Ulan-Ude (УЛАН-УДЭ)
the capital of Buryatia Republic located in Eastern Siberia. The city stands on the Uda River, about 100 km from Lake Baikal and 5,615 km east of Moscow. The population of Ulan-Ude is about 430,500 (2015), the area - 348 sq. km. The first people who settled in the area of present Ulan-Ude were tribes of Evenks and Buryat Mongols. In 1666, a small fort was founded by Russian Cossacks colonizing Siberia on the site of the present city. The fort was named Udinskoe meaning “standing on the Uda River”. It was built to collect tribute from the local population. The settlement grew rapidly because of its favorable geographical position. Udinskoe became an important trade center linking Russia, China and Mongolia. From 1680, Russian trade caravans began to pass through this settlement to China. In 1900, a new period of growth began, when the Trans-Siberian Railway reached the town. During World War I, camps for prisoners of war were established in Verkhneudinsk and Nizhnaya Berezovka. In 1923, the Buryat-Mongol Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic with the capital in Verkhneudinsk was created. In the 1930s, large-scale industrial construction began in the city. In 1934, Verkhneudinsk received its current name Ulan-Ude meaning “red Uda” (“red gate” in the language of the Buryats). In 1991, Ulan-Ude was visited by the Dalai Lama XIV. In 1992, Ulan-Ude became the capital of the Republic of Buryatia. Today, it is an important center of Siberian culture and history, the center of Buddhism in Russia.
Ulan-Ude has a unique historical and cultural heritage. Within the city there are more than 200 objects of cultural heritage: monuments of architecture and urban planning, artistic monuments. A significant part of sights refers to the well-preserved architectural monuments of the 19th century. They are mostly concentrated in the historic downtown. One of the most interesting monuments of Ulan-Ude stands on the main square of the city (Sovetov Square): it is a giant head of Vladimir Lenin. This unique monument, weighing 42 tons and having a height of 14 meters, was constructed in honor of the centenary of Lenin’s birth in 1970. Another sight of the city is Odigitrievsky Cathedral of the Russian Orthodox Church, the first stone building in the city (1741-1785). It is an architectural monument of the Siberian baroque. The cathedral is located in the heart of Ulan-Ude, on the banks of the Uda River where it flows into the Selenga River. Source: http://russiatrek.org
the capital of Buryatia Republic located in Eastern Siberia. The city stands on the Uda River, about 100 km from Lake Baikal and 5,615 km east of Moscow. The population of Ulan-Ude is about 430,500 (2015), the area - 348 sq. km. The first people who settled in the area of present Ulan-Ude were tribes of Evenks and Buryat Mongols. In 1666, a small fort was founded by Russian Cossacks colonizing Siberia on the site of the present city. The fort was named Udinskoe meaning “standing on the Uda River”. It was built to collect tribute from the local population. The settlement grew rapidly because of its favorable geographical position. Udinskoe became an important trade center linking Russia, China and Mongolia. From 1680, Russian trade caravans began to pass through this settlement to China. In 1900, a new period of growth began, when the Trans-Siberian Railway reached the town. During World War I, camps for prisoners of war were established in Verkhneudinsk and Nizhnaya Berezovka. In 1923, the Buryat-Mongol Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic with the capital in Verkhneudinsk was created. In the 1930s, large-scale industrial construction began in the city. In 1934, Verkhneudinsk received its current name Ulan-Ude meaning “red Uda” (“red gate” in the language of the Buryats). In 1991, Ulan-Ude was visited by the Dalai Lama XIV. In 1992, Ulan-Ude became the capital of the Republic of Buryatia. Today, it is an important center of Siberian culture and history, the center of Buddhism in Russia.
Ulan-Ude has a unique historical and cultural heritage. Within the city there are more than 200 objects of cultural heritage: monuments of architecture and urban planning, artistic monuments. A significant part of sights refers to the well-preserved architectural monuments of the 19th century. They are mostly concentrated in the historic downtown. One of the most interesting monuments of Ulan-Ude stands on the main square of the city (Sovetov Square): it is a giant head of Vladimir Lenin. This unique monument, weighing 42 tons and having a height of 14 meters, was constructed in honor of the centenary of Lenin’s birth in 1970. Another sight of the city is Odigitrievsky Cathedral of the Russian Orthodox Church, the first stone building in the city (1741-1785). It is an architectural monument of the Siberian baroque. The cathedral is located in the heart of Ulan-Ude, on the banks of the Uda River where it flows into the Selenga River. Source: http://russiatrek.org
Ivolginsky Datsan Monastery
complex consisting of seven temples, a Buddhist University, priests’ houses, a museum of Buddhist art and a hotel. There is the residence of the head of Russian Buddhists – Pandito Khambo Lama, and his house is also included into the complex. Ivolginsky datsan is sited at the foot of the hills surrounding Lake Baikal. The roofs of the temples and the colourful stupas look astoundingly beautiful amidst the wilderness. While staying in Russia in 1982 Dalai Lama noticed that Ivolginsky datsan is one of the greatest places of interest he had seen in the USSR. The datsan is protected by the government as a monument of religious architecture. The main temple of Ivolginsky datsan is Sogchen. It is built in accordance with the idea of “mandala”. Twelve stone lions protect the temple. There is a pantheon of a thousand of Buddhas including a huge sculpture of Buddha Shakjamuni in the altar. The statue occupies the central place inside this temple. Below the statue there is a picture and a throne of Dalai-Lama XIV, where nobody is allowed to sit. The temples are surrounded by prayer drums (Khurde). Source: www.russiaeguide.com
complex consisting of seven temples, a Buddhist University, priests’ houses, a museum of Buddhist art and a hotel. There is the residence of the head of Russian Buddhists – Pandito Khambo Lama, and his house is also included into the complex. Ivolginsky datsan is sited at the foot of the hills surrounding Lake Baikal. The roofs of the temples and the colourful stupas look astoundingly beautiful amidst the wilderness. While staying in Russia in 1982 Dalai Lama noticed that Ivolginsky datsan is one of the greatest places of interest he had seen in the USSR. The datsan is protected by the government as a monument of religious architecture. The main temple of Ivolginsky datsan is Sogchen. It is built in accordance with the idea of “mandala”. Twelve stone lions protect the temple. There is a pantheon of a thousand of Buddhas including a huge sculpture of Buddha Shakjamuni in the altar. The statue occupies the central place inside this temple. Below the statue there is a picture and a throne of Dalai-Lama XIV, where nobody is allowed to sit. The temples are surrounded by prayer drums (Khurde). Source: www.russiaeguide.com
Atsagatski Datsan Monastery
opened in the early nineteenth century. In 1825, on the banks of the river Solute appeared first wooden Church. To operate a monk of the temple specifically went to the Governor of the Irkutsk region for permission. Over time Atsagatski datsan began to expand. In 20 years next to the main temple came Gift-Ehin the sume, Zocken-Ningbo and Chordin the sume. But the place where Buddhist complex, was unsuccessful. He was in the lowlands, where the constant dampness. The monks decided to rebuild the temple. Almost ten years have gone Buddhists request to select another location for the temple. After long negotiations the management of Eastern Siberia allocated under the temple area on the hill in the countryside Anger-Tugela, where he is now. Some interesting facts associated with Aziatskim datsan. From mouth to mouth the monks told the story of how Nicholas I visited the temple. It was in 1891, when the king made a journey round the world. Source: www.gen4trip.com
opened in the early nineteenth century. In 1825, on the banks of the river Solute appeared first wooden Church. To operate a monk of the temple specifically went to the Governor of the Irkutsk region for permission. Over time Atsagatski datsan began to expand. In 20 years next to the main temple came Gift-Ehin the sume, Zocken-Ningbo and Chordin the sume. But the place where Buddhist complex, was unsuccessful. He was in the lowlands, where the constant dampness. The monks decided to rebuild the temple. Almost ten years have gone Buddhists request to select another location for the temple. After long negotiations the management of Eastern Siberia allocated under the temple area on the hill in the countryside Anger-Tugela, where he is now. Some interesting facts associated with Aziatskim datsan. From mouth to mouth the monks told the story of how Nicholas I visited the temple. It was in 1891, when the king made a journey round the world. Source: www.gen4trip.com
Buryat Village
The Buryats are the largest indigenous group in Siberia. They are a nomadic herding people of Mongolian stock that practice Tibetan Buddhism with a touch a paganism. There about 500,000 Buryat today, with half in the Lake Baikal area, half elsewhere in the former Soviet Union and Mongolia. They make up about half the population of the Republic of Buryatia, which includes Ulan Ude and is located to the south and east of Lake Baikal. Others live west of Irkutsk and near Chita as well as in Mongolia and Xinjiang in China. The Buryats lived in Siberia before the Russians and are closely related to Mongolians. They are believed to have been created by a merging of Mongolia and Turkish tribes from the Altai and Tungus groups, with perhaps some Samoyed people blood thrown in. By the Mongol era The Buryats had emerged as a distinct group, occupying much of the same area they occupy today. By some accounts Genghis Khan was a Buryat not a Mongol. In any case many Buryats joined the Mongols in their campaigns of conquest. Until the end of the 17th century the Buryat were mostly nomadic cattle hunters and hunters who were able to take large animals such as elk (moose) and bear and hunted some animals for meat and some for fur. The Buryats initially put up a strong resistance to the Russians but were subdued relatively quickly. They first faced colonization by Russian settlers in the seventeenth century. After initially resisting this intrusion, Buraitia became part of Russia in 1660 and paid tribute to the tsar. Most of the Buryats eventually adapted to life in farming settlements, which continues to be the predominant mode of existence. Source: http://factsanddetails.com
The Buryats are the largest indigenous group in Siberia. They are a nomadic herding people of Mongolian stock that practice Tibetan Buddhism with a touch a paganism. There about 500,000 Buryat today, with half in the Lake Baikal area, half elsewhere in the former Soviet Union and Mongolia. They make up about half the population of the Republic of Buryatia, which includes Ulan Ude and is located to the south and east of Lake Baikal. Others live west of Irkutsk and near Chita as well as in Mongolia and Xinjiang in China. The Buryats lived in Siberia before the Russians and are closely related to Mongolians. They are believed to have been created by a merging of Mongolia and Turkish tribes from the Altai and Tungus groups, with perhaps some Samoyed people blood thrown in. By the Mongol era The Buryats had emerged as a distinct group, occupying much of the same area they occupy today. By some accounts Genghis Khan was a Buryat not a Mongol. In any case many Buryats joined the Mongols in their campaigns of conquest. Until the end of the 17th century the Buryat were mostly nomadic cattle hunters and hunters who were able to take large animals such as elk (moose) and bear and hunted some animals for meat and some for fur. The Buryats initially put up a strong resistance to the Russians but were subdued relatively quickly. They first faced colonization by Russian settlers in the seventeenth century. After initially resisting this intrusion, Buraitia became part of Russia in 1660 and paid tribute to the tsar. Most of the Buryats eventually adapted to life in farming settlements, which continues to be the predominant mode of existence. Source: http://factsanddetails.com
Old Believers Village
Russian people who still live traditionally in a small community in the Buryat Republic. The Old Believers separated after 1666 from the official Russian Orthodox Church as a protest against church reforms introduced by Patriarch Nikon of Moscow between 1652 and 1666. They have continued liturgical practices that the Russian Orthodox Church maintained before the implementation of these reforms. As any deviation from the correct Nikonian Orthodox was punishable by death, many of the Old Believers went into voluntary exile to Siberia, and some emigrated. Another name of this people — Semeyskie or Family People — was given because they moved to Siberia with their big families. These special people keep the traditions of their ancestors and have a unique identity. Their faith is the pre-17th century Russian Orthodox Christianity. They believe that the modern Russian Orthodox Church has lost the true faith and there are no true priests. The Old Believers do not share many views of the contemporary Russian Church. The Old Believers are very hard working. In the old times, they were prohibited from drinking alcohol, smoking, tea drinking. Even today, some of their customs may seem as relics of much older and simpler times. Their way of life is very different from what urbanite Russians got used to. They managed to preserve their pride of hard work, spiritual faith in God, connection with the Mother Nature, and family values. The phenomenon of the Old Believers is that they are like an alternate version of the modern Russians. They are the Russians, which weren’t changed by revolutions, the years of Soviet indoctrination and capitalism of the 2000s. Today, there are over a hundred thousand Old Believers living in communities in Buryatia. Source: www.russiaeguide.com
Russian people who still live traditionally in a small community in the Buryat Republic. The Old Believers separated after 1666 from the official Russian Orthodox Church as a protest against church reforms introduced by Patriarch Nikon of Moscow between 1652 and 1666. They have continued liturgical practices that the Russian Orthodox Church maintained before the implementation of these reforms. As any deviation from the correct Nikonian Orthodox was punishable by death, many of the Old Believers went into voluntary exile to Siberia, and some emigrated. Another name of this people — Semeyskie or Family People — was given because they moved to Siberia with their big families. These special people keep the traditions of their ancestors and have a unique identity. Their faith is the pre-17th century Russian Orthodox Christianity. They believe that the modern Russian Orthodox Church has lost the true faith and there are no true priests. The Old Believers do not share many views of the contemporary Russian Church. The Old Believers are very hard working. In the old times, they were prohibited from drinking alcohol, smoking, tea drinking. Even today, some of their customs may seem as relics of much older and simpler times. Their way of life is very different from what urbanite Russians got used to. They managed to preserve their pride of hard work, spiritual faith in God, connection with the Mother Nature, and family values. The phenomenon of the Old Believers is that they are like an alternate version of the modern Russians. They are the Russians, which weren’t changed by revolutions, the years of Soviet indoctrination and capitalism of the 2000s. Today, there are over a hundred thousand Old Believers living in communities in Buryatia. Source: www.russiaeguide.com