The basics
A ger is a round, portable dwelling made of a wooden frame covered with layers of felt and cloth. It is the traditional home of herding families in Mongolia and is still widely used in the countryside, as well as in many suburbs of towns and cities. In English the word is often replaced by “yurt,” a term of Turkic origin, but ger is the Mongolian word and the one used locally.
A ger is designed to be taken down, packed and set up again, which suits families who move with their animals several times a year. Despite its simple appearance, it is a carefully engineered structure that has been refined over a very long time.
The parts of a ger
A traditional ger has a few main components. Terms vary by region, so the list is a general guide.
- The wall lattice (khana). Folding sections of crisscrossed wooden slats form the round wall. They expand like an accordion, and several are joined to make a circle. The number of sections determines the size of the ger.
- The roof poles (uni). Slim wooden poles run from the top of the wall to the center, like spokes in a wheel. Their lower ends are tied or hooked onto the lattice.
- The crown ring (toono). A round wooden ring at the top holds the upper ends of the roof poles and leaves an opening for light and smoke. It is often decorated.
- The door. A wooden door frame is set into the wall, traditionally facing south, and is usually painted with bright patterns.
- Support posts. In larger gers, two posts may help hold up the crown ring.
- Felt and covers. Thick sheets of sheep wool felt are laid over the frame, with an outer layer of canvas or other cloth to protect it from rain.
- Ropes and bands. Long bands of woven or braided material are wrapped around the structure to hold it together and keep it stable in wind.
The felt itself is made from sheep wool through a process of matting and pressing known as felt making. The result is a thick, flexible insulating layer.
Putting it up and taking it down
Setting up a ger follows a rough sequence. The floor area is chosen and the door frame is set up first, followed by the lattice sections, which are tied together in a circle. The roof poles are fixed into the crown ring and the lattice, and the felt layers are wrapped around and tied down with ropes. A stove is placed near the center, with a pipe going up through the roof opening. Floor coverings and furniture are placed last.
With experience, a family can raise a ger in a few hours, or even faster with several helpers, though precise times depend on the size, the weather and the number of people. Taking it down is the reverse. The parts are packed onto a truck or cart, or in the past onto camels or ox carts. The folding lattice is a major reason a ger is so easy to carry.
Because the sequence is well established, many Mongolian families can describe it in detail, and neighbors often help each other.
Why it suits the climate
Mongolia has long, cold winters and short summers, with strong winds and large temperature swings between day and night. The ger meets these challenges in several ways:
- Round shape. The curved walls and low roof shed wind and snow, and there are no flat surfaces for strong gusts to hit.
- Felt insulation. Thick wool felt traps air and holds in heat. In winter, extra layers can be added, and in summer, the sides of the felt can be rolled up to let air through.
- Ventilation. The roof opening lets smoke out and light in, and it can be partly covered in bad weather.
- Easy heating. A small central stove can warm the space efficiently, with the family gathered around it.
- Portability. Light, collapsible parts mean moving to better pastures is practical.
A ger is not a perfect solution for every condition. It can be drafty, cold at night when the stove goes out, and damp in heavy rain, so families adapt with extra felt, wood floors and other measures.
Inside and outside
From the outside, the ger is usually white, the color of the canvas cover, sometimes with a decorative band around the roof. Inside, the space is divided in a traditional way around the hearth, a layout with its own customs. The circular shape and the roof opening carry symbolic meaning in Mongolian tradition, linked to the sky and the cycle of life.
Modern gers
Today, a ger can look different from older versions. Some have wooden floors, painted furniture, electric lights from solar panels, and canvas or plastic covers over the felt. Some are factory made, and some are built to a larger size than the traditional kinds. Others are fixed in place for much of the year, such as those in the ger districts that surround Ulaanbaatar, where families may place a ger in a fenced yard, often next to a small house.
Tourist ger camps are also common, offering beds, a stove and sometimes electric lights for guests. These are built to be comfortable for visitors and may be more spacious or decorated than a family’s own ger. The main accommodation types differ in comfort and in how close they are to family life.
A note on respect
A ger is a home, not a museum piece. If you visit one, treat it with the same manners you would in any home, which matters especially when meeting a herder family and following ger etiquette. Knowing the parts, and understanding how much work goes into raising one, makes it easier to appreciate the skill behind this very practical building.