A handy guide to the Mongolian lifestyle
One of the unique features of nomadic culture is that Mongolian people live in full harmony with Mother Nature.
Mongolia, which is one of the oldest civilizations on earth, continues to draw a keen interest of people of diverse nationalities to explore its unique historical past, the peculiar features of its social and economic development, its unusual beauty and almost untouched nature.
1
Mother Nature
In comparison with settled peoples, the nomadic herders, face nature directly on a day in, day out basis. Through this, the herders are involved in a multifaceted relationship with nature. This is why Mother Nature is the theme of many epics, blessings, and well wishes.
There are many traditions, customs, and teachings regarding the protection and care of Mother Nature. Tearing up flowers and grass, allowing filth into water systems, digging up and destroying land, killing of animals and destruction of forests are considered sins and are thus strictly prohibited even today.
2
The Horse
Livestock Herding, the main source of the nomadic lifestyle, is another important trait of Mongolian culture. Mongolians have a history of raising and caring for their livestock.
 Horses, cattle, sheep, goats, and camels are praised as the “five treasures”. Horses are considered the “emeralds” and are highly respected among the people.
3
Shamanism
Shamanism is closely related to Mongolian nomadic culture. The tribes in Mongolia followed shamanism from the times of the Great Huns until the formation of the Uighur Empire. Shamanism reflects the Mongolian feeling towards Mother Nature.
For these reason shamans performed rituals of worshipping the master of mountains, water, sky and land. Some of these traditions, mixed with the Mongolian lifestyle, oral literature, folklore and symbolism, are important components of Mongolian nomadic culture.
4
Buddhism
Buddhism, introduced in Mongolian in the 16th century, played an enormous role in the development of Mongolian culture.
The Mongolians’ perceptions, psychology, traditions, thinking, and world outlook were enriched by the Buddhist philosophy and worldview.
5
Food
Mongolian foods are simple and full of variety of meat that includes mutton, beef, camel, horse, sheep even marmot. There are some Mongolian cuisine accompany meat with vegetables, noodles, rices and pasta. People mainly eat sheep and goat meat but not much beef, camel, pork and horse meat.
Mongolian people consume a lot of milk tea, wild fruit juice and home-made alcohol drinks. A variety of dairy products are bread and butter for breakfast and snacks throughout the day. For breakfast and lunch, locals always have pastry and fried bread.
6
Currency exchange
The monetary unit in Mongolia is TUGRUG, which is equal to 100 mungu. At the present, 20,000, 10,000, 5,000, 1,000, 500, 100, 50, 20, and 10 tugrug notes are in circulation. Commercial banks in Ulaanbaatar and province centers are the official organizations authorized to exchange foreign currency.
 They have network of branches in Ulaanbaatar and exchange bureaus at main hotels. ATM machine is available. US Dollar, Euro and Japanese Yen are common currencies in Mongolia. OCT 2024 currency rate is: 1USD=3395MNT, 1EUR=3683MNT
FIND A MONGOLIAN TOUR OF A MAP
If you are considering traveling to Mongolia, leave it to a local travel agency with an English tour operator and English-speaking guides. Specialized tour staff familiar with Mongolia planned and arranged a Mongolian trip according to customers’ requests and budgets by incorporating experience and the latest information. Please make your own “private tour”. Our company is a Mongolian local travel agency Shine Zuuch Travel established in 2005 as a nomadic country, Mongolian sightseeing travel company and boasts 19 years of track record.
“Thank you for everything, I enjoyed it.” In such a word of our customers, we feel pleasure and are making daily efforts. And we will continue to make further efforts to provide “a really satisfying tour” that you can say “Please continue my next Mongolian tour”. Thank you.
FIND US ON
7000-0558, 9090-0558
info@mongoliaguide.com