Mörön is the capital of Hövsgöl, and a usual stopover en route due to its central location in the province.
Mörön, whose name means "river" in Mongolian, was established as the administrative center of Khövsgöl Aimag (Province) on the site of a monastery in 1933. The Murungiin Khuree Khiid Monastery was built in 1809 and had a population of 2,500 monks at its peak. It was destroyed during religious purges in 1937. A new monastery was built in the 1990s, with maybe 40 monks. Today there are several museums and a large collection of deer stones 20 km outside of town, though most people simply pass through Mörön on their way to Lake Khövsgöl.
- Deerstone complex - 17 km west of Moron. Deerstones are large 2-3 m tall stones with deer and other images carved on the surface. From the Bronze Age (1500BC).
- Museum
- Monastery - Danzandarjaa Khiid - on the western edge of town, from 1890, rebuilt in 1990, well worth a 20-minute visit. Arrive in the morning around 10AM for morning prayer. A small donation would help renovation work.
- Wrestling stadium - at eastern end of town
- Town Square - with monument to Davaadorj
Deerstone complex - 17 km west of Moron. Deerstones are large 2-3 m tall stones with deer and other images carved on the surface. From the Bronze Age (1500BC).
Museum
Monastery - Danzandarjaa Khiid - on the western edge of town, from 1890, rebuilt in 1990, well worth a 20-minute visit. Arrive in the morning around 10AM for morning prayer. A small donation would help renovation work.
Wrestling stadium - at eastern end of town
Town Square - with monument to Davaadorj
- There is a cluster of supermarkets around the 50° 100° Hotel; the largest and the best is directly across the road from the hotel's car park in a newer building. It's worth trying all the supermarkets as some stock things the others haven't.
- 50° 100° Hotel - Popular and until midnight. Some unfortunately tiny but unique (for northern Mongolia) salads. Otherwise a variety of Mongolian (try the honey beef for 6000 ₮) and perhaps Western fare such as pizza and lasagne (although apparently empty promises as they're never available). Guests at the hotel do not need a reservation. Free decent WiFi. No real coffee for now, just instant coffee mix. Cross your fingers they buy an espresso machine to complete the cosiness. Cinnamon roll: stock up for those long horse treks north.
- Jargalan Restaurant - further west from the 50° 100° Hotel on the same side of the road is the Jargalan Restaurant (look for the Cyrillic sign) which, although looking shabby from the outside, is pristine inside with bilingual menus (Mongolian and English) including pictures. Offering Mongolian fusion cuisine including Kimchi Hurshuur and a variety of soups. Tel: 24409 or 99509707.
- Shalom Burger - apparently no burgers, but definitely sweet snacks. Upstairs over the supermarket on the NE corner of the 50° 100° Hotel intersection.
- If you look carefully in the glass cabinets that masquerade as refrigerators at the supermarkets early enough in the afternoon before the staff have managed to eat them all, there are small pizza-like objects (around 12cm in diameter) in plastic wrapping. Amazingly, they taste like pizza!
50° 100° Hotel - Popular and until midnight. Some unfortunately tiny but unique (for northern Mongolia) salads. Otherwise a variety of Mongolian (try the honey beef for 6000 ₮) and perhaps Western fare such as pizza and lasagne (although apparently empty promises as they're never available). Guests at the hotel do not need a reservation. Free decent WiFi. No real coffee for now, just instant coffee mix. Cross your fingers they buy an espresso machine to complete the cosiness. Cinnamon roll: stock up for those long horse treks north.
Jargalan Restaurant - further west from the 50° 100° Hotel on the same side of the road is the Jargalan Restaurant (look for the Cyrillic sign) which, although looking shabby from the outside, is pristine inside with bilingual menus (Mongolian and English) including pictures. Offering Mongolian fusion cuisine including Kimchi Hurshuur and a variety of soups. Tel: 24409 or 99509707.
Shalom Burger - apparently no burgers, but definitely sweet snacks. Upstairs over the supermarket on the NE corner of the 50° 100° Hotel intersection.
Don't forget Wednesdays are alcohol free. So stock up on Tuesday and drink at home, if you are so inclined.
Enjoy the 3G coverage of Mobicom in the city limits, or visit 50° 100° Hotel for WiFi.
Go to Lake Hovsgol.