Ulan-Ude, the third largest city in Eastern Siberia, was founded in 1666 as a Cossack winter hut. 20 years later, the royal ambassador left his retinue here and gave the village a name - Verkhneudinsk. The name Ulan-Ude, translated from Buryat as “red river,” was assigned to the city only in 1934.
In the 19th century, Ulan-Ude, close to China and Mongolia, became a major trading city, and it remained so in the 21st century.
The capital of Buryatia is the center of Russian Buddhism. Followers of Siddhartha Gautama peacefully coexist with Christians: there are equal numbers of datsans and Orthodox churches in the city.
Historical monuments of the 17th-19th centuries have been preserved in Ulan-Ude. And at the end of the 20th century, a tradition appeared in the city: every year a new attraction opens here.
From Ulan-Ude it is worth traveling through the amazingly beautiful surroundings - we have highlighted the most interesting places in Buryatia in this guide.
For ease of route planning, we have marked all the mentioned attractions on the city map:
Parks, streets and monuments
Arbat
Address: st. Lenina, 24
The only pedestrian street in the city was created by analogy with Moscow's Arbat. On the central street of Ulan-Ude there are sights from different times:
- Odigitrievsky Cathedral of 1741 - the first stone building of the city;
- Gostiny Dvor 1791;
- wooden arch 1891;
- cinema "Erdem" 1909;
- regional library 1925;
- Opera and Ballet Theater 1952;
- puppet theater "Ulger" 1967;
- merchant houses and shops of the 19th century.
The city's Arbat is paved, there is a fountain, and souvenir shops are open.
Theater Square and musical fountain
Address: st. Lenina, 51
The musical fountain is located next to the Opera and Ballet Theater. The building was opened in 2011, the area was equipped with a recreation area and a summer stage. Water jets “dance” to Buryat folk melodies and classical symphonies. In the evening, the musical accompaniment is complemented by color.
Victory Memorial Park
Address: st. Baltakhinova, 17
The park is dedicated to the city residents who died in the Great Patriotic War. In the center of the square there is a T-34 tank on a pedestal. Nearby are bronze portraits of Heroes of the Soviet Union.
The park has a small fountain, benches, and free Wi-Fi.
Triumphal Arch "Royal Gate"
Address: st. Lenin
The first “Royal Gate” was erected in honor of the arrival of Tsarevich Nikolai Alexandrovich in the city in 1891. The arch stood until 1917 and was destroyed by revolutionaries.
An exact copy of the decoration was built in 2006.
Monument to the Verkhneudinsk merchant
Address: st. Lenin
In 2012, a competition was held for the best project: the winner, Yuri Erdyneev, became the author of the monument.
It is believed that the object has no real prototype, but a merchant with the name engraved on the monument actually lived in Verkhneudinsk. Local residents say that the stone Evsey Lukich brings financial success.
Sculpture “The Rod of the God of Trade Mercury and the Cornucopia”
Address: st. Lenin
Back in 1790, Catherine II approved the city’s coat of arms: the rod of Mercury and the cornucopia, symbolizing prosperity. The sculpture dedicated to the coat of arms was built in 2004.
On the bronze horn there is a ball where tourists throw coins to return to Ulan-Ude. There is a fountain next to the composition and benches for relaxation.
Monument “Mother Buryatia”
Address: Selenginsky Bridge
The entirely bronze statue, created in 2002, can be seen from anywhere in the city. The height of the sculpture is 16 meters, the length of the outstretched arms is 6.
At the Selenginsky Bridge, before entering the city, the monument was erected only in 2008, by analogy with the location of the American Statue of Liberty. The sculpture symbolizes a Buryat woman.
Churches, cathedrals and temples
Datsan Rinpoche Bagsha
Address: st. Streletskaya, 1 Phone: Website: https://yelo-rinpoche.ru/ Opening hours: 09.00-16.00 Mon-Sun Cost: free
Datsan opened in 2004 on the highest point of the city. The largest Buddhist bell in the country is installed on the territory of the temple; in the building itself there is a 6-meter statue of Buddha made of bronze. 8 stupas next to the datsan are a symbol of the wisdom of Siddhartha Gautama.
The park area of the temple is equipped with 12 gazebos made in the shape of animals of the eastern calendar. On the one kilometer long road of life there is a park of stones, the path is decorated with stands with excerpts from sacred texts.
The datsan houses a rosary weighing 350 kg, donated to the temple by the Japanese monk Hayashi Hiroshi.
Holy Hodegetrievsky Cathedral
Address: st. Lenina, 2 Phone: Website: https://uud.cerkov.ru/ Opening hours: 07.00-20.00 Mon-Sun Cost: free
The Orthodox church, built in 1785, is designed in the Siberian Baroque style. The cathedral was built in a zone of high seismic activity - the building was gradually destroyed by earthquakes. In 1929, the church decoration was finally destroyed by the Bolsheviks, and the temple was closed.
The restored cathedral reopened in 2001. A 100-pound bell was installed here, and the icons were painted anew by Buryat masters.
In 1996, the Ural icon of the Smolensk Mother of God Hodegetria was given to the temple; in 1999, the image streamed myrrh for 12 days.
Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker
Address: st. Revolution of 1905, 56a Phone: Website: https://www.uud-eparh.ru/index.php/2010-10-29-02-43-41/2010-10-29-02-49-10/2012 -08-27-02-20-04/92-2010-01-04-09-38-33 Opening hours: 07.30-19.00 Mon-Sun Cost: free
The wooden building next to the railway station was rebuilt at the beginning of the 20th century; in the 1930s, the temple was converted into a waiting room.
The new church was erected in 2005, the construction style is traditional: golden domes, white stone walls. The outside of the temple is decorated with icons.
Church of the Ascension of the Lord
Address: st. Proizvodstvennaya, 6 Telephone: Opening hours: 07.00-19.00 Mon-Sun Cost: free
The two-story wooden church was opened in the 18th century. At the beginning of the 20th century, the temple, which had become dilapidated, was repaired, but the entire building could not be saved - the second floor had to be demolished.
In 1929 the temple was closed and returned to believers after the Great Patriotic War, at which time a new iconostasis was created. During the Soviet era, the church was the only one operating in Buryatia. In the 1980s, the building was renovated, icon cases, a five-meter iconostasis, and candlesticks were made.
Entertainment
Tourist complex "Steppe Nomad"
Address: st. Babushkina, 164 Phone: Website: https://etnoatsagat.ru/ Opening hours: 09.00-18.00 Mon-Sun Cost: from 500 rubles
The complex is located near the sacred Mount Tamkhita in the Atsagat Valley. The doctors of the local datsan treated the royal persons. People from all over the world came to Lamas Choinzon Iroltuev and Agvan Dorzhiev in the 19th century for healing.
“Steppe Nomad” introduces tourists to the Buryat culture and traditions of the people. Complex services:
- culinary master classes on preparing national dishes;
- walking and horseback excursions;
- accommodation in a real yurt;
- archery training;
- participation in national games;
- the ability to care for camels and horses;
- master class on Buryat dances.
A stream flows through the complex, there is a vegetable garden, and there is a sauna and bathhouse.
Athletic facilities
There are several places in the city for sports activities and maintaining physical health:
- Stadium. At the beginning of Kirov Street there is a sports facility for 10,000 people. Sports competitions, concerts, and social events are held here.
- Physical education and sports sports complex 32,000 sq. m. Address: Ryleeva street, building 2. Accommodates:
- pool;
- Sport halls;
- premises for coaches and referees;
- sauna and hammam;
- phyto-barrel for restoring health;
- solarium to strengthen the immune system;
- massage chair for relaxation and recovery after injuries.
- Sports and tourist center. Coast of the Barguzin Bay of Baikal. Comfortable rooms, large terraces, capacity of 65,000 people. Swimming pool, sauna and massage rooms.
The Directorate of Sports Facilities is responsible for the condition of the city's sports infrastructure. It is financed by the government of the republic.
Attractions in the surrounding area
Lake Baikal
GPS coordinates: 53.5149078, 108.1054688
Ulan-Ude is located near the eastern coast of the lake: here Baikal is shallower than on other sides. In summer, the weather in the area is sunny, there are sandy beaches on the shore, recreation centers and hotels operate.
The road from Posolsky Sor to Chivyrkuisky Bay is considered one of the best for relaxing on Lake Baikal and exploring the sights.
You can read more about Baikal in these articles:
- Which Baikal resort to choose for a holiday with children?
- What attractions are there around Baikal and on Olkhon Island
- How and when to travel wild
Ivolginsky datsan “Khambyn Sume”
Address: s. Verkhnyaya Ivolga, st. Dorozhnaya Phone: Website: https://sangharussia.ru/ Opening hours: 09.00-18.00 Mon-Fri, Sat-Sun - days off Cost: free How to get there: route No. 108 from the stop. Verkhnyaya Berezovka in Ulan-Ude
The first service in the largest datsan of Buryatia was held in 1945, by 1972 the main Cathedral Church was completely rebuilt. On the territory of “Khambyn Sume” there are:
- library;
- Buddhist University;
- souvenir rows;
- museum;
- sacred stupas;
- Green Tara is a stone that fulfills good wishes.
The main shrine of the datsan is the burial place of Dasha-Dorzho Itigelov, who predicted the onset of atheism and revolution.
In 1927, the head of Russian Buddhism fell into nirvana, but bequeathed to dig up his body after 70 years. The elder’s wish was fulfilled; decades later Itigelov retained the signs of a living person: no decay, a whole nose and eyeballs, movable joints, warm skin. No explanation has been found for the miracle; scientists put forward only hypotheses.
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State of the city's infrastructure
The city's transport system includes the country's largest airport, Baikal. Charter flights have been organized to Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia. There are routes to almost all major cities of Russia.
Due to the increase in the number of cars, roads, junctions and parking lots are being built. Cars occupy courtyards and roadsides. New buildings are trying to take this problem into account, but not effectively enough.
