The official founding date of Elista is considered to be 1865, when a small settlement of peasants consisting of 15 households appeared in the ravine of the same name in the middle of the Kalmyk steppe. The further growth of the village was facilitated by the fact that it was here that the largest livestock fairs began to be held. After the October Revolution, the importance of Elista increased. It became the capital of the Kalmyk autonomy in 1926, and four years later it received city status. During the Second World War, the city survived the occupation, was burned almost to the ground by the retreating fascists and lay in ruins for almost 15 years. A new era in the history of the policy began in the 70s of the last century, when a railway line was extended to it and asphalt roads were laid. After this, several large enterprises in the oil and gas complex, clothing and food industries appeared here. Subsequently, Elista developed only progressively, becoming a significant cultural, educational and spiritual center of the Russian South.
The main attractions of Elista: TOP-5
Acquaintance with any city usually begins with an inspection of historical and architectural monuments of significant significance. The sights of Elista, photos and descriptions of which are included in the section, are precisely its calling cards.
Golden Abode of Shakyamuni
- Opening hours: daily, from 8:00 to 20:00.
- Telephone.
- Website: https://www.khurul.ru
- Address: st. Yu. Klykova, 63. Transport stop “Khurul”.
The majestic temple, built on a man-made hill in the center of Elista, is one of the main shrines of Russian Buddhists. The spire of the pagoda rises to 57 m. The building, which is reached by two massive stone staircases, is richly decorated in a characteristic style. Around the architectural dominant, 17 smaller pagodas with “kurde” prayer wheels and statues of saints were built. The unique complex is surrounded by an elegant fence. Its metal elements connect 108 brick pillars, installed at intervals of 5 m and decorated with snow-white Buddhist stupas. In the central hall of the khurul there is a giant statue of Buddha covered with gold. The 12 m high statue is considered the largest in Europe.
Chess City
- Address: O. Bender Avenue. Transport stop "City-Chess".
Having visited the capital of Kalmykia, it is not difficult to see that the most intricate fantasies of writers eventually come true. It is unlikely that I. Ilf and E. Petrov imagined, when creating their immortal novel, that a century later an analogue of New Vasyukov would appear in Russia - a real town, built specifically for the 1998 World Chess Olympiad. Everything here is imbued with the spirit of the ancient game. The central square is named after the goddess Caissa, and the buildings are named after chess pieces. Even the floor in the hall of the luxurious palace where the competition was held is decorated with black and white chessboard squares. The territory of the microdistrict is beautifully landscaped. Travelers will see many colorful sculptures, an elegant wooden temple, and will be able to visit a wonderful museum.
Golden Gate Altn Bosch
- Address: Friendship Park. Transport stop "KGU".
This incredibly elegant structure, erected at the end of the last century, is rightfully one of the iconic sights of Elista. The gilded vault of the 15-meter arch rests on bright red columns. The pediments of the architectural monument are decorated in the Buddhist style. They are decorated with 28 colorful paintings telling about the most important stages in the history of Kalmykia. The masterpiece of architecture also has great sacred significance. Passing under the arches, a person is spiritually cleansed and gains peace of mind. If the bells are ringing at this moment, you can safely make a wish. Buddhists believe that in this case it will definitely come true.
Golden Horseman Monument
- Address: intersection of Budenny and Dzhangar streets. Transport stop "1st microdistrict".
The grand opening of the monument, without which it is no longer possible to imagine Elista, took place on May 1, 2007. Then the townspeople for the first time saw a unique monumental composition dedicated to the epic hero - the main character of the Kalmyk epic "Dzhangar". The gilded figure of a knight galloping on a faithful horse with a banner fluttering in the wind and a Mongolian bow in his hands is fixed in the upper part of a massive stone stele. The hero seems to be soaring over the city together with the proud inhabitant of the endless steppes - the hawk.
Seven Days Pagoda
- Address: Lenin Square. Transport stop "KGU".
The beautiful pagoda is one of the hallmarks of modern Elista. A unique structure, erected under the guidance of lamas from the Indian monastery of Gyedmed, rises in the center of a granite platform surrounded by a fountain bowl. The fifteen-meter building has seven tiers of colorful Buddhist domes, decorated with sculptures and gilding. The main vault rests on 16 beautiful paired columns. Below it is a prayer drum covered with gold. Scrolls with the text of more than 30 million mantras are walled into the base of the kurde. At nightfall, when the lights turn on, the pagoda looks especially impressive.
History of the republican capital
In order to better understand why the numerical and national composition of Elista changed so much, let us turn to its history. It all started with Nicholas I, who in 1845 issued a decree on the settlement of the Kalmyk steppes. Before the very first settlement appeared on this site, the Kalmyks, who had long been a nomadic people, set up their camps here. The Kalmyks nicknamed this place Elista, which translated from their language means “sandy”. The entire left slope consisted of abundant loose sand. So the name was assigned to the village formed in this place.
The founder of Elista is officially considered to be Stepan Kiykov, who was previously a serf. After the abolition of serfdom, he freed himself from this yoke and in 1862, on the advice of a local resident named Bola, built the first dugout in this place. By 1865, as many as 15 households could be counted on the site of the future republican capital. It is 1865 that is today considered the year the city was founded. Elista soon became popular and known thanks to the large livestock fairs that were regularly organized in the Kalmyk steppes.
Architecture and monuments of Elista
Among all the interesting things that tourists can see in Elista, it is worth highlighting the colorful monuments, of which there are quite a few in the city. Connoisseurs of elegant architecture will also not be left out.
Monument to Ubashi Khan
- Address: st. Lenin. Transport stop "Pharmacy".
Modern historians have different assessments of Ubashi’s activities as the supreme ruler of the Kalmyk Khanate. Some consider him a traitor, who carried away most of the uluses to Dzungaria. Others note the merits of the khan, who participated with the army in the Russian-Turkish war of 1668–74. However, everyone agrees that he was definitely an extraordinary person. The Ubashi monument appeared in Elista in the fall of 2012. The bronze statue of the khan, dressed in armor and proudly sitting in the saddle of a horse, is placed on a carved pedestal of white stone 3.4 m high.
National Theater building
- Address: st. Suseeva, 21. Transport stop "Hotel".
The magnificent building, which houses the Republican National Theater, is one of the architectural highlights of Elista. It attracts attention at first sight with its colorful exterior. Three entrance portals on the front side are located outside the main volume. The main one has the shape of a semicircle and rests on massive columns. The cornice of the mansion is decorated with figured attics, and the pediment above the central entrance is decorated with colorful high reliefs. The facade is decorated with tinted glass and polished granite.
Monument to Ostap Bender
- Address: O. Bender Avenue. Transport stop "October Cinema".
The sculptural embodiment of the most popular literary character - an ideological fighter for banknotes and an adventurer tireless in invention - appeared in Elista in 1999. In general, the great schemer is treated here with special love. Here a cafe, a shop and even an avenue are named in his honor. It is at the beginning of this highway that the monument was erected. The bronze statue of the “international grandmaster”, intently examining a chess knight, is surrounded by 12 chairs with neat tables. Sitting down at one of them with a cup of coffee, it is surprisingly pleasant to contemplate the image of an extremely charming descendant of the Janissaries.
Fountain "Three Lotuses"
- Address: Lenin Square. Transport stop "KGU".
A true decoration of Lenin Square and a popular place for dates is the wonderful fountain, opened in 2006. The unique composition consists of a bowl lined with polished granite and aristocratic marble, as well as an original sculptural group. Three lotuses seem to sprout from the center of the pool, at the foot of which geysers spew water. The stems and leaves of the plants are made of stainless steel, and the opened inflorescences are covered with gold. In the evening, when the music turns on and the fountain’s illumination diodes light up, a real extravaganza begins here.
Monument to A.S. Pushkin
- Address: Pushkinsky Square. Transport stop "KGU".
The work of the great Russian poet, who was praised in his brilliant works by almost all the peoples of the Russian Empire, is appreciated in Kalmykia. In 1999, in the center of a well-kept square named after the classic of world literature, a monumental composition was inaugurated. In front of the proscenium, delimited by a metal lattice with high reliefs created based on the immortal works of Pushkin, there is a cube made of black granite. Above it rises a sculpture of the poet, cast from stainless steel. The composition is completed by cast iron lanterns in retro style and a fountain. Jets of water into its small bowl erupt from a nozzle decorated to resemble an open lotus flower.
The power of the councils
Initially, Elista itself belonged to the Astrakhan province. The situation changed only after Soviet power came to these places. This happened in 1918. Two years later, a decree was issued that formalized the creation of an autonomous region of the Kalmyk people. But at first, the authorities were based in Astrakhan in the old fashioned way.
In 1925, a decision was made to move the center of the region to the city of Elista, whose population at that time numbered about two thousand people. Since 1927, funds began to be actively allocated for the construction of cultural, administrative, household buildings, as well as residential buildings for the settlement, which was growing every year. In 1930, a decree was issued to transform the village of Elista into a city.
Elista cultural
Despite the fact that a city with a population of 100 thousand cannot be called a metropolis, tourists will not have problems with where to go in Elista and what to diversify their leisure time. Local museums invite travelers on interesting excursions, and theater artists will delight them with colorful performances.
National Museum of the Republic of Kalmykia
- Opening hours: daily, except Mondays, from 9:00 to 18:00, on weekends from 10:00 to 16:00.
- Ticket price: adult 50 rubles, children admitted free of charge.
- Telephone.
- Website: https://www.national-museum.kalm.muzkult.ru
- Address: st. Dzhangara, 9. Transport stop "Dzhangar".
The funds of the institution, which first opened its doors to visitors back in 1921, contain more than 70 thousand storage units. The museum's colorfully decorated exhibitions tell about the unique nature of Kalmykia, the history of the republic, the way of life and the authentic culture of the titular nation. The spacious exhibition halls, covering an area of about 1.5 thousand m², display archaeological artifacts and exhibits of significant historical value. The museum has an extensive collection of works by masters of folk art, a rich collection of paintings by Kalmyk artists.
Museum of Chess Glory named after. M. Talya
- Opening hours: daily, from 10:00 to 19:00.
- Ticket price: admission is free.
- Address: Chess City territory. Transport stop "City Chess".
During your excursion to Chess City, be sure to visit a small but very interesting museum dedicated to chess. The basis of its exhibition is the personal belongings and awards of the eighth world chess champion Mikhail Tal, acquired after the death of the grandmaster by the President of the Republic K. Ilyumzhinov. The institution's collection includes about 3.5 thousand exhibits. It displays medals and cups won by M. Tal at various tournaments, descriptions of games included in the classics of chess, souvenirs and much more related to the ancient game, which many compare to science.
Russian Drama and Comedy Theater
- Opening hours: performances are given from Thursday to Sunday inclusive. Evening performances start at 17:00 or 18:30, daytime performances at 12:00.
- Ticket price: from 100 rub. up to 450 rub.
- Telephone.
- Address: st. M. Gorky, 23. Transport stop "Ice".
You can have a wonderful evening watching a colorful performance by the theater, which was separated from the republican drama in 1991. Its troupe consists of talented artists and directors who are not afraid of bold experiments. Classics and plays by contemporary playwrights are successfully staged on the local stage. The repertoire includes performances of various genres, including colorful performances for children. The theater actively tours and is invited to authoritative All-Russian and international festivals of performing arts masters.
Unemployment rate
Kalmykia has traditionally maintained a high level of unemployment in recent years. For example, in 2010 it was the highest in the entire Southern Federal District, amounting to more than 17%. Recently, the situation has gradually stabilized. As of 2022, the official unemployment rate is 9.2%. Of the 133 thousand economically active population of Elista, more than twelve thousand people do not have a permanent job or salary. At the same time, the average unemployment rate in Russia is 5.5 percent. The maximum is observed in Ingushetia (almost a third of the economically active population remains unemployed there), the lowest unemployment rate is in Moscow and St. Petersburg - just over one and a half percent.
Elista cathedrals and churches
The cosmopolitan city will not disappoint connoisseurs of iconic architecture. In addition to the colorful Buddhist shrines, which are no less numerous here than in Ulan-Ude, in Elista you can also admire magnificent Orthodox churches.
Kazan Cathedral
- Opening hours: daily, from 7:00 to 19:00.
- Telephone.
- Website: https://www.sobor-elista.prihod.ru
- Address: st. S. Radonezhsky, 97. Transport stop "Church".
The cathedral, consecrated in 1997 by Patriarch Alexy II, is the main Orthodox church of Elista. It was built according to the canons of religious architecture of the 18th century. The building, covered with a massive gilded dome topped with a miniature blind drum with a dome, looks simply magnificent. You can enter the temple through porticoes supported by powerful columns. An elegant two-tier bell tower with a small dome is attached to the main volume. The main shrine of the cathedral is considered to be an image with particles of the relics of St. Innocent.
Stupa of Enlightenment
- Opening hours: daily, from 7:00 to 20:00.
- Address: O. Bender Avenue, 7A. Transport stop "City-Chess".
The amazing Monlam Tamched Drupa temple is not only a sacred place, but also one of the main attractions of Elista. Its name translates as “Who fulfills all prayers.” According to the canons of Buddhism, such a stupa helps a person to free his mind and overcome all life’s difficulties on the path to harmony. The exterior of the bizarrely shaped white stone building, 11 m high, is incredibly colorful. Each of the decorative elements carries a certain sacred meaning. In the altar room of the temple, the walls of which are covered with delightful paintings, there is a prayer wheel with millions of mantras.
Chapel-temple of St. Sergius of Radonezh
- Opening hours: daily, from 8:00 to 19:00.
- Telephone.
- Address: 7th microdistrict. Transport stop "October Cinema".
The consecration of a small church in the name of one of the most revered saints of the Russian land - St. Sergius of Radonezh, was timed to coincide with the celebrations in honor of the 60th anniversary of the Great Victory. An elegant chapel with a gilded dome was built according to the canons of medieval Orthodox architecture. She is solemn and surprisingly elegant at the same time. On the interior walls of the church there are slabs on which the names of 44 thousand sons and daughters of Kalmykia who did not return from the fronts of the Second World War are immortalized. Pilgrims come to the temple to kneel before the relics of the martyr Thaddeus.
Climate[edit]
Elista has a hot summer humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfa
), although it is sometimes described as a temperate-semi-arid climate (
Köppen classification BSk
). [12] Winters are cold, with a January average of −6.1 °C (21.0 °F), and summers are hot, with a July average of 24.5 °C (76.1 °F). [13] Average annual precipitation is 349 millimeters (14 in), with winters drier than summers. [14] Extremes range from −34.0 °C (−29.2 °F) in January to 42.9 °C (109.2 °F) in August. [15]
| Climate data for Elista | |||||||||||||
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | October | But I | December | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 13,8 (56,8) | 17,6 (63,7) | 22,1 (71,8) | 32,1 (89,8) | 35,3 (95,5) | 39,4 (102,9) | 41,7 (107,1) | 42,9 (109,2) | 36,5 (97,7) | 29,0 (84,2) | 23,5 (74,3) | 18,1 (64,6) | 42,9 (109,2) |
| Average high °C (°F) | -2,9 (26,8) | -2,0 (28,4) | 4,7 (40,5) | 16,4 (61,5) | 23,6 (74,5) | 28,1 (82,6) | 30,9 (87,6) | 29,6 (85,3) | 23,5 (74,3) | 14,3 (57,7) | 6,3 (43,3) | 0,5 (32,9) | 14,4 (58,0) |
| Daily average °C (°F) | -6,1 (21,0) | -5,7 (21,7) | 0,4 (32,7) | 10,3 (50,5) | 17,1 (62,8) | 21,7 (71,1) | 24,5 (76,1) | 22,9 (73,2) | 17,0 (62,6) | 8,7 (47,7) | 2,9 (37,2) | −2,1 (28,2) | 9,3 (48,7) |
| Average low °C (°F) | -8,8 (16,2) | -8,4 (16,9) | -2,8 (27,0) | 5,1 (41,2) | 11,2 (52,2) | 15,7 (60,3) | 18,3 (64,9) | 16,7 (62,1) | 11,7 (53,1) | 4,6 (40,3) | 0,2 (32,4) | -4,4 (24,1) | 4,9 (40,9) |
| Record low °C (°F) | -34,0 (-29,2) | -32,0 (-25,6) | -27,2 (-17,0) | -11,2 (11,8) | -1,3 (29,7) | 3,3 (37,9) | 7,8 (46,0) | 4,6 (40,3) | −3,2 (26,2) | -14,7 (5,5) | -27,7 (-17,9) | -30,2 (-22,4) | -34,0 (-29,2) |
| Average precipitation, mm (inches) | 25 (1.0) | 18 (0,7) | 17 (0,7) | 22 (0,9) | 37 (1,5) | 50 (2,0) | 40 (1,6) | 31 (1,2) | 29 (1,1) | 23 (0,9) | 28 (1,1) | 29 (1,1) | 349 (13,8) |
| Average number of days with precipitation | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 62 |
| Average sunshine hours per month | 71 | 88 | 131 | 201 | 277 | 300 | 326 | 299 | 237 | 167 | 71 | 42 | 2210 |
| Source 1: World Meteorological Organization (UN) [14] Thermo Karelia.ru (extremes) [15] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: NOAA (Sun, 1961–1990) [13] | |||||||||||||
Where to go with a child in Elista
If you are going to spend your vacation in Elista, be sure to take your child with you. The city is amazingly beautiful and can offer young travelers a vibrant cultural and educational program.
Park "Friendship"
- Opening hours: from Wednesday to Sunday inclusive, from 10:00 to 20:00.
- Telephone.
- Website: https://www.druzhba08.ru
- Address: st. Lenin. Transport stop "Park Druzhba".
There is simply no better place in the city for family outdoor fun than this magnificent recreational facility. The park is well maintained and is a concentration of attractions. The Alley of Heroes memorial is located here, many sculptures have been installed, luxurious rotundas and fountains have been erected. Children will be able to frolic on the playgrounds, ride on a variety of attractions, and take a ride on a horse, pony or camel. A lot of bright impressions are guaranteed to all family members.
Theater for Young Spectators
- Opening hours: performances are given from Thursday to Sunday inclusive. The start time of performances should be confirmed by contact phone number.
- Ticket price: from 200 rub. up to 600 rub.
- Telephone.
- Address: st. Dzhangara, 11. Transport stop "Dzhangar".
The bright performances of the Youth Theater are very popular not only among young spectators, but also among their parents. Drama and puppet shows are successfully staged here, often attracting full houses. Director B. Mandzhiev and talented artists regularly delight Elista theatergoers with premieres based on current plays by classics and modern playwrights. The troupe actively tours the country and constantly participates in regional and all-Union festivals.
Seven Days Pagoda
This is one of the main buildings of Buddhist culture in the central square of the city. Small pools with fountains are attached to the pagoda on all sides, making it lighter and more harmonious. The roof consists of seven tiers, symbolizing the days of the week. After going through all these cycles, the believer reaches nirvana.
At the base of the building there is a two-meter gilded drum “kurde” with a thousand prayers. Kalmyks are sure that by rotating it they purify their soul. At night, the pagoda is illuminated with red LEDs, this is a fascinating sight that gives it a new meaning. This building, like all the above, is included in a standard sightseeing tour of the city.
Address: center of Lenin Square.
Stupa of Enlightenment
Architectural monument, repository of Buddhist relics of Elista. The 11-meter Stupa of Enlightenment with a golden top symbolizes victory over difficulties and obstacles. Inside the structure there is an altar and a prayer drum “kurde” with a thousand mantras.
This is not just a monument or memorial. For believers, the Stupa of Enlightenment is a place where you can come at any time, find peace and prosperity, as well as answers to prayers and speedy enlightenment.
The territory is surrounded by ropes with colorful flags and mantras so that the wind spirits carry prayer throughout the world. Near the Elista landmark there is a statue of the defender of Buddhist teachings.
Location: Ostap Bender Avenue (you can get there on your own by bus No. 7 from the center of the capital or by car, moving along Lenin in the direction of the 9th microdistrict).
Church-chapel of St. George the Victorious
The church was assembled and installed in 1998. The opening of the chapel took place on the day of the Chess Olympiad. The wooden church is made in a cross-domed style and was created thanks to donations from E. Baturina. It is a valuable gift for the Elistinians. The cube-shaped church can accommodate up to one hundred parishioners at a time.
Address: Ostap Bender Avenue, Chess City. To get to the church on your own, you need to take minibus No. 7 from the city center.
Kalmyks on the banks of the Volga
Kalmyk tribes appeared on the banks of the Volga and in the foothills of the Caucasus in the 16th century, pressed by the Russians, who at that time were seizing Siberia and fighting with the local khanates.
Arriving on the Volga, they founded their khanate, which was liquidated in 1771, which led to the tragic events known as the Torgut Escape. As a result, many thousands of people who did not want to surrender to imperial power died.
The Kalmyks, after consulting with Buddhist monks and astrologers, decided to migrate to the north of China, but Catherine II tried to prevent this by ordering not to let the nomads leave the empire. However, it was not possible to stop them, and an expedition was sent after them, which, however, was not crowned with success.
As a result, the population of the Volga steppes decreased noticeably, but it became more loyal, and this significantly simplified the further development of the lands, which would actively take place in the 19th century.
