Mongolian President Ukhnaa visits Hulagu Khan’s palace ruins in Türkiye

Mongolian President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa visited the site of Ilkhanid ruler Hulagu Khan’s summer palace ruins in Türkiye’s eastern Van province. The visit marks a significant step in strengthening cultural ties between Mongolia and Türkiye, shedding light on a long-lost piece of shared history.

Warm welcome in Van

Upon his arrival at Ferit Melen Airport, Ukhnaa was greeted by Türkiye’s Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Gokhan Yazgi, Van Governor Ozan Balci, and several high-ranking officials, including AK Party deputies Burhan Kayaturk and Kayhan Turkmenoglu, as well as senior military and law enforcement representatives.

After a brief stop at the airport, the Mongolian delegation, including Mongolia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Battsetseg Batmunkh and Minister of Culture, Sports, Tourism, and Youth Nomin Chinbat, traveled to the Caldiran district.

Long-lost Ilkhanid legacy

President Ukhnaa was welcomed in Hankoy village by Kyrgyz Turks on horseback, a nod to the shared nomadic heritage of the region. He then proceeded to the site of the palace ruins, believed to have been built by Hulagu Khan, the founder of the Ilkhanid dynasty and grandson of Genghis Khan.

In a specially erected tent, Izmir Katip Celebi University’s Professor Saban Dogan and Mongolian archaeologists presented their research findings to Ukhnaa. The president closely examined artifacts uncovered during excavations and was briefed on the significance of the site.

Wearing traditional Kyrgyz attire, Ukhnaa greeted locals and took photos before departing.

Rediscovering Hulagu Khan’s palace

Speaking to journalists after the visit, Professor Dogan highlighted the groundbreaking discoveries made since 2019 through a collaboration with Mongolia’s National University.

“Historical records mentioned this palace, but its exact location was unknown. Extensive literary research, fieldwork, and surface surveys led us here. By 2022, we confirmed that this was the summer palace built by Hulagu Khan between 1259 and 1265,” Dogan explained.

He also revealed that another palace structure and traces of steppe urban culture had been uncovered, making this site the westernmost example of traditional Mongolian architecture.

New era for archaeological tourism

Dogan emphasized the global significance of the findings, which have attracted attention in Mongolia and beyond.

“President Ukhnaa specifically wanted to visit this site during his trip to Türkiye. It is the only known example of steppe-style architecture in Anatolia and the farthest western extension of Mongolian traditional construction techniques. We believe at least 15 to 20 years of research is needed here,” he said.

President Ukhnaa’s visit to the Hulagu Khan palace ruins in Van marks a significant milestone in the shared history between Mongolia and Türkiye. The ongoing archaeological work, which has confirmed the existence of the summer palace built by Hulagu Khan, offers a valuable insight into the steppe culture and traditional Mongolian architecture.