Ulan Ude

Ulan Ude (Russian: Ула́н-Удэ́ oo-LAHN oo-DEH) is the capital of Buryatia, known during Soviet times as the Buryat Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic.

Ulan Ude, originally called Udinskoye, is in an area of Russia called Buryatia, named after the nomadic Buryat Mongols that first settled in the area. In the 1650s, as a result of a split in the Russian Orthodox Church, a group of people called the "Old Believers" were forced to flee their homes and escape to Siberia in order to freely practice their religion. The settlement was officially founded in 1666 by Russian Cossacks as a fortress. Due to its location on trade routes between Russia, China and Mongolia, it developed into a prosperous trading town. It grew further when it became a hub for the Trans Siberian Railway in 1900 and the locomotive manufacturing industry dominated the economy. Ulan Ude means "Red Ude" in the local Buryat language. The city was closed to foreigners before 1991.

Buryat Mongols make up over 20% of the population of Ulan Ude, and the Mongolian cultural influence on the city is very noticeable. However, much of the original Buryat culture and religious buildings were destroyed by the Soviets in the 1930s. Shamanism, Buddhism, and Orthodox Christianity are all commonly practiced in Ulan Ude. There are approximately 400,000 inhabitants.

The city is situated at the intersection of the Uda and the Selenga rivers and is between the Khamar-Daban and Ulan-Burgasy mountain ranges. The city is south of Lake Baikal, along the Uda River. Lake Baikal tourism is very important to the economy of Ulan Ude and the city is tourist-friendly.

In summer it may be very hot, and in winter it may be freezing. The months of January to March are the coldest, with the average night temperature reaching as low as -27°C in January (though temperatures well below -50°C have been recorded!). April and May are also cold, but usually it is above freezing. June to August are the most pleasant months with lots of sunshine and temperatures rising to the low 20s. September and October are bracing months, but not yet very cold. November and December again see a return to freezing temperatures of around -10°C to -20°C. Also, the whole of Buryatia, and Ulan-Ude in particular, is considered to be the place where there are the most sunny days during the year, compared to other places in the area.

Humidity is low, so the extreme temperatures don't feel as extreme as they would in humid areas.

• The World's Largest Lenin Head is in Ploshchad Sovietov, the main city square. The head is 7.7m tall and weighs 42 tons. It was unveiled in 1970 in honor of Lenin's 100th birthday and to remind the local population who was in charge. It is now a common meeting place.
• The merchant's mansions, richly decorated with wood and stone carvings. Historical relics of the town's prosperity as a trading center. The mansions are located along the banks of the Uda River.
• Lenina Street, also called Arbat street. Part of the street is pedestrian-only. It is the main place for meeting, walking, shopping for locals and a good place for people-watching.
• Gostiniye Ryady, the former shopping arcade.
• Revolution Square was the location of bazaars during historical times. There is a victory arch with a two-headed Russian eagle.
• Embankment of Selenga (at Pioner mall, close to main bus station). A good place for people-watching.

The World's Largest Lenin Head is in Ploshchad Sovietov, the main city square. The head is 7.7m tall and weighs 42 tons. It was unveiled in 1970 in honor of Lenin's 100th birthday and to remind the local population who was in charge. It is now a common meeting place.

The merchant's mansions, richly decorated with wood and stone carvings. Historical relics of the town's prosperity as a trading center. The mansions are located along the banks of the Uda River.

Lenina Street, also called Arbat street. Part of the street is pedestrian-only. It is the main place for meeting, walking, shopping for locals and a good place for people-watching.

Gostiniye Ryady, the former shopping arcade.

Revolution Square was the location of bazaars during historical times. There is a victory arch with a two-headed Russian eagle.

Embankment of Selenga (at Pioner mall, close to main bus station). A good place for people-watching.

• Ethnographic Museum of the People of Transbaikalia Culture, Verhnaya Beriozovka (Take Bus #37 from Baikal Plaza Hotel bus stop, south of Ploshchad Sovietov, same side of the street as the hotel, and tell a driver to stop at MUZEI -, 30 minute drive, +7 3012 33-25-10, +7 3012 44-33-10. W-Su 10AM-6PM; on Monday, only the small zoo is open; on Tuesday the zoo and one other house are open. An outdoor museum. Old homesteads, including some 17th century Cossack houses, and Buryat wooden yurts have been relocated to the site, and along with reconstructed streets representing traditional Buryati homes. Includes a small zoo. .
• City History Museum / History of Ulan-Ude, Verhnaya Beriozovka (In the city centre, +7 301 221-25-22. 9AM-6PM. In a house that formerly belonged to a wealthy tea merchant. Includes an exhibition to Pandito Hambo-Lama XII, Dasha-Dorzho Itigelov, leader of the Buddhists of East Siberia between 1911 and 1917.
• Museum of Buryatia History, Profsoyuznaya ul., d. 29 (In the city centre, +7 (3012) 2 21 70. T-Su 10AM-6PM; Closed on Mondays. Rare books, clothing, and artifacts from the region, including those from Shamanism, Buddhist, and Christian religions. The highlight exhibit is a rare illustrated book from the 17th century on Tibetan medicine.
• Museum of Buryatia Nature, Lenina Str., 46 (In the city centre, +7 (3012) 2 48 33. T-Su 10AM-6PM; Closed on Mondays. Includes exhibits on the animals, botany, and geology of the area.
• Sampilov Museum of Fine Arts, Kuibysheva ul., d. 29 (In the city centre, +7 (3012) 2 29 09. T-Su 10AM-6PM; Closed on Mondays. Also known as the East-Siberian Hermitage, this museum contains over 7,000 pieces of fine art from the Buryatia region.
• Geological Museum, Lenina Str., 59 (In the city centre, +7 (3012) 2 29 09. M-F: 11:00AM-4:30PM; Sa-Su: Closed. Features the largest collection of minerals, rocks, gems, and stones from the Lake Baikal region.

Ethnographic Museum of the People of Transbaikalia Culture, Verhnaya Beriozovka (Take Bus #37 from Baikal Plaza Hotel bus stop, south of Ploshchad Sovietov, same side of the street as the hotel, and tell a driver to stop at MUZEI -, 30 minute drive, +7 3012 33-25-10, +7 3012 44-33-10. W-Su 10AM-6PM; on Monday, only the small zoo is open; on Tuesday the zoo and one other house are open. An outdoor museum. Old homesteads, including some 17th century Cossack houses, and Buryat wooden yurts have been relocated to the site, and along with reconstructed streets representing traditional Buryati homes. Includes a small zoo. .

City History Museum / History of Ulan-Ude, Verhnaya Beriozovka (In the city centre, +7 301 221-25-22. 9AM-6PM. In a house that formerly belonged to a wealthy tea merchant. Includes an exhibition to Pandito Hambo-Lama XII, Dasha-Dorzho Itigelov, leader of the Buddhists of East Siberia between 1911 and 1917.

Museum of Buryatia History, Profsoyuznaya ul., d. 29 (In the city centre, +7 (3012) 2 21 70. T-Su 10AM-6PM; Closed on Mondays. Rare books, clothing, and artifacts from the region, including those from Shamanism, Buddhist, and Christian religions. The highlight exhibit is a rare illustrated book from the 17th century on Tibetan medicine.

Museum of Buryatia Nature, Lenina Str., 46 (In the city centre, +7 (3012) 2 48 33. T-Su 10AM-6PM; Closed on Mondays. Includes exhibits on the animals, botany, and geology of the area.

Sampilov Museum of Fine Arts, Kuibysheva ul., d. 29 (In the city centre, +7 (3012) 2 29 09. T-Su 10AM-6PM; Closed on Mondays. Also known as the East-Siberian Hermitage, this museum contains over 7,000 pieces of fine art from the Buryatia region.

Geological Museum, Lenina Str., 59 (In the city centre, +7 (3012) 2 29 09. M-F: 11:00AM-4:30PM; Sa-Su: Closed. Features the largest collection of minerals, rocks, gems, and stones from the Lake Baikal region.

• Odigitrievsky Cathedral (at the beginning of Lenin street, near river Uda). Built in 1741 in honor of the Madonna of the Odigitria. The first stone building in the town.
• Rimpoche bagsha, buddhist center Streletskaya st., 1. (Take bus #97 from Baikal Plaza hotel at Lenin's head square to the last stop) A new nice lama temple with a scenic panoramic view of the whole city. The temple should be explored for about an hour. It can be quite windy up there, so don't forget to dress warm.
• Ivolginsky datsan Buddhist Monastery — from the city. (Take Bus #130 from a bus stop just north of the bus station to Ivolginsk village- 40 minute ride, . Get off at the last stop and take a marshrutka to the Monastery - 10 minute ride, ). This is the centre of Buddhism in Russia, being with permission from Stalin. Although the Dalai Lama has visited several times, many tourists find the temple to be kitsch. Near of the datsan you can buy souvenirs cheaper than in the centre.
• Bolshoi Kunalei is a nearby village where the Old Believers, called "Semeiskiye", live. They will sing songs for visitors and you will be treated to homemade wine.

Odigitrievsky Cathedral (at the beginning of Lenin street, near river Uda). Built in 1741 in honor of the Madonna of the Odigitria. The first stone building in the town.

Rimpoche bagsha, buddhist center Streletskaya st., 1. (Take bus #97 from Baikal Plaza hotel at Lenin's head square to the last stop) A new nice lama temple with a scenic panoramic view of the whole city. The temple should be explored for about an hour. It can be quite windy up there, so don't forget to dress warm.

Ivolginsky datsan Buddhist Monastery — from the city. (Take Bus #130 from a bus stop just north of the bus station to Ivolginsk village- 40 minute ride, . Get off at the last stop and take a marshrutka to the Monastery - 10 minute ride, ). This is the centre of Buddhism in Russia, being with permission from Stalin. Although the Dalai Lama has visited several times, many tourists find the temple to be kitsch. Near of the datsan you can buy souvenirs cheaper than in the centre.

Bolshoi Kunalei is a nearby village where the Old Believers, called "Semeiskiye", live. They will sing songs for visitors and you will be treated to homemade wine.

• Buryat State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater, Lenina St., 51 (At Lenin's head square, +7 (3012) 21 36 00. Beautiful building. Watch performances of Buryat singing and dancing. .
• Puppet Theatre Ulger, Lenina street 46, +7 3012 213764. 9am -6pm from Monday to Friday. The name of the “Ulger” theatre is translated as “legend”. The theatre was built in 1967 and caters to kids. Features 40 local plays, including several in the Buryat language. The performers have toured worldwide and have won several international awards.

Buryat State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater, Lenina St., 51 (At Lenin's head square, +7 (3012) 21 36 00. Beautiful building. Watch performances of Buryat singing and dancing. .

Puppet Theatre Ulger, Lenina street 46, +7 3012 213764. 9am -6pm from Monday to Friday. The name of the “Ulger” theatre is translated as “legend”. The theatre was built in 1967 and caters to kids. Features 40 local plays, including several in the Buryat language. The performers have toured worldwide and have won several international awards.

Cedar oil (Кедровое масло) and other cedar products are a specialty of this region. Small Buddha statues are a common souvenir and are said to bring good luck. Mongolian socks, muttons, hats etc. out of camel wool can serve as a gift too.

Try local buryat cuisine. Mainly it's small meat dumplings called "buuza", steamed "Pozi", fried "Sharbin", or "Khushuur". Soups include meat broth "Bukhlyor" and noodles "Shuleen". Sweet baked goods served with jam or condensed milk are called "boovy".

The fish "omul" is unique for the region, as it exists only in the Baikal lake; the fish's meat should be transparent.

• Appetite Lenin's head looks at it. Quite cheap, tray style, russian food, free wifi.
• "Museum" cafe, Lenina str, 46; on a way from Lenin's head to Arbat street (11.30-19.00). 150 r/meal
• "Baatar orgoo" YURT GER cafe, Verhnaya Beryozovka, Dokuchaeva str.11. Only minibus 37 goes there. You can take it from Baikal Plaza hotel bus stop, tell a driver to stop at "KAFE YURTA". Takes about 20-30 minutes drive. Only traditional food and very nice atmosphere. 500-700 r/meal
• "Buuza" cafe/bar, Communist str. 41a; on tram tracks, near hotel Siberia, 3 mins from Lenin's head
• "Tenghis" restaurant, Yerbanova str. 12; Inside Baikal Plaza hotel
• "Student snacks" cafe/bar, Razhurova str. 1; just behind Opera house
• Marusia Lenina st., 46; russian cuisine
• Ulger Restaurant & Cafe, Kirova str., 8, +7 2012 21-21-09. A restaurant with traditional Russian and Buryatian food. A nice terrace outside.. 7$ for full dinner;.
• Zolotoy Drakon, Lenina St., 46, +7 2012 21-80-66. 11.00 to 22.00. Chinese restaurant 5-10$;.
• Churchill pub&grill, Lenina St.. On Lenin street opposite the Lenin's head. A restaurant in european style, with various meats prepared mostly on a grill. Price around . Probably one of the nicest/most expensive restaurants in town with staff speaking English. 10-20$;.

Appetite Lenin's head looks at it. Quite cheap, tray style, russian food, free wifi.

"Museum" cafe, Lenina str, 46; on a way from Lenin's head to Arbat street (11.30-19.00). 150 r/meal

"Baatar orgoo" YURT GER cafe, Verhnaya Beryozovka, Dokuchaeva str.11. Only minibus 37 goes there. You can take it from Baikal Plaza hotel bus stop, tell a driver to stop at "KAFE YURTA". Takes about 20-30 minutes drive. Only traditional food and very nice atmosphere. 500-700 r/meal

"Buuza" cafe/bar, Communist str. 41a; on tram tracks, near hotel Siberia, 3 mins from Lenin's head

"Tenghis" restaurant, Yerbanova str. 12; Inside Baikal Plaza hotel

"Student snacks" cafe/bar, Razhurova str. 1; just behind Opera house

Marusia Lenina st., 46; russian cuisine

Ulger Restaurant & Cafe, Kirova str., 8, +7 2012 21-21-09. A restaurant with traditional Russian and Buryatian food. A nice terrace outside.. 7$ for full dinner;.

Zolotoy Drakon, Lenina St., 46, +7 2012 21-80-66. 11.00 to 22.00. Chinese restaurant 5-10$;.

Churchill pub&grill, Lenina St.. On Lenin street opposite the Lenin's head. A restaurant in european style, with various meats prepared mostly on a grill. Price around . Probably one of the nicest/most expensive restaurants in town with staff speaking English. 10-20$;.

Food can be bought in shops; look for the signs with "магазин" ("Magazine", literally: store).

• Sputnik, ul. Kommunisticheskaya 48 (at the intersection of Yerbanova and Kommunisticheskaya, near Baikal Plaza hotel, +7 (3012) 2 29 09. 24 hours per day. Good selection of prepared foods, including vegetarian options.
• Titan Supermarket
• Slavyanskiy bazar on Smolina street near intersection with Sovyetskaya street.
• Absolut Supermarket

Sputnik, ul. Kommunisticheskaya 48 (at the intersection of Yerbanova and Kommunisticheskaya, near Baikal Plaza hotel, +7 (3012) 2 29 09. 24 hours per day. Good selection of prepared foods, including vegetarian options.

Titan Supermarket

Slavyanskiy bazar on Smolina street near intersection with Sovyetskaya street.

Absolut Supermarket

The local Baikalpharm brand of vodka is very popular and a bottle makes a great souvenir.

• Dacha Lenin's head looks at it. Great place!
• Marco Polo Kommunisticheskaya st., 46; coffee house, breakfast, salads
• Safari Erbanova st., 20; coffee house
• Shokolad Karl-Marks blvrd, 11; top recommended coffee house. It's located just opposite the new Russian drama theater which is about 15 minutes by tram. Nice location, nice coffee

Dacha Lenin's head looks at it. Great place!

Marco Polo Kommunisticheskaya st., 46; coffee house, breakfast, salads

Safari Erbanova st., 20; coffee house

Shokolad Karl-Marks blvrd, 11; top recommended coffee house. It's located just opposite the new Russian drama theater which is about 15 minutes by tram. Nice location, nice coffee

• Medical Institute for Mongolian, Buddhist and Tibetan Studies, 6 Sakhyanovoi Street, +7 8 (3012) 433 551. 8:30AM-6:00PM. A good place to receive treatment for both acute and chronic ailments using traditional Tibetan herbal compounds.

Medical Institute for Mongolian, Buddhist and Tibetan Studies, 6 Sakhyanovoi Street, +7 8 (3012) 433 551. 8:30AM-6:00PM. A good place to receive treatment for both acute and chronic ailments using traditional Tibetan herbal compounds.

The international code for Russia is +7; the code for Ulan Ude is 301.

For information on purchasing a SIM card in Russia, see Russia#Contact.

Note that SIM cards purchased elsewhere, such as in Moscow or Saint Petersburg, may be subject to roaming charges.

Free WiFi is available in most hotels, shopping malls, university buildings, cinemas, restaurants and cafes, and some public areas and parks. There are also plenty of WiFi hotspots for which you must pay. There are internet cafes in the city centre. You can also buy a mobile GPRS card to enable data transfer via the cellular networks. For more information, see Russia#Contact.

• Mongolia Mongolia, Profsoyuznaya street, 6, +7 3012 21-52-75.

Mongolia Mongolia, Profsoyuznaya street, 6, +7 3012 21-52-75.

In addition to continuing on to cities on Trans-Siberian Railway and the Trans-Mongolian Railway, it is worth making a diversion to Lake Baikal, the deepest and oldest lake in the world and, by volume of water, also the largest freshwater body of water. It contains 20% of the world's liquid fresh water and is deep. The lake can be reached by bus.