Baga Gazriin Chuluu

A Sacred Granite Wilderness Rising From the Steppe

In Dundgovi Province, roughly 250 kilometres south of Ulaanbaatar, a dramatic range of granite hills erupts from the flat surrounding steppe. Baga Gazriin Chuluu — “Small Place of Stones” — stretches some 15 kilometres and rises to 1,768 metres, its wind-sculpted rock towers, caves and hidden springs concealing centuries of Buddhist and nomadic history.

A Refuge for Monks and Pilgrims

Before the 20th century, Baga Gazriin Chuluu sheltered several small Buddhist monasteries, including one linked to the future Zanabazar during conflict between the Khalkh and Oirat Mongols. Two 19th-century monks are said to have lived among the rocks, leaving carved inscriptions still visible today, though most structures here were destroyed during the anti-religious purges of the late 1930s.

A Landscape Sculpted by Wind

Millions of years of erosion have carved the granite into towers, ridges and rounded forms locals compare to “melted marshmallows,” creating a maze of canyons and hidden valleys across roughly 300 square kilometres. Bolort Cave, known for its crystal formations, and a small spring locally believed to help eye ailments are among the site’s notable features.

Wildlife and Wide Skies

The rocky terrain supports wild sheep, ibex, marmots and foxes, while the remote location and clear desert air make Baga Gazriin Chuluu an excellent stargazing spot after dark. Camping here means genuine isolation — there are no signposts, only track roads, so exploring with a guide is strongly advised.

Gallery

• Hike and scramble through towering wind-carved granite
• Explore Bolort Cave and its crystal formations
• See the ruins of 19th-century monastic hermitages
• Camp beneath exceptionally clear, dark desert skies