As we draw near the gigantic 40-metre statue fashioned from 250 tonne of stainless steel rising from
the top of the 10-metre museum/visitor’s centre is breathtaking. Astride his powerful horse the Golden Horde leader faces east toward his birthplace. He holds a gold whip in his right hand, which according to legend he found here before his rise to fame, considered a good omen for his future direction. As we climb the steps leading up to this behemoth, Undra says in her quiet way, “There are 36 columns around the base of the statue, one for each of the historic Khaans, from Chinggis to Ligdan Khaan.” This statue was completed in 2008, and the surrounding area will eventually contain 200 gers, arranged in the pattern of the horse brand used by the 13th century Mongol tribes.
