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The Legend of Turtle Rock
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At the Gorkhi-Terelj tourism zone located in the Khan
Khentii Strictly Protected Area, there is a peculiar, tall rock formation that
is shaped like a turtle. Standing about 24 meters tall, the formation used to
be called Mungut Khad (Money Rock).
The reason behind its former name is due to the legend that
the Oirad Khan Galdanboshigt hid away his treasures at the location. According
to the legend, after suffering heavy losses in the unbalanced battle against
Manchu soldiers in Zuunmod, Galdanboshigt Khan escaped the siege and made a
brief stop near Turtle Rock with his remaining soldiers. While making
preparations to escape, he decided to leave behind the gold and silver that he
had carried by climbing to the top of Turtle Rock and hiding it in the gorge.
However, as his Manchurian consort felt that she could not leave the treasure
behind, it is said that she was also left behind in the gorge. As it kept the
treasures of Galdanboshigt Khan, the Turtle Rock began to be referred to as
Mungut Khad since then.
Since that time, locals began to worship and pay their
respects to Mungut Khad, putting their faith in the rock formation to bring
good fortune.
Furthermore, it is also believed that the consort, who
stayed behind to watch over the Khan’s treasures, turned into Khuukhen
Mountain, becoming one of the exquisite natural landscapes in Mongolia. Located
northwest of the Turtle Rock, the Khuukhen Mountain is a mountain in the shape
of an elegant woman peacefully lying face up.
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