Ulan-Ude

Ulan-Ude formerly known as Verkhneudinsk it is the capital of the Buryat Republic, Russia and is located approximately about 100 km south-east of Lake Baikal. It also sits at the foot of the Kharmar-Daban and Khrebet Ulan-Burgasy mountain ranges. Ulan-Ude was founded in 1666 by the Russian Cossacks and due to its location the city grew rapidly and became a large trade centre, which connected Russia with China and Mongolia.

OVERVIEW
Population - 0.37 million
Local time- GMT +8
Average daily temperature
January -24
July +18
Distance from
Moscow: 5648 km
Vladivostok: 3650 km
By train from Moscow: 84 hr
By air from Moscow: 5.5 hr

Ulan-Ude is the capital of the Buryat Republic of the Russian Federation. It is situated at the junction of the Selenga and the Uda Rivers, on a crossroad of trading routes leading from China and Mongolia to Russia and Europe. The settlement of Nizhnyudinsk (former name of Ulan-Ude) was founded in 1666 as a winter outpost of the Russian Cossacks. Buryatia is a unique land with its wild and virgin nature, end–less steppes, alpine meadows and taiga, Buddhist temples, nomad's tents and shamans. The region provides great possibilities for ecotourism:
Horseback riding, hiking, trekking, boating and fishing.

HIGHLIGHTS & SIGHTSEEING
Historical and Architectural
The Ivolginsky Datsan (Buddhist Monastery), built in 1945, is the main active Buddhist religion centre in Russia. The Tibet Buddhism, Lamaism, represents Buddhism in Russia. Nowadays the Ivolginsky Datsan is the residence of the leader of all Russian Lamas. During the tour of the Ivolginsky Datsan you'll witness and take part in services of the temple and visit the sanctuary "Obo" at the top of a mountain. 

Culture
The History Museum of Buryatia established in 1923 exhibits unique samples of cultural heritage of the Buryat region. At the Fine Arts Museum you'll get a chance to see the Buryats' art painting, the traditional Buryat art such as Buddhist tancas and crafts made of wood, animal skins, horsehair, bone and silver cut. The rich theoretical and practical heritage of Tibetan medicine is being mastered by the new generation of the Tibetan Medicine Center. Those who are interested in the Tibetan Medicine and Philosophy will enjoy the rich collection of manuscripts and ancient Tibetan books during the tour to the Centre.

Ethnography and Crafts
Visit to the Russian Old Believers village might be a remarkable event for you to discover life anew, to receive warm welcome, to appreciate the folk show and to taste dishes in preserved traditional style of the Russian homemade cuisine. At the Ethnographic Open-Air museum «The 18th century Buryat village» you will learn the way of living of the local Buryat population and Russian settlers. This visit gives you a chance to discover the history of the inhabi–tants of this land, Evenks and light Buryat felt yurts, the outposts of taiga hunters and fishermen.

Nature
Tourist centrE "Enkhaluk" centrE is located 170 km from the capital of Burytia, Ulan-Ude, on the Baikal shore in the settlement of Novy Enkhaluk.