This eastern Russian city near Lake Baikal is home to Russia's largest Buddhist community, with multiple temples and a 7.7-meter-tall Lenin head statue.
Ulan-Ude, the capital of Russia's Buryatia region, sits 100 kilometers from Lake Baikal along the Trans-Siberian Railway. A 7.7-meter bronze Lenin head dominates Soviet Square, while Buddhist prayer wheels spin at the Ivolginsky Datsan temple complex. Local restaurants prepare traditional Buryat dumplings called buuza, and both golden-domed Orthodox churches and colorful Buddhist temples dot the city's skyline.
Getting to Ulan-Ude
Take the Trans-Siberian Railway to reach Ulan-Ude, located 5,640 kilometers east of Moscow. From Baikal International Airport, you can fly to Moscow, Novosibirsk, Vladivostok, Seoul, Beijing, and Ulaanbaatar. Within the city, travel by 4 tram lines, 46 bus routes, or marshrutkas (shared taxis).
Climate and Best Time to Visit
Winter temperatures drop to -23°C from November through March, while July sees average highs of 20°C. Plan your visit between May and September for mild weather. If you come in winter, pack thermal layers and a heavy coat - temperatures can fall well below freezing.
Buddhist Culture and Temples
Visit the Ivolginsky Datsan, 23 kilometers from downtown, to explore six temples, a Buddhist university, and a library of ancient texts. The monastery preserves the body of Dashi-Dorzho Itigilov, a Buddhist leader who died in 1927. His body remains in an unchanged state. From the hilltop Rinpoche Bagsha temple, look out over the city while learning about Buddhist meditation and practices.
Central City Landmarks
The bronze Lenin head in Soviet Square weighs 42 tons and rises 7.7 meters high. Walk along the pedestrian section of Lenina Street to see restored 19th-century buildings housing cafes and shops. The 1741 Odigitrievsky Cathedral displays Siberian baroque architecture with detailed stone carvings and multiple domed towers.
Museums and Cultural Sites
Walk through 37 hectares of historical buildings at the Ethnographic Museum of the People of Transbaikalia. See 17th-century Cossack houses, traditional wooden yurts, and over 11,000 artifacts from different time periods. The museum opens Wednesday through Sunday, with its small zoo section open all week.
Local Food
Try buuza (steamed meat dumplings) at restaurants near Lenin Street. Traditional Buryat cuisine includes sharbin (fried meat pastries), bukhlyor (clear meat broth), and shuleen (noodle soup). Many families still prepare these dishes using traditional recipes passed through generations.
