Khovd (Ховд) – City Profile
The City of Khovd is located in the north-east corner of the eponymous Khovd Aimag.
Located approximately 1300km from Ulaanbaatar, Khovd City is the defacto economic and educational centre of western Mongolia. The administrative area of Khovd City is spread across an area of 80 square kilometers, administered as Jargalant Sum. The City is host to two unitivrsites, one of which, Khovd University, is a branch institute of the National University of Mongolia and boasts an enviable educational and research record in Mongolia. Khovd Aimag is located one time-zone east from Ulaanbaatar, within the UTC+7 time-zone.
According to 2007 figures release by the Khovd Aimag Statistical Office, Khovd City is home to 28,601 people. The Khovd Aimag is home to over 89,000 people. The Aimag population is young, with 35.4% being under the age of 16 years of age, 59.3% being between 16-19 years of age, and only 5.3% being 60 years of age or over. 2007 Statistical Office figures indicate rough parity in gender for Khovd Aimag, with 51.4% of the population being male and 48.6% being female. The geographical location of Khovd Aimag have made it a crossroads for trade and the establishment of a Manchu garrison there in the 18th Century increased the influence of the city. The fortress was largely destroyed in 1912 when Khovd was liberated from the Manchu administration. Nonetheless, a few thick walls remain standing in the northern ger districts of the city. As a result of Khovd’s role in regional administration and commerce it has become home to seventeen different nationalities and ethnicities, each of which has distinct dwelling patterns, traditional dress, musical artistic and literary traditions. Many also maintain different linguistic traditions. Khovd Aimag still maintains trade with China across the border at Bulgan. Khovd city itself is filled with tree-lined avenues and a very pleasant town-square upon which the impressive government house and architecturally distinct Drama Theatre are located. To the west is Khovd University campus and to the south is the daily market. Mountains encircle the city on the east and on the south the winding Buyant Gol river provdes a boundary and beautiful locale for recreation during the summer.
1 - Education
In 2008 there were 62 schools, employing 662 educational and support staff, educating 21,800 children.
There are 92 Kindergardens, serving 2,800 children. Tertiary education is provided by Khovd University and the Agricultural University. Khovd University is renowned as one of the finest educational institutions in Mongolia outside of Ulaanbaatar. Knovd University was established in October 1979, under the title ‘Pedagogical Institute in Khovd’. In it’s first academic year the institute began training and research with 113 students and only 13 teachers. In it’s early days the University focused on the physical sciences, history, geography and Mongolian language and literature. In September of 1983 the University was incorporated as the first branch institute of the National University of Mongolia. In 1996 the University began offering a masters program in cooperation with the National University of Mongolia and began independently administering this program in late 1999. Between 1994 and 1999 the institute received authority to establish undergraduate degree programs in the fields o June 2000-June 2002. Between 2000 and 2002 the institute began to administer bachelor degree programs in Law, Social Work and English Translation. It also administers a correspondence course in Accounting. Now it Mongolian-German languages, Political Science and Land Management, Natural Science and Ecology, Korean Language and a doctoral program in History, pedagogical education, Russian and English Languages, Mathematics and Computer Sciences and Accounting. Researchers from the university now regularly publish in Mongolian language scientific journals. The University offers excellent facilities, including language learning IT facility and high-speed internet access. The Khovd Agricultural University is the largest of it’s kind outside of Ulaanbaatar
2 - Employment
Employment prospects remain reasonable within Khovd City, however, many skilled young people are choosing to migrate to Ulaanbaatar.
This pattern of migration is partly responsible for the drop-off in population numbers between 2003 and 2007. It is expected that this trend will continue as a young and educate elite seek improved opportunities.
3 - Industry and Agriculture
High summer temperatures make the region around Khovd city famous in Mongolia for its watermelon, potato and tomato crops.
Khovd’s seasonal meat products are also in great demand. Khovd is also home to textile manufacturing and food processing businesses.
4 - Infrastructure and Amenities
A large hydroelectric dam-building project is currently underway on the Chono-Khairaikh Gol that will theoretically generate enough electricity to supply Uvs, Bayan-Ölgii, and Khovd.
At present the city of Khovd is connected to the cross-border Russian power grid and experiences intermittent blackouts as a result of falling behind in payments to Russian power companies.
5 - Climate
Between summer and winter the temperature differential in Khovd may be as much a 70 degrees Celsius.
In the summer temperatures regularly reach as high as 40 degrees Celsius and as low as −30 degrees Celsius in the winter. The Aimag receives very little rainfall, making it semi-arid.
Air-travel
The small but efficient Khovd airport boasts one of only eight paved runways in Mongolia. It is served by regular flights from and to Ulan Bator, Mörön, and Bulgan, operated by Eznis, and Aero Mongolia. The Khovd airport designation is (HVD/ZMKD).
Road-travel
Roads in Western Mongolia are notoriously difficult to traverse and nothing less than a jeep or Landcruiser will suffice to navigate the arid, rocky steppe surrounding Khovd. It is possible to travel from Ulaanbaatar to Khovd. The journey takes a little less than three days and often involves traversing uneven terrain in an overcrowded bus. The cost of this journey is around 100,000 Tugruks.
7 - Accommodation, Restaurants, bars & shops
Within the city centre there are four major hotels, offering accommodation from basic and inexpensive to very comfortable.
The Buyant Hotel is by far the most luxurious hotel in Khovd City. This long-established institution offers rooms from around 10,000T to 45,000T per night for the palacial and well-appointed Presidential Suite. Hot water comes at a premium in all Khovd hotels and only the more expensive rooms offer reliable hot water in the evenings. The Buyant also offers a bar, restaurant, VIP Karaoke room and internet centre served by two computers equipped with a reasonably fast and stable internet connection. The Buyant is located just off of the town square, to the right of the Drama Theatre.
Myangan Ugalzit Hotel
The Myangan Ugalzit Hotel is a government run hotel located on the edge of Khovd city centre. The rooms are spacious and clean but be certain to book ahead.
Tushig Hotel
This small hotel is located a short walk north of the city centre, in a district frequented by students of the two universities. Rooms are available at very reasonable rates, are very clean and well-appointed with new furniture and televisions.
Ikh Mongol Restaurant and Bar
Based on the same concept as the Ikh Mongol restaurant in Ulaanbaatar, this Mongolian-themed bar and restaurant is adorned with stretched wolf-pelts and traditional leather artifacts. East from the town centre (near to Khovd University campus) and set back from the main street, the bar boasts a summer deck and a restaurant menu consisting mostly of Chinese food with a few Mongolian standard dishes.
Winners
Located on the square, this restaurant offers very good food at reasonable prices. The menu is primarily Korean, although Mongolian favorites also feature. Service can be terribly slow but overall Winners is worth a visit.
Shopping
The market in Khovd is large and very well stocked with both everyday items and souvenir-worthy objects. Khovd market is situated to the south of the square.
Nomin
Just past the university campus is the Nomin Delgur, a large, box-shaped warehouse-style shop selling everything from food to carpets and souvenir clothing. Nomin is a little more expensive than the market but is very convenient.
