While not yet as widely known as the other countries when it comes to being a favorite tourist destination, as it is only recently that seasoned and intrepid travelers explored what it has to offer and told the world about it, there is so much to love about Russia. Thanks to the Internet, mainly through social media, the country is becoming increasingly popular on being bucket listed as one of the ultimate travel goals. This country should top the list if you are seeking for unique adventures; you may be swamped with so many stopover options, which includes Ulan-Ude.
If you are planning your stop-offs while on a journey along the longest railway line in the world, the Trans-Siberian Railway, it is essential that you consider this fairly unknown, off-the-beaten-path spot that is Ulan-Ude. You may have never heard of it and its name may not easily stick in your mind, but Ulan-Ude is among the must-visit spots when you’re exploring Russia, especially through the Trans-Siberian route.
Important Ulan-Ude Facts You Should Know
About a hundred kilometers southeast of Lake Baikal, the world’s biggest freshwater lake by volume, Ulan-Ude was founded in 1668 as a small fort on the Uda River and was once off-limits to foreigners until 1991. If you intend to explore Lake Baikal, Ulan-Ude facts, due to its location, is a great starting point.
The historical city of Ulan-Ude may surprise you with its cheery Asian features and even its Mongol-Buddhist culture, providing refreshing exoticness that makes you feel like you’ve finally arrived in Asia, so different from the usual European features you expect to see in Russia.
Being the capital of the Buryat Republic, which is a federal subject of Russia, Ulan-Ude can be quietly busy yet welcoming at the same time, with old traditions still being practiced and crowds yet small.
If you are still on the fence about Ulan-Ude facts, this list of some great reasons as to why you should visit the place as well as the things you can do there will convince you to give this city a shot. No doubt you will be breaking up your long journey anyway but adding this city to your itinerary can be a fantastic shout! You surely won’t regret nor forget it!
Get a glimpse of the city’s sights and mix with some of its locals as you experience what the place has to offer. You want at least a few days to experience the Buryat culture and get a good feel for the soviet and Siberian influences. One way of doing that is by booking a holiday on the Trans-Siberian express railway.
Things To Do In Ulan-Ude
- Lenin’s Statue – This is a top landmark in the city of the iconic Lenin’s head where tourists often go to take selfies and snaps. You will get a chance to see the Soviet architecture and planning from the buildings surrounding the statue so if you are into history, this is definitely worth checking out.
- The Tourist Trail – The city trail is another popular thing to do when visiting this city. This route is very well-mapped so you can get a proper view of where you are heading. In its entirety, it covers the whole of the city circle and is roughly 4 kilometers. This means you can explore it at your own pace with ease as you soak up the sights and see the main landmarks Ulan-Ude has to offer.
- Explore The Architecture – The Siberian-inspired buildings can be a big inspiration for all those that behold them. You will also discover a strong Asian influence throughout the city as you admire sights such as ul. Sverdlova and ul. Banzarova. It’s a unique city that mixes both Asian and Siberian culture so it is definitely worth checking out.
- See The Rinpoche Datsan – This is definitely worth the trip as you can see the landscape view of the city and the hills around it. It’s truly a breathtaking view as you take a peaceful walk and explore the views.
- Check Out The Buryatia Cuisine – There are plenty of great places to go and dine in whilst in Ulan-Ude. Discover the range of dishes found in Soviets Square such as local meat dumplings, Mongolian goulash, Shumen soup alongside the big chains.
Ulan-Ude may yet be a stranger to the world, especially with so many famous touristy and easy to access places that are much raved about. As you can see upon reading this article, there are plenty of places that will attract you to this less known yet interesting and magical city.
Now’s the best time to pay it a visit and explore what it can offer while its old traditions are still upheld and tourists don’t yet come in droves.
With a very interesting culture, plenty of history and tons of beautiful architecture, you will not regret dropping by Ulan-Ude facts, but it’s always a great idea to plan out your trip so you don’t miss anything in this historical city, and when dropping by in the winter months, you will want to ensure there is still plenty to do. As you can tell, there’s nothing short of things to do in winter as you hit your destination.
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