Ulan-Ude is a city with a population of about 400,000. The city stands at the confluence of the Uda and Selenga rivers and is famous for the largest Lenin monument in the world. If you soon find yourself in this sunny city, be sure to visit several places.
1. Council Square is the central square where celebrations and other important events of the city take place. The famous monument to Lenin is located on the square, which has the shape of a head and weighs 42 tons. The monument is a favorite meeting place for many people.
2. Lenin Street, popularly called Arbat. On this street there are merchant houses and estates, which are architectural monuments with their own unique history.
3. Svyato-Odigitrievsky Cathedral. This is the very first stone building in the city, a magnificent example of Siberian Baroque architecture. The cathedral is located in the center of the city on the banks of the Uda.
4. Ethnographic Museum of the Peoples of Transbaikalia. One of the largest open-air museums in Russia. The museum consists of several complexes with over 10 thousand exhibits. In the museum you can get acquainted with the peculiarities of life and residence of the peoples of Transbaikalia in the 18-19th centuries Also on the territory of the museum there is a small zoo where animals can be hand-fed.
5. Ivolginsky Datsan. This largest Buddhist complex is located near the city in the village of Verkhnyaya Ivolga. Datsan is one of the centers of Buddhism in Russia, where you can visit one of the khural services that are held daily. Pilgrims from all over the world flock here. Here you can visit and see with your own eyes the body of the imperishable Khambo Lama Itigelov. Also on the territory of the datsan you can buy illuminated souvenirs and taste national cuisine.
6. Museum of the history of the city is located on st. Lenin in the house of the merchant I. F. Goldobin. The museum displays many exhibits from the history of the city. There is a room with samples of weapons, as well as an exposition dedicated to the history of Buddhism.
