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.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors.
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.
The central tourist area of Ulan Ude is compact and is very walkable. Taxis are plentiful but drivers rarely speak any English. There are marshrutkas, buses, and a few tram routes. Trips on public transportation cost less than 30 руб.
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.
Buryat State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater, Lenina St., 51 (At Lenin's head square), ☏ +7 (3012) 21 36 00, uuopera@mail.ru. Beautiful building. Watch performances of Buryat singing and dancing. 150-700 руб. 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.
Try local buryat cuisine. Mainly it's steamed meat dumplings called "Buuza" (or "Pozy"), 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. 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.
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
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
In Jul, Ulan-Ude typically sees ~27°C daytime highs and 6 rainy days.
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