Sion Goff
Mongolia is a landlocked country in North-Central Asia, surrounded by Russia and China and land of sprawling semi deserts, craggy mountains and sandy paths.
It is an outclass tourist place with ancient monuments, Buddhist temples, shrines, and rich cultural places to visit, stay, and have a connection with your very old and ancient ancestors.
Though complete Mongolia is worth-visiting but creepy teepee in Mongolia is something every tourist wishes to be at least once in their lives.
What is Creepy Teepee Mongolia?
Creepy teepee is actually a temple where Mongolians gather to worship their gods and pray for achieving happiness, luck, prosperity and love.
In Mongolian language, these temples are called shamanistic Ovoo or Oboo.
Creepy Teepee is actually made of rock heaps and wood. It has a main central vertical arm that’s made of wood and covered with plastic and cloth (usually blue).
Interesting thing is, there is not just one but many creepy teepees Mongolia has that are only a sight different in appearance but have same essence and crux, that’s right connecting with gods and seeking prayers.
If you go on the grand tour Mongolia, you will find:
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Creepy teepee ovoo with single piece of cloth:
They have only stones as the foundation with a single piece of a wooden rod as the flag. The flag contains pieces of cloth or ribbons attached to it.
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Creepy teepee oboo with vertical flag:
They have constructed foundations with stone but have a bulky vertical flag. It is rounded up by pieces of plastic or cloth and looks like a dried out coniferous tree.
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Creepy teepee oboo or ovoo with stone platforms:
These have several stone made platforms around the main shrine element.
Usually, located on the foothills where sky comes near and Mongolians believe to come nearer to God.
How did people come to know about creepy teepee Mongolia?
Though these shamanistic Ovoo or Oboos have always been there but in the recent time the fame and popularity of these shrines elevated so much.
Why? Because of the following reason:
Grand Tour Mongolia:
Grand tour is an American tv show powered by famous ecommerce brand, in which people go to the adventurous places and try to survive.
The Mongolia Special was the fourth special episode of third season of The Grand Tour show. In this, a team spent 6 days on an adventurous traveling in Mongolia.
Grand Tour Mongolia special episode:
The group including Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May manages to escape a particular area.
In this episode, they assembled a car, encountered the Bactrian two-humped camel, drank the mare’s milk and saw horses.
Then crossed a water channel and found their way through the dirt paths of Mongolia in the scent of thyme and sage to the town of Moron.
The survival, the scenes, and the ancient outlook of the creepy teepees attracted people to go and watch the place in person.
Many people thought that grand tour Mongolia was scripted show however the authorities denied it and without a doubt helped people to find an outclass unseen divine place on the world map.
It has now become so famous that most of the time tourist refer Mongolia as the creepy teepee Mongolia.
How to Travel to Creepy Teepee Mongolia?
If you are one of the people who have decided and live in the creepy teepees of Mongolia you must be aware of some of the basic things such as,
How do Mongolians live, do they understand English, and where you can find translators or guide to find your way on the crags, hills, and mountains where the ovoos or oboos are located.
1. You will live in yurts:
You will not find any brick or mortar house in Mongolia. Like ancient Mongolians live in the tents the modern generations live in the yurts (them modern form of yurts).
2. Special itinerary and survival tools:
Along with this, you should have all the must-have innovative products with you like water supplies, flint lighter keychain, tent or hammock, cutting tools, pistol to drive the wild animals away, flashlight glove, waterproof sheets etc.
3. Mongolians don’t know English:
You will have to find a tourist guide who can find you paths but to keep the trip in budget, you can buy gadgets like pocket translator.
The tool just needs you to speak and it instantly translates text in your desired selected language. Do not forget if it supports Mongolian language translation.
4. Being part of the Mongolian cultural activities:
Without taking part in Mongolian cultural stuff, you will not be able to enjoy your trip yet you can ask for Mongolian gods and spirits for the peace of mind.
These are not difficult, at creepy teepees, you will find peace of mind and heart. Here is what Mongolians do at creepy teepees:
They would slaughter animals and offer them to these places either by pouring blood over the stones or placing a part of the animal over or near the Ovoo.
They would make a fire near the Teepee in an effort to purify their souls from the vices and darkness.
They would also do their ceremonial dance while beating steel tongue drums and feast with the food leftover from the offering.
They would offer dairy products to the gods at these spots and expect good fortune in return. People still do this by offering butter, milk, and sweets.
It is believed by Mongolians that whenever you start a journey, circle around the Teepee three times in a clockwise direction and add stones. This ensures a safe journey.
People in historical times would take their ill relatives to the shrines and pray for their recovery. Even today, Shamans use healing methods at the Creepy Teepees.
Where can you find Creepy Teepees in Mongolia?
Although the people have converted some traditional teepees into temples and monuments, there are many still standing in the barren high mountains.
One of the most famous sacred creepy teepee Mongolia is the Han Bogd Hairham, which contains a gigantic Creepy Teepee.
Other smaller ones are scattered throughout the region.
Concluding lines:
Are you ready to experience the thrill in which the team of Grand Tour got immersed, Creepy Teepee Mongolia, the certainly one of the top spots for adventure and wilderness tourism?
You can perform the rituals in the exact same way the locals do/did to find out if it works.
And don’t forget to stop at every Creepy Teepee and take three rounds of it (or honk the horn) to have a safe journey!