Stage 2
'Abundant Rice'

Date: Aug. 25(Tue)

Start: Blue Lake

Finish: Baldan Bereeven Monastery

Length: 66km (Unpaved 100%)

Elev. +628m

Time Limit: 8 Hours

​​

Starting at Blue Lake, riders descend south and head east.
Blue Lake is a historically significant site where Temujin was appointed Genghis Khan.

The vast meadows are interspersed with small streams, with about ten on this stage. These streams are shallow and easy to cross, and you can splash around in the mud as you race along.

​

44 kilometers from the start, you'll find a sign on a hill that reads "Khangal Nuur." "Nuur" means lake. The view of the lake from here is breathtaking. A short downhill leads to the lakeside, where you'll circle the northern perimeter. Deer statues stand on the east and west sides of the lake. Deer were likely abundant in ancient times. Of course, sam still live in the forest today. This lakeside area is a great place for lunch, and there's even a small observation deck on the east side.

​

Khangal Nuur is a beautiful freshwater lake located in Omendelger Soum, Khentii Aimag, southeast of the Khentii Mountains, between the Khurkh River and its tributary, the Jargalant River. Located 1,326 meters above sea level, this medium-sized natural lake is 2 kilometers long, 0.5–1.2 kilometers wide, and covers a total area of ​​1.5 square kilometers. In 2012, its natural value was recognized and it was designated a "National Nature Reserve."

​

After the lake, you'll climb a small hill. There's a cell phone base station on this hilltop, so communication is excellent in this area. About 58 kilometers from the start, a wide, beautiful plain opens out to the east.

Riders descend the hill, passing a small resort and crossing the Baruun Jargalant River before ascending north. Stage 2 ends at Baldan Bereeven Monastery.

​

Baldan Bereeven Monastery is a Gelugpa (Yellow Hat) Buddhist monastery, whose name means "abundant rice." Founded in 1654, it grew to be one of the largest and most important monasteries in Mongolia during its mid-19th century heyday, housing up to 8,000 monks. The monastery and its complex were destroyed by the Mongolian Communist regime in 1937. Today, three monasteries have been restored, and the grounds contain the remains of approximately 50 temples, stupas, and other religious structures. The temple is surrounded by four mountains, symbolizing a lion in the east, a dragon in the south, a tiger in the west, and Garuda in the north. While the exterior of the temple building is open to the public at all times, the door is locked. The door is only opened once a year, around August, when monks come for a prayer service.

​

The main structure, Tsonjin (Great Dharma Hall), is considered a masterpiece of traditional Mongolian architecture, boasting a three-story structure, 30x30m in size, 64 columns, a granite base, and natural stone walls. The surrounding rock cliffs are engraved with various Buddha and Bodhisattva figures, including Ochirvani, Jamslan, Green and White Taras, Manjushri, Damdinchoijo, Buddha, and Dzongkhaba, demonstrating its exceptional religious and artistic value.

 

The temple suffered severe damage during communist oppression in the 1930s, but restoration began in the 1990s thanks to the efforts of monks and local residents. Today, it is beloved by visitors as a special sacred site that harmonizes nature, faith, and history.

​

The temple is nestled amidst taiga forests, granite peaks, and the tranquil waters of Lake Bat. To the northwest of the Chongchin Dugan (main hall) stands a sacred rock known as the "Mother's Womb." Those who arrive there symbolically experience the ritual act of being born from their mother, then perform a ritual of climbing onto the "Throne Rock."

​

In front of the Chongchin Dugan stands a lush, verdant tree known as the "Mother Tree." Traditionally, visitors bow to it, make wishes, and even entrust their wishes to it.