In the Kudablin project, we send completely different people on traveling at our expense! Margarita Mammadova visited Ulan-Ude: she told us what to see in this city, about a trip to Lake Baikal and about a dish that must be tried. Read more – in her report!
Despite all the trials that fell in 2020, there is an undoubted plus in it – most travelers drew attention to domestic tourism, including me! Honestly, when the subscribers chose Ulan-Ude to travel, I did not expect much. Of the main attractions, I knew only a monument to Lenin on the Square of Soviets.
Settling the plane of the aircraft, the first thing I felt was cold forest air! On the way to the hotel, the local taxi driver conducted a fascinating tour of me, having advised places that should certainly be visited in Ulan-Ude. Even then, I thought how many people knew about their native land, and with what warmth he talks about the city.
Starting his journey on the first day around the city from the duty sites – Square of the Soviets, the monument to V.I. Lenin – I quickly switched to attractions recommended by a local resident: Theater Square. L.L. Linhovoin, local Arbat, located on the pedestrian part of Lenin Street, and Datsan Rinpoche Bagsha.
The last place made a huge impression on me. Datsan is located at the highest point of the city, from where an amazing view of mountain massifs and the Valley of the Selenga River opens. Here are the largest gilded statue of Buddha in Russia and the largest bell. I could not resist, made the cherished desire and called it. Going down a little lower in the steps, I found a green park zone, whose discovery was dedicated to the voluntary entry of Buryatia into Russia. Along the road stretching through the entire park, there are 12 arbors (in accordance with the 12-year cycle of the Buddhist calendar), now and then there are almost hand proteins and birds, which are happy and curious to travelers.
I completed my day in the restaurant of local cuisine, which I was advised by subscribers. To visit Ulan-Ude and not to try local Buuza is a crime, so I happily used the recommendation and tried this dish.
The second day it was decided to devote a trip to Lake Baikal, located only 150 km from Ulan-Ude. Of course, I could not miss such an opportunity and not see the real miracle of nature. On the way, you will want to stop and capture local landscapes more than once: mountains strewn with trees, picturesque village, fields with wheat – the whole atmosphere gives a real aesthetic pleasure from solitude with nature!
On Baikal, the most difficult thing is to choose where you want to stop, because the beaches are completely different, but all picturesque: with black and golden sand, with rocky approaches to the water and cliffs. And the water is crystal clean so much that every pebble lying at the bottom is visible. I was lucky to be on the lake with local residents, who gladly showed the most picturesque places. Most of all I remember the beach “Sands” and a rocky shore called “Turtle”. To preserve the memories of this magical place, I managed to make several atmospheric personnel.
At sunset, peering into the horizon, I saw in the distance a seal, floating flocks. As the locals told, animals do not like to approach people, so they swim mainly far from the shore. But even this almost held meeting made me fall in love with such different and magical places – Lake Baikal.
Before landing on the reverse plane, I caught myself thinking: “How great it is to ruin my stereotypes and plunge into a completely different culture and atmosphere!” I admit honestly, I was skeptical about traveling around Russia and always preferred foreign countries. But the trip to Ulan-Ude and the beauty of Buryatia made me reconsider my views.
The author of the text and photo: Margarita Mamedova
Photo for Preverty: Unsplash.com
