Area: 76.100km2
Population: 87900
Density: 1.16
Province center: Hovd town (1487km from Ulaanbaatar city)
Geographical location
Hovd province, where central market for trade and commerce of 5 western provinces and regional health care center locate, is one of the biggest provinces in the western region in Mongolia. It covers an area of 76.0 thousand square kilometers involving Mongol Altai Mountain ranges, Great Lakes lowland and the Gobi beyond Altai. Most of lakes and Mongol Altai glaciers lie in Hovd province.
Population
With overall population of 89900, Hovd province is called as homeland for diverse ethnic groups such as Halh, Zahchin, Torgoud, Kazakh, Ould, Mingad, Durvod and Urianhay. One could see cultural differences of Mongolian ethnic groups in Hovd province where numerous ethnographic studies take place.
Some features
o Historic figures including Galdan Boshigt, Chingunjav, Amarsanaa and Ard Ayush were born in this province
o It is said that Hovd province is homeland for huumii (throat singing or pharynx) and therefore it has many throat singers. Mongolian throat singing center was formed in Chandmani soum of this province in 2005.
o Taking advantage of its location, bordering with the People’s Republic of China on the south-western side and lying close to Russian Federation, it directly imports some vegetables and other goods. Central market with wide-range of choices in the western region is located in Hovd province.
Sightseeing
We recommend you to see Mongol Altai Mountain ranges, snow-clad mountains especially Munh Hairhan and Gurvan Tsenher’s cave (80km from province center) with 15 km long stone inscriptions when you visit Hovd province. Moreover beautiful fresh-water lakes such as Har Us Lake and Har Lake where many aquatic birds, namely pelicans, black geese and spoonbills gather and Durgon Lake with various fish like Mongol ruffs are worth seeing. Furthermore, Ulaan Bugach mineral spa for five-internal organs is well known for its curing nature. This mineral spa lies 2 km from province center.
If you haven’t checked in or could not find any stay-ins while you arrive at the airport of this province, don’t worry at all because there are many people with ads like “Want a car?” or “Need a hotel to check in?”. When you get to the Ard Ayush Square different transports like taxis, motorcycle-taxis and 3-wheel motorcycles will be ready for service and it would be easier for you since there are hotel employees introducing their hotel services.
If you could not go anywhere from province center, we recommend you to see the following things in Hovd town:
1. Ard Ayush Square. If you have time but could not decide what to see, just go to the Square. You can see general picturesque of the town since it is the melting pot and if lucky you could witness a fine show in the evening. There are several statues dedicated for figures as Galdan Boshigt, Folk Ayush and “The Buyant River” song.
2. Museum for local studies. Here, you may get acquainted with traditions of numerous ethic groups, flora and fauna in Hovd province.
3. Movie theatre under the auspice of Hatanbaatar Magsarjav. It is one of the most visited places since it shows foreign, domestic and even sometimes latest movies.
4. Sports palace. The biggest sports palace of 5 western provinces is located in Hovd town. Various sports activities are held in this palace which is one of the most crowded places in Hovd town.
5. Ruin of Sangiin wall where Manchu envoy resided.
6. Hovd Theater. Sometimes folk arts performances, plays, concerts and others are played here.
Shopping-What to buy?
Variety of vegetables is grown in Hovd. If you visit there during fall time, you may find cheaper water-melon, apple, pumpkin, melon, peach and other greens abundant. For instance, you could buy a water-melon for MNT 400-500, even sometimes for MNT100.
Service areas
There are hotels including Buyant, Hovd, Myangan Ugalz, Jargalant, Altai, Orgil, Burte and Od and among them Hovd and Buyant hotels are the biggest ones. Restaurants with Chinese, European and Mongolian dishes of Hovd and Buyant hotels are considered as ones with fine dishes.
Communications
Mongolian National Broadcasting Television, local televisions, UBS, MN25, TV9 and foreign channels are broadcast via cable televisions in Hovd province. In addition, media outlets such as Mongolian radio and 3 local FM radios are broadcast and “Hovdyn medee” newspaper is published. You may use high-speed Internet café which is at the Folk Ayush Square. Mongolian telecommunications, Mobicom and Skytel operate in Hovd.
Photo Gallery
|
|
|
