When Mongolians do things - they like to do them big. The monument to Chinggis Khan is certainly no exception. I thought this was a good picture to give a sense of just how big. It's a bit hard to see, but the tiny dots on the horse's mane are people looking out.
It's impressive.
Once you climb the stairs outside you climb up the hind quarters of the horse (or there is an elevator, but it is small and only goes up 3 flights of stairs) - then another couple of flights of stairs and you emerge onto the horse's head where you can get a fairly spectacular view of the area.
I promised tidbits - and here they are:
1 - it's the largest equestrian statue in the world
2 - it's the 11th largest statue in the world (statue is 40 meters or 131 feet)
3 - it's the second heaviest statue in the world - second only to the sphinx.
4 - it's built in what seems like the middle of nowhere because legend has it, it's on this spot that Chinggis found the golden whip that allowed him to unite the Mongol tribes.
5 - oddly, this thing is fairly new - it was errected in 2008
6 - around the bottom are 36 columns to represent the kahns from Chinggis to Lingdan (the end of the reign of kahns)
Perhaps not surprisingly, I've never seen a portrait or statue of this guy smiling. He seems pretty imposing.
The statue is part of an entire complex they are building. You can see the ger camp in the distance - and I liked the bird on the sword.
I know, I know - you are thinking enough already - but there it is - the golden whip. Plus his thumb nail is the size of my head.
Definitely my favorite thing. After all the pomp and circumstance, you'd think it would be a bit more dignified.
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