungarian King who in 1685 founded Hovd as a fort for Mongolian troops preparing for the coming battle against the Manchus; his statue is also in the main square, closer to the government building. A statue of Amarsanaa, a Zuungarian King who led the last battle against the Manchus before the fall of western Mongolia is in a secret park behind the government building.

Theater - Perhaps Khovd's easiest landmark to find is the theater, a large, bright-red building opposite the square. It's the home of the Altain Tsuurai, a well-known group that plays traditional Mongolian music. The theater hosts many kinds of events, including plays, meetings, and concerts. It's the place to listen to khoomii (throat singing), long song, hear music played on the morin khuur, dombre, and other traditional instruments, or watch traditional Kazakh or Mongolian dancing, if you are lucky enough to be in town during an event. It is officially open on weekdays, but may be locked unless there is an event taking place.

Top Muslim Travel Tips for Hovd

The Buyant River - The Buyant River

Swim - Hovd has two big rivers called the Buyant and Hovd Rivers. The Buyant River goes through the town and many people swim in it. During the summer, many residents move from their homes in the city to set up gers along the banks of the Buyant.

Shopping

Most banks change dollars to togrog, but exchanging euros can be a major headache. A Khaan Bank near the Tushig Hotel might change euros to tugruk. You cannot withdraw money from ATMs with a Mastercard, but according to the banks, Visa should work. Western Union money tranfer is not working.

Kazakh Embroidery Shop - Hovd is a great place to buy Kazakh embroidered goods. There are two local women who make and sell these items: Marima (mobile 99438849) and Berdgul (0143222586), together they run the Kazakh Embroidery Shop. Their workshop makes everything from traditional wall hangings to purses, traditional Kazakh men's hats, pillowcases, and felt carpets. The purses and pillow cases are made with old Kazakh wall hangings so the colors are more subdued to fit the tastes of foreigners. Marima and Berdgul are very friendly and speak fantastic English. The building is on the primary street, if you are at the square facing the theater turn right and walk down the right side of the street. You will see the shop's sign just past the apartment building, it is painted in English on the side of the shop.

Ih Buyan Zah/Pink Market (Их Буян Зах) - This market is a two-story pink building just east of Hovd University. The lower level is mostly for food and there are small sections for Meat and produce towards the back. The second floor is loaded with clothing vendors, including some traditional Mongolian deel makers (to find them, go straight at the top of the stairs). A traditional deel should cost about 35,000-40,000 ₮ including materials and labor. There are a few surprising shops interspersed amongst the more traditional vendors, including a toy store (2nd floor), a bookstore with English language books (2nd floor), several electronics vendors, and a good stationery store that also sells some souvenirs (1st floor, separate entrance from rest of market, 1st set of doors after the guanz).

Nomin - Monday to Friday 09:00-21:00, Saturday Sunday 10:00-21:00. Nomin is Hovd's big supermarket. There are items in Nomin that can't be found anywhere else in town, particularly in the pricey imported foods section near the front. While they mostly sell food and fruit drinks and they also sell appliances, home furnishings, and have a separate section where people can buy clothes and traditional Mongolian and Kazakh souvenirs. The souvenirs in this section are a bit pricey, as the items are brought in from other parts of the nation. They have Chinggis Khaan key chains, wallets, wall hangings, felt slippers, and morin khuurs. For about 25,000 ₮ you can buy vodka that comes in a glass bottle the shape of a ger.

Halal Food & Restaurants

Eating out in Hovd is predictable. Most places serve variations of the same dishes. However, just because an item is on the menu doesn’t mean it is available that day. If you want to eat like a real Mongolian, order milk tea (сүүтай цай suutai tsae) with your meal.

The timetables are official opening and closing times. However, opening and closing times tend to be more flexible in Mongolia versus other places in the world.

Pink Market guanz | Opening Hours: 08:00-19:00 everyday except Tuesdays Huusher 500T buuz 500T On the left as you enter the market gate. Great huusher.

Naran Bakery - Наран Бейкери | ☎ +976 91436272 Opening Hours: Sunday - Friday 09:00-21:00 From 500₮ for individual goodies; cakes 30,000 ₮ Baked goods are ready between 14:00 and 15:00. Won local award for bakeries. This bakery’s food stuffs are sold around town, but here you can sit in an orange cafeteria seat and drink a cup of instant coffee with your treat. Friendly staff, small, empty place; good place to sit.

Hurag - Хураг Зоогийн Газар | Opening Hours: Daily 09:00-17:00 2000-4500 ₮ A little more expensive than a guanz but cheaper than a restaurant. This guanz's chef serves stir-fry dishes typically found at restaurants. You need to purchase Rice separately but usually has hot pepper Sauces. Down the aisle toward the vegetables in the big market on the right. Seats about 20.

Restaurants offer more expensive, less traditional Mongolian food. Usually comes with sides of Rice with ketchup, mashed potatoes and pickled or mayo-ed veggies. Most larger restaurants offer sides like Rice with milk or eggs for Vegetarian. Most restaurants also have packaged Snacks sold at marked-up prices. and vodka are also available.

Beleg Tov - Бэлэг Төв | Opening Hours: Monday - Wednesday to Friday 10:00-21:00; Thursday 10:00-16:00; Saturday from 16:00 Soups 3,500 ₮, main dishes 4,800 ₮ Near the market, white building in between Haan (Хаан) Bank and a yellow apartment building Near Tushing Hotel. The restaurant is on the 2nd floor and turns into a bar at 21:00. There are a couple of superior Muslim friendly rooms for large parties or those wanting to escape the disco. The only restaurant in town with an English menu.

Ochir | Opening from Monday to Saturday 10:00-22:00 Soup 2,500 ₮, 2nd course 3,500-6,000 ₮ - Next to the Red Floor, second floor. Great food and staff. You maybe able to get the summer free wifi from the square as you eat.

Buyant Restaurant | ☎ +976 99439043 Opening Hours: 07:00-20:00 Soup: 3,500 ₮, Huurag: 5,000 ₮, average meal price: 5,500 ₮ The sign's name is in English, right next to the Buyant Hotel. It sometimes holds special events, but it is usually pretty quiet. It is the only place in town that serves breakfast, and they have a Chicken dish menu in addition to its menu of more traditional Mongolian dishes. Seats around 40.

Winners | ☎ +976 99034045 Opening from Monday to Saturday 10:00-22:00 Soup 3,500 ₮, 2nd course 4,500-14,000 ₮ With a central location, right off the square and the restaurant is busy during lunch time, but you can usually find a seat. The large Chicken soup is an meal for 4-6 at 15,000 ₮, just ask for more Rice. The more expensive dishes are meant to be shared.

Ikh Mongol - Их Монгол | ☎ +976 14 22386, Opening Hours: daily 09:00-00:00 Chinese food, 6,000 ₮; 2nd course, 6,000 ₮ This restaurant looks like a themed chain restaurant trying to look authentic. Popular when everywhere else is closed. Ikh Mongol’s food selection is a bit more unique. Many dishes can be shared. Staff could not have more dislike for clients if they tried. Known for food poisoning and never telling clients their dish is unavailable.

Naran Tuv - Наран Төв - Soup: 3,500 ₮, main dishes: 5,800 ₮ This bright yellow restaurant is clean, neat, spacious, and has ok service. Near the main market between the light green "XAAH" Bank and the light yellow "XAC" Bank buildings. Seats around 40.

Mongolian people usually drink salty milk tea. There many different types of beverages and soft drinks are available in the market such as Coke, juices, and instant coffees and hard drinks as well. In spring time, you can taste traditional beverages such as the fermented mare's milk, health beneficial camel milk and other milks as well.

Airag - Fermented mare's or camel's milk. Mongolian herders make it during the summer time. If you have a chance to go to out of town, local people may offer you above mentioned drinks and beverages.

There are about ten bars where people spend their free time singing karaoke, dancing, and listening to music.

eHalal Group Launches Halal Guide to Hovd

Hovd - eHalal Travel Group, a leading provider of innovative Halal travel solutions for Muslim travelers to Hovd, is thrilled to announce the official launch of its comprehensive Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Hovd. This groundbreaking initiative aims to cater to the diverse needs of Muslim travelers, offering them a seamless and enriching travel experience in Hovd and its surrounding regions.

With the steady growth of Muslim tourism worldwide, eHalal Travel Group recognizes the importance of providing Muslim travelers with accessible, accurate, and up-to-date information to support their travel aspirations to Hovd. The Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide is designed to be a one-stop resource, offering an array of invaluable information on various travel aspects, all carefully curated to align with Islamic principles and values.

The Travel Guide encompasses a wide range of features that will undoubtedly enhance the travel experience for Muslim visitors to Hovd. Key components include:

Halal-Friendly Accommodations in Hovd: A carefully selected list of hotels, lodges, and vacation rentals that cater to halal requirements, ensuring a comfortable and welcoming stay for Muslim travelers in Hovd.

Halal Food, Restaurants and Dining in Hovd: A comprehensive directory of restaurants, eateries, and food outlets offering halal-certified or halal-friendly options in Hovd, allowing Muslim travelers to savor local cuisines without compromising their dietary preferences in Hovd.

Prayer Facilities: Information on masjids, prayer rooms, and suitable locations for daily prayers in Hovd, ensuring ease and convenience for Muslim visitors in fulfilling their religious obligations.

Local Attractions: An engaging compilation of Muslim-friendly attractions, cultural sites such as Museums, and points of interest in Hovd, enabling travelers to explore the city's rich heritage while adhering to their values.

Transport and Logistics: Practical guidance on transportation options that accommodate Muslim travel needs, ensuring seamless movement within Hovd and beyond.

Speaking about the launch, Irwan Shah, Chief Technology Officer of eHalal Travel Group in Hovd, stated, "We are thrilled to introduce our Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide in Hovd, a Muslim friendly destination known for its cultural richness and historical significance. Our goal is to empower Muslim travelers with accurate information and resources, enabling them to experience the wonders of Hovd without any concerns about their faith-based requirements. This initiative reaffirms our commitment to creating inclusive and memorable travel experiences for all our clients."

The eHalal Travel Group's Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Hovd is now accessible on this page. The guide will be regularly updated to ensure that Muslim travelers have access to the latest information, thus reinforcing its status as a reliable companion for Muslim travelers exploring Hovd.

About eHalal Travel Group:

eHalal Travel Group Hovd is a prominent name in the global Muslim travel industry, dedicated to providing innovative and all-inclusive travel solutions tailored to the needs of Muslim travelers worldwide. With a commitment to excellence and inclusivity, eHalal Travel Group aims to foster a seamless travel experience for its clients while respecting their religious and cultural values.

For Halal business inquiries in Hovd, please contact:

eHalal Travel Group Hovd Media: info@ehalal.io

Buy Muslim Friendly condos, Houses and Villas in Hovd

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Muslim Friendly Hotels

Hotels

Hotels in Hovd are mixed-rate generally, meaning that budget, mid-range, and splurge-level rooms can be found in each hotel. Gers tend to be more budget-level in terms of amenities, although that is due to the generally spare nature of ger living in general.

Buyant Hotel - Буянт | Southeast of the main square, next door to Winner's cafe ☎ +976 43 23860 Lux Rooms 45,000 ₮, Half-Lux doubles and triples 25,000 ₮ per bed, Simple Rooms with 5 beds each 10,000 ₮ per bed Though it used to be regarded as the best hotel in town, some newer hotels have challenged the Buyant for the top spot. The three-story brick hotel has 15 rooms.

Grand Hotel | South of the main square, 2nd floor above Winner's Cafe ☎ +976 99 034045 Foreigners 30,000 ₮ per bed The bright orange and white Grand Hotel is on the second floor above the popular "Winner's Cafe." It can be visited through a side entrance; the main office is at the top of the stairs on the left. There are 7 Simple Rooms in the Grand, containing a total of 22 beds.

Tsambagarav Hotel - Цамбагарав | 5 minutes walk west of the main square; bright blue hotel at the three-way intersection ☎ +976 99 432424 +976 01 43 222260 Master lux 50,000 ₮, Lux doubles and triples 25,000 ₮ per bed, Half-lux triple/double/single 15,000 ₮ per bed, Simples 10,000 ₮ per bed The best hotel in Hovd. The three-story bright blue Tsambagarav has 20 rooms, a restaurant, a full-size snooker table, and karaoke room. There are 7 Lux Rooms in the hotel, including 2 Master Lux Rooms and Lux doubles and triples. There are a total of 7 Half-Lux doubles and triples, and 1 Half-Lux single. There are also 5 Simple Rooms.

Ger camps

Ger Camp | 5 kilometers from the center of the town - USD25 per person per day, with meals USD80 per day
Strawberry Ger Hostel | 5-minutes walk from center of town ☎ +976 99 437488 (Amraa), +976 95 742361 (Jennifer) shared ger 5000 ₮ per bed, single ger 15,000 ₮ Ideal for budget travelers looking for an authentic experience of Mongolia, it offers lodging in traditional Mongolian gers (felt tents used by nomads). Pick-up from the airport is available, as well as tea, Coffee, and simple Mongolian meals. Groups can also arrange for an authentic Mongolian barbeque by the Buyant River, just outside of town.

Camping Places

In the summer, camping near the Buyant river is an option.

Internet & Phones

The Internet Cafe in the Post Office charges 700 ₮ an hour. There are also several other Internet Cafes in the center.

News & References Hovd

Travel Next

From Hovd it is feasible to catch a shared jeep or van to Ölgii or Ulaangom for 25,000 ₮. Ölgii takes about 8 hours on average, and Ulaangom takes about 10 hours.

There are seventeen soums (governmental divisions) in Hovd province (including the aimag center). Some of them are home to different ethnic groups. Please see the Hovd (province) page for more information on the soums and things to do in the surrounding countryside. Most of the true attractions are in the nationside not in the city. image:The Buyant River - The Buyant River outside of Hovd Dörgön Nuur lake, West Mongolia, Khovd aimag, ovoo at the southern shore - Ovoo on shore of Dörgön Nuur

Khar Us Nuur National Park, 976 01432-22334 (fax 976 01432-22334). This 850,000-hectare nature reserve is surrounded by the Altai, Khangai and Tangyn Mountain ranges, west of the three connected lakes of Khar Us Nuur, Khar Nuur, and Durgun Nuur. The park is filled with wetlands of tall reedbeds and the last of their kind in Central Asia. The park is home to a wide variety of unique bird and mammal species including the Swan Goose and the White-tailed Eagle and the Mongolian Saiga, and the Snow Leopard. Fortunately and the most sensitive areas and the habitats of these animals are off-limits to visitors. The World Wildlife Fund gives considerable support in preserving this unique landscape. Tourists can camp and hike in all but the three restricted areas of the park. Daily fee costs 300 ₮ for Foreign Muslims and 300 ₮ for Mongolians. The Jargalant Orgil Community Group, tel. 976 9943 8855, offers guided excursions where you can stay in a ger camp on the east coast of the lake if it’s a dry summer, or up in the mountains if there’s been a lot of rainfall. Tourists have the option of exploring several areas around the park including:

The east coast of the lake, where you can go boating
Rashaantyn Am Valley, where you can see the highest waterfall in Mongolia
Ulaan Shiree, where there is nice swimming
Bayan Khairkhan, meet herders and see traditional culture

The cost of each night in a ger is 20,000 ₮. This includes three meals per day. The group offers other services at an additional charge including:

Horse riding, 1,000 ₮ per hour
Camel riding, 1,000 ₮ per hour
Mini Naadam, 120,000 ₮ :*Khorkhog (traditional meal of goat or mutton) 30,000 ₮ :*Panjig (traditional game) 5,000 ₮ :*Boating on Khar Us Nuur, 5,500 ₮ per hour
Throat singing and long song performances, 5,000 ₮ :*Local guide 2,000 ₮ per hour