From Hovd Travel in Mongolia
Hovd Museum
For those interested in gaining a more complete picture of the history of Hovd, the Hovd Museum is an ideal place to start, one block north of the main square in a two-story yellow building. Be aware that only a few of the exhibits are labeled in both English and Mongolian. There are museum guides who will walk through with you, but they do not speak English. You would be better served to bring along a local translator or guide to help you get the most of your visit.
The museum's first floor is devoted to natural history, with collections of indigenous stones and wildlife, including stuffed and otherwise preserved exhibits of Hovd's birds, insects, hooved mammals, amphibians, reptiles, rodents, and fish. There are also wolf and snow leopard pelts on display.
The second floor is devoted to Hovd's human history and pre-history. It begins with Late Stone Age (10,000-35,000 years ago) artifacts found in Hovd's Mankhan soum, and has paintings depicting the inhabitants of Hovd at that time. There are re-creations of their cave paintings at Tsenkheriin Agui in Mankhan (these re-creations are now in better condition than the originals, some of which have been defaced by vandals). There are also artifacts from Hovd's Bronze (3,000-5,000 years ago) and Iron (3,200-2,500 years ago) Ages, which were excavated in Uyench soum.
The displays then transition into the era of Hovd's written history with a room largely devoted to the time of the Zuungarian King Galdan Boshogt in the 17th century. Things take a turn for the darker with a room devoted to the centuries of Hovd's occupation by the Manchus. A drawing depicting the 9 kinds of torture used against Mongolian prisoners is positioned above a detailed model of the Manchurian fortress Sangiin Kherem as it appeared in its hey-dey.
One of the museum's most impressive holdings is a collection of complete, traditional costumes from 8 of Hovd's different ethnic groups (there are 9 displays, but 2 are devoted to the Uuld group), along with photos of the costumes being worn by members of each group. A subsequent room has holdings that further differentiate between the ethnic groups, with paintings displaying Uriankhai archery and Kazakh games as well as musical instruments of the different groups.
You will also see a room devoted to religion in Hovd, and an exhibit depicting the religious persecution faced under the Soviets. Under glass are an interesting assortment of shamanist tools, including some that are made from human bones (one of the larger bones was taken from an 18 year-old woman). On the first floor on your way out is a mural commemorating a 1948 battle against Chinese troops in Bulgan soum.
- Museum Director: Kh. Byambasuren
- Hours: (Daily) 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Admission: 4,000T Adult / 2,500T Child
- Photo Taking Fee: 6,000T
- Video Taking Fee: 11,000T
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