Tsagaan Salaa Petroglyphs

The Tsagaan Salaa petroglyphs are located in Bayan-Ulgii province in far western Mongolia, within the Mongolian Altai mountain range. They are part of the Petroglyphic Complexes of the Mongolian Altai, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011. The site sits at high altitude in one of the most remote regions of Central Asia.

The carvings feature thousands of images, primarily of wild animals such as ibex, argali sheep, deer, and horses, as well as hunting scenes and human figures. Many of the engravings date from the Bronze Age and document the relationship between nomadic peoples and the Altai ecosystem. The images span multiple periods of prehistoric and historic occupation.

The site is technically accessible but extremely remote, typically reached via the provincial capital Ulgii with specialized tour operators and local guides. Travel requires 4WD vehicles and experience navigating roadless mountain terrain. The remoteness has helped protect the petroglyphs from vandalism, and visitor numbers remain very low.

Tsagaan Salaa is part of the Petroglyphic Complexes of the Mongolian Altai, which was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011. The serial site includes multiple rock art locations across the Mongolian Altai spanning roughly 11,000 years of human history. Together they represent one of the best-preserved records of prehistoric nomadic culture in Central Asia.