History

Irkutsk - Severobaikal'sk - Ulan- Udè

HISTORY OF ULAN-UDE

Ulan-Ude is situated at the junction of the two rivers, the Uda and the Selenga between two mountain ranges: Khamar-Daban and Ulan-Burgasy at the southeast of Lake Baikal.
From the 13th to the 17th century, the area now known as the Buryat Autonomous Republic was part of the Mongolian empire. The Buryats were originally nomadic herders, with cultural and language similarities to the Mongolians and religious similarities to Tibetan Buddhists. Despite the repression of the Soviet years, by most accounts Buryats and Russians, live peacefully, with little of the ethnic conflicts that plague other regions in Russia.
In the 17th century Cossacks established several of their Ostrogs (fortresses) on the territory of modern Buryatia, and one of the most important one was Udinskoye, at the place where modern Ulan Ude is located. Strategically, Udinskoye was a perfect place located on the trade way between Russia and China. Besides, it was very well fortified and surrounded by the mountains.
In 1775 Udinsk was granted the city status. In 1899 Udinsk, called Verhneudinsk then, got another boost in its development: the Trans-Siberian railway was constructed through the city, leading further to China. Under the Soviet Regime, the whole region became an important industrial and agricultural centre. Machinery construction, metal and wood processing industries, as well as farms were established in the region. In 1934, as a part of government policy, the cities were given their ethnic names, Verhneudinsk was renamed into Ulan Ude, which means “Red Uda” in Buryatian language (“Uda” is the name of the river where Ulan Ude is established).

MODERN ULAN-UDE

Today, Ulan Udè with its approximately 400000 inhabitants is the capital of the Buryat Autonomous Republic, that stretches along the eastern side of Lake Baikal. The city centre located between the railway and the two rivers, the Selenga and the Uda, gives the typically picture one has in mind about Soviet cities. Here you can find Soviet hotel buildings and some remains of the typical 19th century architecture, traditional wooden houses along the streets. At the same time many Korean passenger minibuses are rushing through the centre. On every street´s corner, people sell hot juicy Pozys (traditional meat dish).
The Sovjetskaja Square is the central square of the town and the administrative centre, too. The main characteristic of this place is a 5 meters high Lenin head made of granite.

[Five meter high Lenin head of granite]

Built in 1971, this masterpiece was part of the Soviet pavilion at the World Exhibition in Canada. The building behind the statue is the Government of the Buryat Republic. In the buildings on the left hand side, the President and the Secret Service have their offices. On the right hand side, the Philharmonics and the Hotel Bajkal make the front. Not far away another impressive building represents the Buryat National Opera with a total number of 800 seats. Built from 1946 to 1952 it covers European, oriental and Asian style elements. German prisoners built many towns in Siberia during the post-war period; eastwards of Lake Baikal many Japanese prisoners had to do compulsory labour and influenced by that way the Siberian architecture. The rich houses in the centre are from business persons and traders, which date from the early 19th century.

[Decorated wooden traders’ house]

The famous Tea-Track from China to Russia passed through Ulan-Udè. Tea, rice, spices and tobacco came from China; Russia exported fur, salt, wheat and sugar.
Today, a pedestrian zone passes between the traders’ houses that cover different shops and groceries.

[Pedestrian zone in the centre of Ulan-Udè]

One of the major eye-catchers is the Odigitrievskij Cathedral. It was built from 1741 to 1785 and is one of the most beautiful baroque churches in East-Siberia - now it is being renovated. The main employer with 8000 employees is an enterprise for train, car and railway service and maintenance, which has its roots in the years 1932 – 1934. The Trans-Siberian Railway, which passes through Ulan-Udè since 1899, is one of the major economic strings to the East and the West.

[City map of the centre of Ulan-Udè]
1 - Train station
2 - Bus station
3 - Cossacks Crosses
4 - Government and Administration
5 - Lenin Monument
6 - Buryat National Opera
7 - Buryat Theatre
8 - Cathedral
9 - Whitsun Church
10 - Resurrections Church
11 - Traders Houses and Pedestrian zone
12 - Swimming pool and Shopping mall
13 - Museum for Natural Sciences
14 - Museum for Geology
15 - National Museum
16 - National Gallery
17 - Market

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