Ulaanbaatar

The story of Ulaanbaatar

Ulaanbaatar was founded in 1639 as a nomadic Buddhist monastery centre called Orgoo, meaning palace-yurt. The settlement moved 29 times before it settled permanently at its present site in 1778. Western writers long called it Urga, from the Russian form of Orgoo.

In 1911 it took the name Niislel Khuree when it became the capital of an independent Mongolia under the Bogd Khan. On 29 October 1924, when the Mongolian People's Republic was proclaimed, the city was renamed Ulaanbaatar and has been the capital since.

Its population was about 535,000 in 1990 and roughly one million by 2007. The 2025 figure is 1,796,045, close to half of the country's population.

Falconry in Ulaanbaatar

Ulaanbaatar is not a traditional falconry homeland, but it hosts an annual Eagle Festival that brings the practice to the capital. The 14th edition took place on 9 and 10 March 2024 at the Chinggisiin Khuree Tourist Complex on the outskirts of the city.

It was organised by the Ulaanbaatar City Tourism Department, the tourist complex and the Mongolian Falconry Association.

The programme opens with a parade of eagle hunters in traditional dress on horseback, each carrying an eagle, followed by competitions with prizes for the best traditional costume, the best-looking eagle and the best-looking horse. A 2025 edition was announced for 8 and 9 March.

Mongolia is among the states on the UNESCO list of falconry as a living human heritage.