For Ganbold Dambajav, Ambassador of Mongolia, during his three-year stay so far, the depth of history and diversity of Delhi stand out. If you want to truly experience the city, the key is not to rush, he says. Apart from the religious and heritage sites, Dambajav also finds the city’s traffic fascinating — unlike in his country, he says in Delhi, traffic keeps moving despite so many cars. The yearly winter pollution remains a concern.
Born in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, in 1973, Dambajav graduated from the National University of Mongolia with a BA in Foreign Service. He also possesses a Master’s degree in Linguistics (Science and Technology University of Mongolia) and Diplomacy (Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Russian Federation). He holds an Honorary Doctorate in Philosophy from the International American University, Los Angeles, California, USA.
He has worked in various positions in different departments of the Foreign Ministry of Mongolia (Chief of Protocol; Director of the Department for the Americas, Middle East, and Africa; Counsellor of the Policy Planning Department; Department for Multilateral Cooperation; Consular Department; Administration Department).
He also worked at the Permanent Mission of Mongolia to the UN, New York, USA; Embassy of Mongolia in Sofia, Bulgaria (concurrently accredited to the Republic of Albania, Republic of Cyprus, Hellenic Republic, Republic of North Macedonia & Romania); Embassy of Mongolia in Ottawa, Canada (concurrently accredited to the Federative Republic of Brazil).
Since December 13, 2021, he has been the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Mongolia to the Republic of India. He was awarded the Silver Cross of Merit of the Republic of Poland. Married, with three children, he speaks Russian and English, and German (beginner).
Dambajav spoke to The Indian Express for the fourth in a series of interviews with Ambassadors about Delhi — their home.
Edited excerpts:
What is the one place in the city you love visiting often?
Delhi is too big to pick one place, especially, compared to Mongolia. Size-wise, we’re half of India. Population-wise, we’re less than one district of Delhi – only 3.5 million. Delhi, on the other hand, has a population of over 30 million.
But for me, historic places and religious centres – Humayun’s Tomb, Red Fort and Qutub Minar – stand out. Religious places are very interesting to me because Mongolia and India call each other spiritual neighbours.
There are lots of other places to visit such as gardens of Delhi – I love to go to Nehru Park or Lodhi Garden. In short, I cannot say one place because all of Delhi is very attractive.
Three things that have stood out during your stay?
I love driving. I believe it is one way to understand the city and people’s mentality… In Mongolia, when there is traffic, we have to sometimes wait at one spot for 20 minutes. In Delhi, on most days, somehow, traffic keeps moving despite so many cars. This is, I would say, one of the fascinating things in Delhi.
The other thing is that people are very friendly. Sometimes, I get stuck while navigating Google Maps and I have to rely on people. They are all very helpful.
The third thing is the heritage… the ruins, the forts. I find it fascinating that you can find a lot of different religious places. You can find a mosque, a Sikh temple, and a Buddhist monument. I feel that the capital is a representation of all of India.
Favourite food?
I find Indian cuisine very interesting. I’ve travelled around 23 states so far… but to understand a country like India, a lifespan is not enough, you know? The food in each city and each village is totally different.
Indian cuisine is very popular among Mongolians. We love the butter chicken and Hyderabadi Biryani, and of course the garlic naan. I also love masala tea. Whenever someone offers me a beverage, I always pick a masala tea over coffee and other drinks.
When I go to eat outside, I usually go to some place closer to the embassy. I like going to Claridges Hotel. I also love going to ITC Maurya hotels – usually I go there to have Mediterranean cuisine. In Claridges, I go for Indian cuisine. I tried the street food in Delhi… but my stomach couldn’t handle it.
Are there any encounters in the capital that will stay with you?
One such encounter I had was on the last day of October 2021. I was out with my spouse. It was very late at night. We went to a local restaurant in Greater Kailash 1. There was a very nice guy there who guided us. It was our very first impression so to speak. Another thing I want to point out. Northeast Indians, I feel, are very similar to Mongolians. Whenever I meet someone from Ladakh or Assam, it always feels like home.
What will you miss once you say goodbye to this city?
I will miss a bunch of things… the way Indian people treat their guests… I think my wife will probably miss the walks in Nehru Park.
Another thing I will miss is driving around Delhi. Going to different locations like South Extension and Akshardham… My last visit to Delhi was in 2009 and since then, it has changed a lot. I wanted to speak about the remarkable development that our Indian friends have made. India is what I like to refer to as an “Elephant economy.” I’m happy to see the success of such a populous country. For less populated countries, growth is relatively easy… but for a large country like India, I feel it’s very difficult.
I remember there weren’t many flyovers in Delhi at that time. Now, at every intersection, you have a flyover. The Metro is fantastic. Sometimes, when I visit Gurgaon, I prefer the Metro – it gets there in half the time. Old Delhi is very fascinating. I just wish I could visit it more often… the traffic prevents me from doing that.
Unfortunately, the traffic is getting worse every year. In 2021, I used to put on my headphones and drive my car. In two songs, I would reach from my residence to the embassy. But now it takes 4 to 5 songs. Based on that, I calculated that traffic has gotten worse. In Mongolia, the traffic is even worse at times… Personally, I believe Mongols are nomads by nature. I always have this one joke. Please keep in mind that Mongolians drive cars like they ride horses – they can turn anywhere at any second.
How would you introduce Delhi to someone back home?
I would say, Delhi is too big for Mongolians. For anyone planning to visit, my advice would be to spare at least a week… if you really want to see this magnificent city. Spend two days in Old Delhi… Even South Delhi and New Delhi have loads of interesting places to visit. If you want to truly experience Delhi, do not rush. Take your time. A few days for Delhi are not enough, and even a lifespan for India is not enough.
How is Delhi different from the other places you have visited in India?
India is very diverse. Mumbai is very different from Kerala or Karnataka. South India is very different from North India. I’ve also visited Assam, Kolkata and Darjeeling – I loved going there… Gujarat, on the other hand, is totally different. It is very dynamic. If you go there, you feel that a lot of changes keep happening all at once. The vibes are different everywhere… Delhi is a megalopolis and it manages to bring everyone from different corners of India in one place.
Does the pollution bother you?
To be honest, of course it does. I’m really concerned about my family and embassy staff. I think the pollution is partly due to the actions of humans. I believe we have to take care of ourselves. Post Diwali, I tell all my staff to wear masks when they go out. Inside, I ask them to put an air purifier and a dehumidifier. November, December and January are the worst.
Delhi is very humid for us Mongolians. Back home, we have very bad pollution during the winter. It is also very cold – sometimes it falls below minus forty degrees. To produce heat, we need to burn coal. We Mongolians also have to rely on coal for power generation. For me, pollution is not such a new thing… but of course, I have to look out for my family. I think pollution is present everywhere in the world.
Is there anything you would suggest to administrators or planners to make this city more livable?
I have no right, ability or knowledge to suggest to my Indian friends to do things this way or that. We Mongolians are learning this ourselves. Urban life is a new thing, urbanisation for us started just six decades ago.
Ambassador of Mongolia Ganbold Dambajav. 
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