For many thousands of years Mongols have traditionally dwelled in yurts (gers). Mongol nomads invented this type of dwelling. The frame is chiefly made of willows and it's covered with felt. This is a multipurpose dwelling which can be easily collapsed, transported to another place and put up again fully preserving its original shape. History has preserved information about giant yurts built on wheeled platforms. The Mongolian yurt has two key components - the wooden framework and the felt cover.

The wooden parts are the walls (khana), the long poles (uni), the smoke escape (toono), and its supports (bagana). One wall consists of 10-15 wooden poles, each about 1.5 meter high, bound together in a way making it possible to fold it for transportation and then unfold it like an accordion. The unfolded walls are connected to form a circle. The long poles are fastened to the upper part of the walls, with the other end past through smoke escape hole, the only window in the ger. In the center of the ger is the hearth (stove) which has a special meaning for the Mongols the part from its utilitarian purpose, the hearth (golomt), symbolizes ties with the ancestors. In winter the heartg heats the ger and also serves as a stove for cooking. The ger warms up quickly and holds in the heat.

There are many different kinds of ways that gers are decorated. When decorating the wood of a Mongolian ger, most of the background is painted red and brownish red, but only the trunks of the poles are painted green. Patterns are usually painted on them. The patterns are multi-colored and items inside the ger such as furniture and Mongolian clothes are in harmony with the warm colors. Spiral patterns are popular in Mongolian designs. Drawing a spiral pattern reflects the horns of the male mountain sheep. Natural objects such as clouds, water, mountains and animals are pictured in many spiral patterns also.
Ger-Yurt Etiquette

It is bad manners to knock on the brightly decorated or painted doors of the ger. Instead, you should call out (Nokhoi hori), which roughly translates as "May I come in?" but literally means "Host the dog!"

The layout of the gers is universal throughout Mongolia. The door always faces south. Once across the threshold, men move left (to the west, under the protection of the great god, Tengger); women to the right (east, under the protection of the Sun). Towards the back, and a little to the west, is the place of honor set aside for guests, to which you will be politely ushered. There you will be seated, with the man of the ger beside you.
 
The back of the ger is khoimor, the place for the elders, where the most honored people are seated and treasured possession are kept. On the back wall is the family altar, with Buddhist images once again publicly displayed, family photos and some suitcases. Near the door on the male side, are saddles and the big leather milk bag and churn to stir the brew of milky tea and airag. On the other female side of the door are the cooking implements and water buckets. Around there are 2 or 3 low beds and cabinets; in the center, a small table with several tiny chair, and handing in any vacant spot, clothes, children's toys and plenty of testy slabs of uncooked mutton. For women, the best way to sit is a side kneel, as sitting cross-legged is considered rude.
 
Most gers will have a hospitality plate, unusually an aluminum bowl, piled with offerings, ready for any passer-by who drops in. You will almost certainly be offered dairy products, especially in summer, such as dried cheese, as well as a bowl of milk and salty Mongolian tea, or sometimes vodka. You should always take what is offered try not refuse anything. If you don't like what you have been given, take a small sip or bite-or pretend that it greatly upsets you and leave the rest on the table. If you finish anything, the plate or bowl simply indicates that you don't want refill.
 
An older man may offer his, snuffbox to male visitor, even if you don't have one to exchange. If you some snuff (powdered tobacco), empty a tiny portion on your hand, between your (downward-facing) first finger and thumb. Raise your hand to a nostril, take along, deep inhalation and smile widely. If you don't want any snuff just go through the any motions anyway, but don't inhale.