Khovd (Ховд, Hovd, Dund-Us)

Khovd used to be a small farming town and was formally known as Kobdo, or Khobdo. It then developed into a trading center and nowadays it is a major industrial city and a good place to stay if you want to explore western Mongolia.

On Khovd's northern outskirts are the Sangiin Kherem ruins. The Manchu warlords, who brutally governed Mongolia, built them in 1762. After the Chinese Revolution overthrew the last emperor in 1911, the walled compound of Sangiin Kherem was abandoned and started to crumble, a process that is still continuing today.

North of the ruins is a dry area of rugged hills, which offers spectacular views and is good for hiking. Khovd has bus and plane connections with Ulaanbaatar. In Khovd, jeeps can be rented to explore the area. There are several hotels and restaurants in Khovd. The city is 1,130 km west of Ulaanbaatar.