Kharbalgas (Ordu-Baliq)
Хар балгас
The capital of the 8th-century Uyghur Khaganate, whose massive rammed-earth walls survive as the most impressive ruined city in the Orkhon Valley
Kharbalgas, the Uyghur Khaganate's capital Ordu-Baliq, was completed in 744 and captured by the Yenisei Kyrgyz in 840. It covered about 32 square kilometres. Today you can still see the inner city's rammed-earth walls, about 10 metres high, along with watchtowers and palace remains, and standing on the walls gives a view over the valley grassland. The site is open, with no entrance fee and no facilities. It lies on the west bank of the Orkhon River about 40 km north of Kharkhorin and can be visited on the same day as Khöshöö Tsaidam.
Opening hours
Open all day
Nearby sights
- Khöshöö Tsaidam Monuments & Museum
- Orkhon River Valley
- Ruins of Karakorum
- Mongol Empire Monument
- Turtle Rock
- Erdene Zuu Monastery
- Kharkhorum Museum
- Phallic Rock