Darkhan

Darkhan is the 3rd largest city in Mongolia with a population of 74,000. The city, which name means "Blacksmith" in Mongolian, was built as a manufacturing base by the Soviets in 1961 on the Trans-Mongolian Railroad. Much of the industrial base collapsed in the early 1990s, and most of its once large Russian population left. Today it is home to a large steel mill, textile industry, and many universities. It has an expansive layout with open steppe and roaming cattle right into the center of the city. The city is divided into a 'new' and 'old' sections separated by some small hills and ger districts spreading out beyond the developed areas. The railroad station, main Buddhist temple, and the black market are in the Old Darkhan, while most of the nicer hotels, restaurants, and shopping centers, along with the universities and cultural centers are in New Darkhan.

Darkhan is divided into New and Old Darkhan, separated by about 2 km. Most of the city is stretched along a couple of parallel roads, with taxis and vans racing back and forth. You can either hail your own taxi or jump in one and go to the other side of town. The cost of a shared taxi is 500 ₮, and it leaves when it gets 4 passengers, which doesn't take long.

• 🌍 Museum of Darkhan-Uul (Traditional Museum of Folk Art). collection of archaeological findings, traditional clothing, religious artifacts, and taxidermy. 
• 🌍 Morin Khuur Monument and Seated Buddha. Located on 2 hills separating New and Old Darkhan, and connected by a suspension bridge. 
• 🌍 Kharagiin monastery. Located in a log cabin built in the early 1990s in the Old Darkhan. 5,000T to enter the Temple, grounds are free.. 
• 🌍 Darkhan 50 (Located behind the central post.). The main park in town where everyone enjoys hanging out around the fountains at dusk. 
• 🌍 Darkhan City Theme Park (Дархан хот Хүүхдийн парк). 

• 🌍 Black Market (Khar zakh) (North of Morin Khuur Monument, Old Darkhan). A huge confusing market that can take several hours to explore. Everything from live goats to clothes to car parks are sold either in one of the may buildings or outdoor kiosks. 
• 🌍 Nomin Supermarket (Nomin's) (Southeast of Darkhan 50 Park in the new town.). Large selection of domestic and foreign products. Expect to spend more than anywhere else. 
• 🌍 International Market (Orange Market). 

• 🌍 цагаан хоол ("The Vegetarian Place"), New Darkhan (Located in the International Market (Orange Market)). The best food and deal in town! 
• 🌍 BBQ Chicken, New Darkhan (Located in front of the International Market (Orange Market) on the second floor.). Best place for chicken in town. Choose a few options when looking at the menu, just in case they do not have your first option in stock. 4,500-22,000 ₮ per meal. 
• 🌍 The Empire Restaurant & Pub (ЭЗЭНТ ГҮРЭН), New Darkhan, ☏ +976 7037-7720. 10AM-midnight. Good selection of Mongolian & American dishes. From 9,500 ₮ per meal.. 
• 🌍 Texas Restaurant & Bar, Texas restaurant & Bar, A corpus, 380 ail, New Darkhan., ☏ +976 70374008. 9am- 11pm. Texas Restaurant & Bar serves a variety of Mongolian, European and American food, cocktails, coffee, and teas. 
• 🌍 Bulgogi Family Restaurant, New Darkhan, ☏ +976 7037 7300. 10AM-midnight. Good Korean food. 3,500-15,000 ₮ a plate. 

• Avoid Korean and Chinese restaurants, because these types of restaurants prepare their foods out of very low and bad quality raw food materials. Instead going to other local restaurants and local canteens called Tsainii gazar (Цайны газар) are a safer choice.

• DD Night Club (Just South of Nomin Supermarket). 6PM-midnight. 
• Queens Night Club (Just South of Nomin Supermarket.). 6PM-midnight. Locals bust out their moves at the Queens Night Club in the center of the New Darkhan. 

• 🌍 Comfort Hotel (In New Darkhan, south of the Cultural Center), ☏ +976 137229091, tsetsegee_8101@yahoo.com. One of the most comfortable and cleanest hotels in town. It has wifi and TV in all rooms. There is a bar and restaurant in the hotel. Karaoke and laundry service also offered. 30,000-70,000 ₮ depending on room. 
• 🌍 Kharaa Hotel, New Darkhan, south of cultural center, ☏ +976 9937 2828, kharaa_hotel@yahoo.com. All rooms have bathrooms, TV, and WiFi internet. Breakfast included. 

From Darkhan, it is easy to go east to the large copper-mining city of Erdenet, North to the mid-sized Aimag capital of Sukhbaatar, or the beautiful Amarbayasgalant Monastery. Erdenet can be reached by train or bus, Suhkbaatar can be reached by train (~2,800 ₮) or taxi (8,000-10,000 ₮) on paved road, while visiting the monastery will require hiring a taxi for the 2- or 3-hour journey, part of which is unpaved.