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The capital city Ulaanbaatar
With over one-third of the country’s population, Ulanbaatar is by far Mongolia’s largest city. It is also the transport, political, economic and industrial center of the country. Built along with river Tuul and surrounded by picturesque mountains, the center of Ulaanbaatar is dominated by soviet style high-rise apartment blocks. About 1200000 inhabitants living in sprawling suburbs on the outskirts of the city, opting to live in traditional ger houses.
The topography makes for good hillside views overlooking the city. It is very pleasant place to visit and the base for trips around the country. The city has interesting monasteries and museums and excellent cultural shows.
The first recorded capital city of Mongolia was created in 1639. It was called Orgoo and was originally located at the monastery Da Khuree, some 420km from Ulaanbatar in Arkhangai aimag or province. The monastery was the residence of the five year old Zanabazar who at the time, had been proclaimed the head of the Buddhism in Mongolia. The city was moved around 25 times to various places along with Orkhon, Selenge and Tuul rivers. Throughouts such movements, the city was given fairly unexciting official and unofficial names, including Khuree (Camp) in 1706. In 1778 the capital was built at its present location and called as the Ikh Khuree or Great Camp, and was under the rule of the Bogd khaan.
In 1911 when Mongolia first proclaimed its independence from China, the city became the capital of Outer Mongolia and was renamed Niislel Khuree (Capital Camp). The name of the Niislel Khuree was used till 1923, when capital city of Mongolia was renamed as the as the city of Ulaandaatar.
In 1918 it was invaded by the Chinese army and three years later by the Russians. Finally, in 1924 the city was renamed Ulaanbaatar (Red Hero) as declared the official capital of an independent Mongolia. In 1933, Ulaandaatar gained autonomy and separated from the Tov aimag. From the 1930s, the soviets built the city in typical Russian style apartment blocks, large brightly colored theatres and cavernous government buildings. Tragically, the Soviets also destroyed almost all of the monasteries and temples.
