TransIrUBBeBAMBa (11) - Ulaanbaatar day 2: Zaisan Memorial, Bogd Khaan Palace museum, Sükhbaatar Square

The second day in UB day we started with trip Zaisan hill and Zaisan memorial located on top of it. Panorama of ugly Ulaanbaatar is probably not worth climbing, but the whole place, and especially socrealistic paintings on the inner ring of the monument are definitely it's highlight.

Next was Bogd Khan palace. It is actually a temple, so similarly to the Choijin Lama, not very appreciated by ourselves. The winter palace was more interesting, being home to exhibits of things owned by Bogd Khan: clothes, furniture etc. For me the highlight was hand painted map of Ulaanbaatar in 1912, showing temples and gers only, and that shows how fast and how much the place changed. The palace now is also surrounded by tall buildings dwarfing it.

 We stopped by at the central square of Ulaanbaatar: Sükhbaatar Square on the way.

Then we went to International Intelectual Museum. That is a very unusual place, starting with the building itself. The wooded puzzles are mind boggling indeed, there is also collection of similar brain-breaking games from all over the world, unusual chess tables and rather ugly collection of toys. 

Next was National Museum of Mongolia, with nice display showing chronologically history and development of Mongolian territory, traditions, and culture.

The last one was supposed to be the museum of natural history with dinosaur skeletons, but it stays closed indefinitely. 

Being tired after the whole day of wandering, we decided to just eat something rather than to pursue the best Mongolian food. To our surprise we might have found exactly that: we walked into Apollon Pub (Peace Avenue northern side, between Sükhbaatar Square and State Department Store, close to a bus station), and we got fantastic buuz and khuushuur. We waited about 20 minutes, so I suspect they were actually made on site. Delicious! 

Useful tips: 

How to get to Zaisan Hill/Zaisan memorial? Take buses 7 or 43 from Sükhbaatar Square towards Zaisan, and get off when the hill is right on your left. If you miss it don't worry, get off at the next (and last) stop and walk or just return. The path begins behind transformers building and clearly was partially reclaimed by the new development.

On the other side of the hill, lower part of the steps, together with other statues forming part of the monument are now (08/2014) on a building site, and the road to the upper car park has now got a barrier, although I couldn't see any fee collection.

 
Next: Train 24 Ulaanbaatar - Beijing