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Ulan-Ude Travel Guide

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City Introduction

Ulan-Ude is the capital of the Republic of Buryatia, which is part of Russia’s Eastern Siberia and the Baikal region. With about 400,000 inhabitants, the city is one of the largest in Russia’s Far East, and it is an important station and hub on the Trans-Siberian Railway. This is where the railway divides towards resp. Vladivostok and Mongolia.

Over time, Ulan-Ude has had several names. It was founded as a fort in 1668 with the name Udinskoye, which from around 1735 was simply called Udinsk. In 1783 it was renamed Verkhneudinsk, and in 1934 the name was changed to the present, meaning Red Uda as a reflection of the ideology of the Soviet Union.

There are several things to see on a visit to Ulan-Ude. The Square of the Soviets is the modern center of the city, with Lenin’s head as the center around large public buildings. The old center with cozy streets, churches and several exciting museums is located south of the central square.

The surrounding area of ​​Ulan-Ude also has a lot to offer. The enchanting Lake Baikal lies to the west and north, and a visit to it is unforgettable. You can also go to both Russia’s Buddhist center and to Christian communities of old believers. Finally, you should also visit the interesting open-air museum, which depicts life in the Baikal region through many years.

Top Attractions

  • Svyato-Odigitriyevskiy Cathedral/Свято-Одигитриевский собор: In the year 1700, a wooden chapel was built on this site, which was the center of Ulan-Ude at the time. In 1741, construction began on the present cathedral, which was the city’s first stone building. It was completed in the 1780s in beautiful Siberian Baroque architecture. Like many other places in Russia, the lower winter church was opened first, and later the upper summer church was added. In 1929, the church’s icons were destroyed during the Soviet Union, and a warehouse was set up in the building. A few years later, an anti-religious museum opened in the church, which was handed back to the church in 1999.
  • Square of the Soviets/Площадь Советов: The Square of the Soviets is the central square in Ulan-Ude, and it has had several different names over time. Previously, it was known as Nagornaya Ploshad/Нагорная площадь, and in the early 20th century, plans were made for the construction of a large cathedral. Space was set aside for the church, which, however, was not built. The years passed, and in 1927 the Soviet Union decided to build the Supreme Soviet Government Building on the square, and upon its completion in 1931, the square was renamed to its current name. In the square you can see the world’s largest statue of Lenin’s head, and there are a number of important buildings such as the city hall and Buryatia’s government building around the square.
  • Lenin Monument/Памятник Владимиру Ильичу Ленину: There are Lenin monuments in many places in Russia, and this is also true in Ulan-Ude, where you can see the world’s largest sculpture of the head of state Lenin’s head. The sculpture was produced in 1970, which was the 100th anniversary of Lenin’s birth. The dimensions are a height of 7.7 meters/25 feet and a width of 4.5 meters/15 feet with a weight of 42 tons/92,000 lb plus the foundation. The head was produced in two halves, which came to Ulan-Ude by train and put together. The monument was unveiled in 1971.
  • The Buryat State Opera and Ballet/Бурятский государственный академический театр оперы и балета: The Ulan-Ude Opera House is one of the famous buildings of the city and the Republic of Buryatia. In 1936, a large cultural complex was designed with a theater, library, concert hall, etc., but it was not realized, and World War II delayed construction. The plan was changed to an opera house, and it was built in 1945-1951. The building impresses with its beautifully decorated auditorium, where you can enjoy a wide repertoire of performances.

Other Attractions

  • Ulan-Ude City History Museum/Музей истории города Улан-Удэ: The Ulan-Ude City History Museum is a great place to get good information about the city’s history, and the museum is housed in an interesting building, namely Ivan Goldobin’s old town house in tree. Goldobin was a merchant from Irkutsk, and he bought the place in 1879. He built various things on the site, and one of the later visitors was the later Tsar Nicholas II, who was here in 1891. The city museum was established in 1999, and depicts Verkhneudinsk’s and Ulan-Ude’s history.
  • Buryatia Historical Museum/Музей истории Бурятии: This museum was founded in the years after the Russian Revolution as a museum of the Baikal region, and after a few years it was transformed into a kind of national museum of Buryatia, located east and south of Lake Baikal. At the museum you can see archeological and ethnographic collections, and you can also become wiser in the field of history and culture through photographs, religious art, paintings and much more.
  • Sampilov Museum of Art/Художественный музей имени Ц. С. Сампилова: In 1940, a large exhibition of Buryat art was held in the capital Moscow, and it was such a great success that an art museum was established in Ulan-Ude. It opened in 1946 and quickly began to build an exciting collection that today consists of Buryat art, other Russian art, silverware and other things. You can see both permanent exhibitions and themed exhibitions at the museum.
  • The Supreme Soviet/Дом Советов: The Supreme Soviet was built as a council building after an architectural competition in 1927. The style of the project chosen was late constructivism not previously built in Buryatia. The now former Supreme Soviet has since its completion in 1931 been expanded on several occasions, and today the building is connected to the city hall on the entire east side of the Square of the Soviets.
  • People’s Khural of the Republic of Buryatia/Народный Хурал Республики Бурятия: The People’s Khural in Ulan-Ude is the parliament of the Republic of Buryatia. Buryatia is part of the Russian Federation and the current khural was established in 1994. The parliament building is one of the major institutional buildings on the Square of the Soviets.
  • The Music Fountain/Музыкальный фонтан: The Music Fountain is a beautiful fountain you can see in the square in front of the Ulan-Ude Opera and Ballet Theater. The fountain was inaugurated in 2011 and has since become a popular place for locals and tourists who can enjoy the water jets’ dance to classical music.
  • Ulan-Ude Railway Station/железнодорожная станция Улан-Удэ: Around 1900, Verkhneudinsk was a small town whose inhabitants were primarily farmers. That began to change when the Trans-Siberian Railway arrived in the city in 1899. In 1935, the city changed its name to Ulan-Ude, and in 1938 a modern railway station was built. Today, Ulan-Ude is an important hub on the East Siberian railways; here you can take the train east towards Vladivostok and south to Ulan Bator and Beijing.
  • Gostinye Ryady/Гостиные ряды: This building was built as a trading house and was the center of city life for many years. The first trading house was made of wood and was built here on Verkhneudinsk’s central square in 1791, and from 1804 the current stone building was erected. The construction continued in stages until 1868 with a total space for 118 small shops. In and around the house there was trade and shops, and twice a year there were major market days, which were the largest in Russia east of Baikal. The trading house was never completed, as the wing to the north was not realized. The Tsentralniy/Центральный department store is located here today.
  • The Monument to the Fallen Fighters of Communism/Памятник павшим борцам за коммунизм: In the years 1926-1928, this monument was erected in honor of the fallen during the revolutionary struggles. The event took place in the square Nagornaya Ploshad/Нагорная площадь, today called Square of the Soviets/Площадь Советов. In 1970, the monument was moved to its current location in front of the Tsentralniy/Центральный department store.
  • Holy Trinity Church/Троицкий храм: This is one of Ulan-Ude’s beautiful ancient churches. It was built 1798-1809 and expanded with a new chapel in the mid-19th century. The church was closed in 1940 and used for other purposes under Soviet rule. The cemetery was closed in 1949 and converted into a city park. The building was given back to the Russian Orthodox Church in 1988, and three years later it was reconsecrated. The architectural style of the church is Siberian late Baroque with elements of classicism.
  • Tsar Gate Triumphal Arch/Триумфальная арка Царские ворота: In June 1891, the next Tsar Nicholas II visited the city of Verkhneudinsk, now called Ulan-Ude. On that occasion, a triumphal arch was erected, which stood until 1936, when it was demolished under the Soviet Union. In 2006, the arch was rebuilt as a slightly larger copy than the original, and it tells of Nicholas’ visit to Verkhneudinsk.

Day Trips

  • Ethnographic Museum of the People of the Transbaikalia/Этнографический музей народов Забайкалья: This is one of Russia’s largest open-air museums with many houses and other buildings from the Baikal region. You can see several beautiful constructions such as many wooden houses and St Nicholas Church / Никольская церковь from the town of Nikolsk, which was used by old believers in the early 1900s. The Buryat complex with a ger and a temple is also very interesting, and in addition to buildings there are countless cultural-historical objects and depictions of daily life.
  • Tarbagatay/Тарбагатай: Old believers are denominations that broke with the Russian Orthodox Church in the 17th century and later moved to remote areas of Russia. In the Republic of Buryatia there are many old believers, so the area around Ulan-Ude is a good place to get acquainted with the Christian community. It is possible in several places such as in the village of Tarbagatay south of Ulan-Ude.
  • Ivolginsky Datsan/Иволгинский Дацан: Ivolginsky Datsan is one of Russia’s most important Buddhist centers and a popular excursion destination from Ulan-Ude. Datsan is a word for Buddhist monastic center in the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, and they are found in Siberia, Mongolia and Tibet. The place opened in 1945 and the beautiful temple was built in traditional style. On site you can see many beautiful buildings and get an insight into the history and daily life of the monastic center and the Buddhist university, which was opened in 1991. Valuable treasures such as ancient Buryat art and manuscripts are also kept here.
  • Lake Baikal/Озеро Байкал: Lake Baikal is one of the most famous and magnificent places in the colossal lands of Russia. The lake holds about 20% of the world’s fresh water, and it is up to 1,637 meters/5,370 feet deep. There are several interesting excursion destinations from Ulan-Ude to Lake Baikal. If you drive to the lake to the north, you first arrive at the town of Gremyachinsk/Гремячинск and then to Turka/Турка with the Turtle Rocks/Камень Черепаха, if you continue along the coast. Then comes the spa town of Goryachynsk/Горячинск, where there is a fine sandy beach and views of the lake. You can also drive west, where the first city is Babushkin / Бабушкин, which can also be reached by train from Ulan-Ude.

Shopping

  • Capital Mall, Pros. Avtomobilistov 4a-1/просп. Автомобилистов 4а-1
  • Galaxy, ul. Baltakhinova 15/ул. Балтахинова 15
  • People’s Park, ul. Zherdeva 104B/ул. Жердева 104Б, peoplespark.ru
  • Shopping streets: ul. Lenina/ул. Ленина, ul. Kirova/ул. Кирова
  • Market: Tsentralnyy Rynok/Центральный рынок, ul. Baltakhinova 9/ул. Балтахинова 9

With Kids

  • Natural History: Muzej Prirody Buryatii/Музей природы Бурятии, ul. Kujbysheva 29/ул. Куйбышева 29, muzeyrb.ru
  • Music Fountain: Muzikalnyy Fontan/Музыкальный фонтан, ul. Erbanova 7/ул. Ербанова 7
  • Open Air Museum: Etnografityesky Muzej Narodov Zabaikalya/Этнографический музей народов Забайкалья, ul. Verkhnjaja Berezovka 176/ул. пос Верхняя Березовка 176, нашэтномузей.рф

Practical Links

City History

Geolocation

In short

Overview of Ulan-Ude

Ulan-Ude is the capital of the Republic of Buryatia, which is part of Russia’s Eastern Siberia and the Baikal region. With about 400,000 inhabitants, the city is one of the largest in Russia’s Far East, and it is an important station and hub on the Trans-Siberian Railway. This is where the railway divides towards resp. Vladivostok and Mongolia.

Over time, Ulan-Ude has had several names. It was founded as a fort in 1668 with the name Udinskoye, which from around 1735 was simply called Udinsk. In 1783 it was renamed Verkhneudinsk, and in 1934 the name was changed to the present, meaning Red Uda as a reflection of the ideology of the Soviet Union.

There are several things to see on a visit to Ulan-Ude. The Square of the Soviets is the modern center of the city, with Lenin’s head as the center around large public buildings. The old center with cozy streets, churches and several exciting museums is located south of the central square.

The surrounding area of ​​Ulan-Ude also has a lot to offer. The enchanting Lake Baikal lies to the west and north, and a visit to it is unforgettable. You can also go to both Russia’s Buddhist center and to Christian communities of old believers. Finally, you should also visit the interesting open-air museum, which depicts life in the Baikal region through many years.

About the upcoming Ulan-Ude travel guide

  • Contents: Tours in the city + tours in the surrounding area
  • Published: Released soon
  • Author: Stig Albeck
  • Publisher: Vamados.com
  • Language: English

About the travel guide

The Ulan-Ude travel guide gives you an overview of the sights and activities of the Russian city. Read about top sights and other sights, and get a tour guide with tour suggestions and detailed descriptions of all the city’s most important churches, monuments, mansions, museums, etc.

Ulan-Ude is waiting for you, and at vamados.com you can also find cheap flights and great deals on hotels for your trip. You just select your travel dates and then you get flight and accommodation suggestions in and around the city.

Read more about Ulan-Ude and Russia

Buy the travel guide

Click the “Add to Cart” button to purchase the travel guide. After that you will come to the payment, where you enter the purchase and payment information. Upon payment of the travel guide, you will immediately receive a receipt with a link to download your purchase. You can download the travel guide immediately or use the download link in the email later.

Use the travel guide

When you buy the travel guide to Ulan-Ude you get the book online so you can have it on your phone, tablet or computer – and of course you can choose to print it. Use the maps and tour suggestions and you will have a good and content-rich journey.

Buddhism • Siberian Baroque • Buryatia • Lenin’s Head

Overview of Ulan-Ude

Ulan-Ude is the capital of the Republic of Buryatia, which is part of Russia’s Eastern Siberia and the Baikal region. With about 400,000 inhabitants, the city is one of the largest in Russia’s Far East, and it is an important station and hub on the Trans-Siberian Railway. This is where the railway divides towards resp. Vladivostok and Mongolia.

Over time, Ulan-Ude has had several names. It was founded as a fort in 1668 with the name Udinskoye, which from around 1735 was simply called Udinsk. In 1783 it was renamed Verkhneudinsk, and in 1934 the name was changed to the present, meaning Red Uda as a reflection of the ideology of the Soviet Union.

There are several things to see on a visit to Ulan-Ude. The Square of the Soviets is the modern center of the city, with Lenin’s head as the center around large public buildings. The old center with cozy streets, churches and several exciting museums is located south of the central square.

The surrounding area of ​​Ulan-Ude also has a lot to offer. The enchanting Lake Baikal lies to the west and north, and a visit to it is unforgettable. You can also go to both Russia’s Buddhist center and to Christian communities of old believers. Finally, you should also visit the interesting open-air museum, which depicts life in the Baikal region through many years.

About the upcoming Ulan-Ude travel guide

  • Contents: Tours in the city + tours in the surrounding area
  • Published: Released soon
  • Author: Stig Albeck
  • Publisher: Vamados.com
  • Language: English

About the travel guide

The Ulan-Ude travel guide gives you an overview of the sights and activities of the Russian city. Read about top sights and other sights, and get a tour guide with tour suggestions and detailed descriptions of all the city’s most important churches, monuments, mansions, museums, etc.

Ulan-Ude is waiting for you, and at vamados.com you can also find cheap flights and great deals on hotels for your trip. You just select your travel dates and then you get flight and accommodation suggestions in and around the city.

Read more about Ulan-Ude and Russia

Buy the travel guide

Click the “Add to Cart” button to purchase the travel guide. After that you will come to the payment, where you enter the purchase and payment information. Upon payment of the travel guide, you will immediately receive a receipt with a link to download your purchase. You can download the travel guide immediately or use the download link in the email later.

Use the travel guide

When you buy the travel guide to Ulan-Ude you get the book online so you can have it on your phone, tablet or computer – and of course you can choose to print it. Use the maps and tour suggestions and you will have a good and content-rich journey.

Other Attractions

  • Ulan-Ude City History Museum/Музей истории города Улан-Удэ: The Ulan-Ude City History Museum is a great place to get good information about the city’s history, and the museum is housed in an interesting building, namely Ivan Goldobin’s old town house in tree. Goldobin was a merchant from Irkutsk, and he bought the place in 1879. He built various things on the site, and one of the later visitors was the later Tsar Nicholas II, who was here in 1891. The city museum was established in 1999, and depicts Verkhneudinsk’s and Ulan-Ude’s history.
  • Buryatia Historical Museum/Музей истории Бурятии: This museum was founded in the years after the Russian Revolution as a museum of the Baikal region, and after a few years it was transformed into a kind of national museum of Buryatia, located east and south of Lake Baikal. At the museum you can see archeological and ethnographic collections, and you can also become wiser in the field of history and culture through photographs, religious art, paintings and much more.
  • Sampilov Museum of Art/Художественный музей имени Ц. С. Сампилова: In 1940, a large exhibition of Buryat art was held in the capital Moscow, and it was such a great success that an art museum was established in Ulan-Ude. It opened in 1946 and quickly began to build an exciting collection that today consists of Buryat art, other Russian art, silverware and other things. You can see both permanent exhibitions and themed exhibitions at the museum.
  • The Supreme Soviet/Дом Советов: The Supreme Soviet was built as a council building after an architectural competition in 1927. The style of the project chosen was late constructivism not previously built in Buryatia. The now former Supreme Soviet has since its completion in 1931 been expanded on several occasions, and today the building is connected to the city hall on the entire east side of the Square of the Soviets.
  • People’s Khural of the Republic of Buryatia/Народный Хурал Республики Бурятия: The People’s Khural in Ulan-Ude is the parliament of the Republic of Buryatia. Buryatia is part of the Russian Federation and the current khural was established in 1994. The parliament building is one of the major institutional buildings on the Square of the Soviets.
  • The Music Fountain/Музыкальный фонтан: The Music Fountain is a beautiful fountain you can see in the square in front of the Ulan-Ude Opera and Ballet Theater. The fountain was inaugurated in 2011 and has since become a popular place for locals and tourists who can enjoy the water jets’ dance to classical music.
  • Ulan-Ude Railway Station/железнодорожная станция Улан-Удэ: Around 1900, Verkhneudinsk was a small town whose inhabitants were primarily farmers. That began to change when the Trans-Siberian Railway arrived in the city in 1899. In 1935, the city changed its name to Ulan-Ude, and in 1938 a modern railway station was built. Today, Ulan-Ude is an important hub on the East Siberian railways; here you can take the train east towards Vladivostok and south to Ulan Bator and Beijing.
  • Gostinye Ryady/Гостиные ряды: This building was built as a trading house and was the center of city life for many years. The first trading house was made of wood and was built here on Verkhneudinsk’s central square in 1791, and from 1804 the current stone building was erected. The construction continued in stages until 1868 with a total space for 118 small shops. In and around the house there was trade and shops, and twice a year there were major market days, which were the largest in Russia east of Baikal. The trading house was never completed, as the wing to the north was not realized. The Tsentralniy/Центральный department store is located here today.
  • The Monument to the Fallen Fighters of Communism/Памятник павшим борцам за коммунизм: In the years 1926-1928, this monument was erected in honor of the fallen during the revolutionary struggles. The event took place in the square Nagornaya Ploshad/Нагорная площадь, today called Square of the Soviets/Площадь Советов. In 1970, the monument was moved to its current location in front of the Tsentralniy/Центральный department store.
  • Holy Trinity Church/Троицкий храм: This is one of Ulan-Ude’s beautiful ancient churches. It was built 1798-1809 and expanded with a new chapel in the mid-19th century. The church was closed in 1940 and used for other purposes under Soviet rule. The cemetery was closed in 1949 and converted into a city park. The building was given back to the Russian Orthodox Church in 1988, and three years later it was reconsecrated. The architectural style of the church is Siberian late Baroque with elements of classicism.
  • Tsar Gate Triumphal Arch/Триумфальная арка Царские ворота: In June 1891, the next Tsar Nicholas II visited the city of Verkhneudinsk, now called Ulan-Ude. On that occasion, a triumphal arch was erected, which stood until 1936, when it was demolished under the Soviet Union. In 2006, the arch was rebuilt as a slightly larger copy than the original, and it tells of Nicholas’ visit to Verkhneudinsk.

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