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Buddhist Russia
If you are browsing the Trans-Siberian railroad or on the way to or from Mongolia, you must stop in Ulan-Ude city to experience the largest Buddhist community in Russia. The Buryats, numbering approximately 350,000, are the largest ethnic minority group in Siberia, and are mainly concentrated in their homeland, the Buryat Republic with the capital city called Ulan-Ude. Buryats are of Mongolian descent and share many customs with their neighboring cousins including nomadic herding and setting up yurts for shelter. The Soviet industrialization changed the pace for many locals, especially their children by mixing everybody into soviet style of life. If you were here 20-30 years ago, very few signs would indicate that Buryats are very different from the image of a typical Soviet citizen, but not today...
Highlights:
The Ethnographic Museum of Transbaikalian (Lake Baikal area) People...established in July 6, 1973 within 15 kilometers from the city, the museum today is one of the largest open air exhibitions in Russia made of individual sections representing the Evenks, Western Buryats, Eastern Buryats, Cossacks, Old Believers life styles.
The Ivolginsky Datsan (Temple)...located 35 kilometers from the city, the Ivolginsky Datsan was the only Buddhist temple re-opened in 1945 on the territory of the former USSR. One of the monastery's treasures is a rare collection of old Buddhist manuscripts written in Tibet language on natural silk and a greenhouse with a holly Bodskhva tree. Everyone is welcome here to consult Emchi-Lama or local astrologists.
Atsagat Datsan (Temple) is located in Atsagat village about 60 km from Ulan Ude. The temple was reopened in 1991 and is a beautiful example of architecture. It has been visited by Czarevitch Nicholas II and blessed by Dalai Lama XIV. In nearby village Khara-Shibir (~ 13 km) was born Agvan Dorzhiev, a famous researcher and orientalist. His log home, surrounded by a pine and larch forest, has been rebuilt near a mineral spring in Narin-Atsagat, about 4 km after Atsagat. Here, Dorzhiev established the only school in Buryatia for Tibetan doctors.
Dasha-Dorzho Imtegelov was elected in the midst of 18th century by Lama’s society of Eastern Siberia to be the 12th Pandito Xambo Lama. His giving spirit and inspirational force he generously offered carries the story throughout years. After his death in 1917, he asked to burry him in the cubical coffin made of cedar and leave him in the meditation pose. There was nothing special done to the coffin except that it was filled with salt. The Lama asked to open the coffin in 75 years. After long debates and hesitation among the Buddhist community, the coffin eventually was opened revealing the well preserved body of Dasha-Dorzho sitting in the same meditation pose. Scientist are working on this phenomena, but no answers or suggestions yet…We can not promise that you will see the mummy, but you will have a chance to ask local monks what they think about it.
Virtual Tour (by Claudine and Leo Granbichler)
Itinerary:
[Option 1] - 4 hrs, Ivolginsky Temple
Transfer Ulan-Ude city -> Ivolginsky Temple (~35km one way). Sightseeing and souvenir shopping (~2 hrs). Transfer to the Museum of Transbaikalian People. Sightseeing (~ 1 hr). Return to Ulan-Ude.
[Option 2] - 5 hrs, Ivolginsky Temple + Museum
Transfer Ulan-Ude city -> Ivolginsky Temple (~35km one way). Sightseeing and souvenir shopping (~2 hrs). Transfer to the Museum of Transbaikalian People. Sightseeing (~1 hr). Return to Ulan-Ude.
[Option 3] - 4 hrs, Atsagat Temple
Transfer (~ 60km) Ulan-Ude city -> Atsagat Temple. Sightseeing with stops at Agvan Dorzhiev house (~2 hrs). Return to Ulan-Ude.
[Option 4] - 1 hour, Traditional Buryat Lunch
If you wish to experience local food, prebook the lunch for your trip. Please be aware that Buryat food is very basic: fresh meat/fish, potato, bread. The food is often prepared outside in the yard on the open fire or stoves with basic sanitary. Definitely try traditional Buryat meal called "manty" similar to Chinese dumplings, but bigger, spicier and juicer.
Included:
Bilingual guide;
Private Transportation w/gasoline;
Temple Entrance Fee;
Museum Admission Fee;
Not included:
Meals or snacks;
Photo/Video surcharges;
Special exhibitions fees;
Travel/Health insurance;
Time/Fees for pick ups outside of the city center perimeter;
Special tour-related note:
Depending on the season, bring: sweater or light jacket, umbrella, sun glasses, cap, warm boots, mittens, hat and thick coat. Plan for the worst, especially in the winter for incidents such as car break downs or train delays.
Bring light snacks, sandwiches & water;
Related Tours:
Classic Trans-Siberia-Mongolia RR (7 stops)
Classic Trans-Siberian RR (6 stops)
Old Believers of Eastern Siberia
Sergeev Posad via Abramtsevo
The Great Wall and Ming Tombs
Tuva Highlights
Ulan-Ude the City
Where Cultures Meet
Call our US office:
Tel/Fax: 1-724-935-5373
sokol@sokoltours.com
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