The American magazine Time has named the Kazakh Falconry Association’s Sayatshylar Saraiy as one of the world’s top 100 must-visit destinations in 2025, reports the national portal Adyrna.
Bayan-Ölgii, a remote Kazakh region in western Mongolia, has preserved its national heritage well, including the ancient art of falconry. Last year, the Kazakh Falconry Association built the Sayatshylar Saraiy.
This place, which continues to develop while maintaining its traditional customs, has been included in Time magazine’s top 100 destinations of the year.
In Mongolia’s western Bayan-Ölgii province, where the annual Golden Eagle festival takes place, a centuries-old tradition remains alive. At the foot of the Altai Mountains, a new cultural center for eagle hunters has opened to support Kazakh falconers, wildlife conservationists, and travelers year-round.
Designed like a traditional yurt, the center offers visitors the chance to participate in eagle hunting workshops, learn about Mongolian horsemanship, purchase regional art and textiles, and even stay overnight. Proceeds from ticket sales help maintain the space, which serves as the headquarters of the Kazakh Falconry Association, Time magazine reports.
The yurt-shaped building spans a total of 120 square meters and consists of two main sections: a large and an inner yurt. The larger yurt is 4.5 meters high with a diameter of 12 meters, while the inner one has a diameter of 6 meters. From the outside, the structure resembles two Kazakh yurts standing side by side, connected by a passageway.
“The eagle hunter community in Mongolia has never had such a gathering place before. After years of planning, the foundation worked closely with the Kazakh Falconry Association, Nomadic Expeditions, the Mongolia Wildlife Research and Conservation Center, and the Bayan-Ölgii government to bring this center to life,” the publication notes.
