Elista is called the Buddhist capital of Russia. You walk around the city, and you almost jump at the feet of exotic sculptures. Pagodas and praying stupas loom ahead. At the same time, Elista tries to plant herself a branch of Europe - what is the worth of the Chess City led by the monument to the Great Combinator. But this is still a trifle. This city is visited by the silence and wisdom of the East.
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How to get there
You can get to Elista in different ways. The fastest, but the most expensive - in the air. The city regularly accepts flights from Moscow.
There is no direct railway connection between Elista and the capital and St. Petersburg. It is necessary to choose the composition coming from Stavropol. You will spend about 8 hours on the way.
The bus service is better developed. There are direct flights from Moscow, Astrakhan, Volgograd and Stavropol. Travel time varies from 5 to 32 hours depending on the distance.
Search for air tickets to Astrakhan (the nearest airport to Elista)
Transportation
Elite buses run. This is the only mode of transport that can take you anywhere. For a detailed study of the city it is better to do without transport at all. Fortunately, Elista is not that big. And all the main attractions are located near the center.
If you came to Elista on your car, then know: in the city are not the best roads. Sometimes they are in a deplorable state. The main street - Lenin - runs through the whole of Elista. There are not enough cars in the city, so there are no terrible traffic jams.
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Cuisine and restaurants
In Elista, you must definitely try something from the local cuisine. Look for traditional ravioli "beigi", soup from giblets, fried in butter pies-borts and "jomba" tea. Where best prepared, you can ask passersby. Most likely, you will be sent to a simple dining room.
At a cafe and restaurants, prices are acceptable. Order yourself a different exotic, and after paying 300-400 rubles for lunch.
Stores
Elista residents, seeing the interest in their city from the tourists, quickly realized: it's time to get souvenirs from the bins. Therefore, recently, the national traditions are reviving in the city. Much attention is paid to the Kalmyk and Mongolian folk art fairs.
In Elista for memory you can buy collections of clothes made from camel wool - sweaters, dresses, belts, waistcoats, knee pads. Felt products are popular. These are camel figures with bright ornaments and funny muzzles. Hurray boxes in the form of yurts diverge among the tourists:
Climate
Cloudy + 6 ° С day + 1 ° C at night ° C water |
Cloudy with a light rain + 4 ° Day + 2 ° C at night ° C water |
Overcast + 9 ° C in the afternoon +1 ° C at night ° C water |
| Weather forecast in Elista for 10 days | ||
Elista hotels
There are no posh hotels in Elista, but to sleep and have a good rest - that's it. One of the popular hotels of the city is called "Elista". It is in the center and offers 150 rooms. The cost of accommodation starts from 1000 rubles
In the major area of Chess City there is a hotel "City of Chess". Here the rooms are equipped with refrigerators, televisions, split-systems, there is a shower. They cost more - from 2500 rubles. But nearby is a Buddhist exhibition with ritual objects and images of the gods.
Especially enterprising Kalmyks came up with the idea of leasing tents, something similar to those in which the Mongol conquerors lived. The tent can be rented for a couple of days or a whole week. Food - organic food plus a lot of lamb dishes. Tourists like the tents: you feel like a real warrior or a nomad.
- To play chess "for survival" - on the Palace Square of the city there are large plastic chess, in which anyone can play. Given that in Elista in the summer is unbearable heat, the game becomes extreme. Often the party does not end: one of the rivals leaves the square. The winner is no more intelligent, but more hardy.
- Count all sculptures - probably in Russia there is not a single city where there would be so many sculptures. And this despite the fact that Tsereteli has not worked here yet! Most of the compositions are related to mythology, history, religion and culture. The most famous are the sculptures of Echo, the Golden Horseman, the White Elder.
- Visit the Buddhist temple - it's good that it is enough to visit Elista for this. There is no need to take tickets to Thailand or rush to Tibet. True, it is worth remembering several rules of visiting the temple. First of all, you have to be yourself and not pretend to be a Buddhist or a connoisseur of this religion. Temples accept representatives of any confession. At the entrance it is necessary to take off your shoes: no one will steal shoes. In the temple you can not make noise and, importantly, you can not poke your fingers at the statues. You want to take a picture - ask for permission.
Entertainment, excursions and sights. Elista
Attractions Elista are of three kinds - they are related to Buddhism, chess and everything else.
City Chess Chess Club
Chess City is the embodiment of the dream of the former head Kalmykia Kirsan Ilyumzhinov. The president of the International Chess Association wanted to have an area dedicated to his favorite game in the city.
Here there are two-storey cottages. In the middle of the district is the Chess Palace, where tournaments are held. The town is filled with sculptures entirely on a chess theme. Initially, the City-Chess contrasted strongly with other areas of Elista, stood out for its well-being. So much so that at the entrance to the area they put a barrier and security. But today there is no such difference - the rest of the city was pulled up.
Hurulnaya complex "Golden Monastery of Buddha Shakyamuni"
This is the main the Buddhist complex of Kalmykia and the largest temple in Russia and Europe, it is located at the intersection of Ilyumzhinov and Lenin Streets. Hurul is seen from afar, it is impossible to pass by him.
For a long time in Kalmykia there was not a single functioning Buddhist temple. This one appeared in 2005, the first stone was laid in the presence of the Dalai Lama. The building is large, built in Tibetan traditions. Inside is a Buddha statue 11 meters high. A staircase leads to the temple. On the slopes of the hill where Khurul is, there are pagodas with prayer drums
Memorial complex "Exodus and Return"
One of the most interesting monuments located in Elista. It was created by Ernst the unknown. The monument is dedicated to the deportation in 1943-1957 and the subsequent return of the Kalmyks.
The monument represents a hill in the steppe, at its base are laid rails on which there is a wagon-wagon. In such a Kalmyks were taken. Next to the rails are concrete slabs indicating each year. The road rises to the hillside, where there is a black sculpture depicting intertwined human bodies. Along the edges of the monument are multi-storey houses and a steppe
Pagoda of the Seven Days
Its name is associated with seven buddhas who came to our world. A pointed spire is a symbol of the exit from samsara and the attainment of nirvana
The pagoda hull contains a prayer drum 2 meters high, donated by the lamas of the tantric Gyumed Monastery in India in honor of the 70th anniversary of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. On the drum golden letters are mantras in several languages. A total of 75 million mantras are laid down in the drum.
Photo by Elista (17)