The main attractions of Elista - the capital of Kalmykia

Kalmykia is considered one of the most unusual regions of our country. Endless steppes, meadows of wild flowers, towers of Buddhist temples, protected areas and deep lakes. The roads that were once plied by caravans of nomads from Asia are now chosen by modern nomads - travelers. After all, Kalmykia is an ideal region for traveling by car.

Not too long distances in the republic allow you to see a lot during a vacation or even a weekend. Your route around the republic may include sacred complexes, museums, ethnic festivals and holidays, and real natural wonders. It is with natural attractions - lakes, parks, nature reserves, nurseries, steppe expanses - that you should start your road trip around Kalmykia.

Buddhist architecture of Kalmykia Photo: © Julia Alisova

Reserve - flora and fauna

On an area of ​​40 thousand square meters, swans and herons, gray mallards and black kites nest and stop during flight. The park is home to the white-tailed eagle, which has long been listed in the Red Book.

Carp and pike swim to spawn in lowlands that are flooded during high water, and silver carp and pike perch gather. The park is home to wild boars and wolves, foxes and hares, raccoon dogs, stoats and weasels.

Among the lifeless Kalmyk steppe there is a real forest of poplars where you can eat blackberries. At the top of the park there are fields covered with wheatgrass. Found here:

• bloodroot;
• licorice;
• elecampane;
• sedge.

In order for tourists to get acquainted with the inhabitants of wild nature and its riches, exciting excursions are organized in the reserve and festivals are held.

April miracle

Kalmykia is not only the Golden Abode, unique monuments of Buddhist culture, the valley of lotuses, legends about the Oirot tribe, but also the amazing flowering of more than a hundred species of tulips that grow without human intervention in untouched nature. At the beginning of April, snow-white beauties appear, then the steppe acquires a yellow tint, and a scarlet ribbon of Schrenk and Bieberstein tulips stretches to the very horizon. According to Kalmyk legend, a black flower can be found once every 9 years. Whoever finds it will gain wealth and happiness.

Where to go with a child in Elista

If you are going to spend your vacation in Elista, be sure to take your child with you. The city is amazingly beautiful and can offer young travelers a vibrant cultural and educational program.

Park "Friendship"

• Opening hours: from Wednesday to Sunday inclusive, from 10:00 to 20:00.
• Telephone.
• Website: https://www.druzhba08.ru
• Address: st. Lenin. Transport stop "Park Druzhba".

There is simply no better place in the city for family outdoor fun than this magnificent recreational facility. The park is well maintained and is a concentration of attractions. The Alley of Heroes memorial is located here, many sculptures have been installed, luxurious rotundas and fountains have been erected. Children will be able to frolic on the playgrounds, ride on a variety of attractions, and take a ride on a horse, pony or camel. A lot of bright impressions are guaranteed to all family members.

Theater for Young Spectators

• Opening hours: performances are given from Thursday to Sunday inclusive. The start time of performances should be confirmed by contact phone number.
• Ticket price: from 200 rub. up to 600 rub.
• Telephone.
• Address: st. Dzhangara, 11. Transport stop "Dzhangar".

The bright performances of the Youth Theater are very popular not only among young spectators, but also among their parents. Drama and puppet shows are successfully staged here, often attracting full houses. Director B. Mandzhiev and talented artists regularly delight Elista theatergoers with premieres based on current plays by classics and modern playwrights. The troupe actively tours the country and constantly participates in regional and all-Union festivals.

Vodny Island

The most beautiful tulip fields surround Lake Manych Gudilo, where pink pelicans live. In ancient times, in its place there was a strait connecting the Caspian Sea with the Black Sea. Winds constantly blow here, raising waves to a height of 13 meters. In the fifties of the last century, due to incorrect calculations by builders, Vodny Island was formed on a salt lake, which also belongs to the category of attractions of the republic.

Neither trees nor shrubs grow in the hilly area with gently sloping banks. It is still unclear what attracted the wild horses here. One legend says that Batu buried wealth in this place and left horses for guard. True, in those days there was no island yet. The salty water is unsuitable for drinking by animals, but a herd of wild horses still lives here.

Weather, best time to travel

Kalmykia is located at a fairly large distance from the equator, so its territory has a moderate cold climate. Taking into account the analysis of weather conditions, comfortable months for visiting Kalmykia are April, May and September.

Average temperatures:

Average climate data in Kalmykia:

Lakes of Kalmykia

Lake Manych Gudilo

This is a relict, tectonic lake, the so-called saucer lake. The lake is more than 150 km long and 10-15 km wide. The depth of the lake is from 2 to 8 meters. The salinity of the water is 2 times higher than the salinity of the Black Sea.

Lake Tsagan-Khag

In the natural reserve called “Rostovsky”, on the salt lick, there is Lake Tsagan-Khag, which dries up in the summer, the bottom is covered with salt. In spring it fills with melt water, and the islands rising above the surface look very impressive.

Lake Tsaryk

Tsaryk occupies an important place in the list of natural attractions of Elista. Scientists are attracted by the unusual origin of the lake, on the shores of which tulips bloom luxuriantly in spring, and the mud has healing properties (on the right in the photo).

Lake Naked Liman

In the center of the Kuma-Manych depression, on the site of an ancient strait, is Goly Liman. The shore of the reservoir, which is almost 9 km long, is overgrown with fescue, thyme and wormwood. In summer it does not dry out, but becomes very shallow due to constantly blowing dry winds.

Lake Maloye

On the map of Kalmykia near the village of Ashalty you can see interesting natural objects. One of them, Lake Maloye, which stretches 5 kilometers in length, has valuable sediments, which, like water, are used to treat diseases. Rapa returns energy to a person and gives strength.

Lake Bolshoye Yashaltinskoye

The basin of which resembles a bowl has rich reserves of silt mud.

Less than 100 kilometers from Elista there was a tract. After the construction of an irrigation system in this region of Kalmykia, water began to flow into it from the fields, which led to the formation of a drainless lake. Pink pelicans live on the banks of Deed-Sulsun, overgrown with reeds, cattails and reeds. Hundreds of species of birds rest here during their migration; they feed on fish and algae.

How long does it take to see the sights of the city?

The sights of Elista can be explored in 1–2 days. If you do not make it in 1 day, you will need a hotel or hotel room. Here are a few places where you can book a suitable room in advance:

• Hotel "Alpha";
• three-star hotel "Chance";
• hotel-hostel "Tulip";
• four-star hotel "Elista".

What else to see

If you have time left, you can visit one more place - “Chess City”.

"City of Chess" in Elista

City-Chess is a complex opened in 1998. Architects: S. Kurneeva, A. Boschaeva and L. Amninova. The complex includes several houses (“Queen”, “White Rook”, etc.), alleys, the Chess Palace, a thematic museum, sculptural compositions, etc. Inside the palace there is a large floor field on which you can play a game. There is also a model of a chess town. In addition, tourists may like the following sculptures: Golden Crown “Yoryal”, “Knight’s Move” (I. Gilyazova), “Birth of a Pawn” (M. Mongush), “Steps to Victory” (M. Mongush), etc.

Information for tourists:

• address: Ostap Bender Avenue;
• coordinates: 46°17′49″N 44°17′52″E (convenient to get there by minibus No. 7 from the city center);
• Opening hours: daily, 24 hours a day;
• Entrance to the town is free, visiting the museum costs 100 rubles.

The city of Chess evokes the most favorable emotions in its guests - very well-groomed and clean, with interesting figures and neat houses - a chess theme runs through everything

Nature reserves and sanctuaries

“Black Lands”, which received the status of a Kalmyk national park, are divided into 2 parts with different climate conditions. Steppes stretch across most of the natural area, covering the Caspian lowland and the interfluves of the Volga and Kuma.

Fast saigas feel great here. Kalmyks have always been kind to this rare species of antelope, believing that the animals are protected by a wise old man who is responsible for longevity. Another part of the territory, which belongs to the category of biosphere reserves, is inhabited by many birds.

In the places where such a natural landmark of Kalmykia is located, the temperate climate gives way to a sharply continental one, there is almost no snow, and black soil is visible.

One of the objects of republican significance, the Khanata reserve was created in the sixties of the last century with the purpose of:

• maintaining environmental balance;
• protection of rare species of flora and fauna;
• restoration of rich resources;
• preservation of pristine nature.

On the territory of the Caspian lowland, where the reserve is located, gray cranes and partridges constantly nest, and there are paths along which birds migrate to the sea. The area of ​​the Khanata reservoir is decreasing, due to strong winds the soil suffers from erosion.

The Sarpinsky reserve cannot boast of an abundance of fauna species. There are hares, wolves, jerboas, and ferrets here. This natural site of Kalmykia is designed to protect the populations of steppe eagles, bustards, buzzards, and saigas from extinction.

Hotels

Numerous hotels invite guests to the region to their apartments.

Hotel Elista, building No. 2

The hotel is located at the address: Kalmykia, Elista, st. V.I. Lenin, house No. 237. Room rates from 1970 rubles. per night. In total, the 4* hotel has 88 rooms, including non-smoking rooms.

The hotel offers:

• transfer from and to the airport;
• 24-hour front desk;
• parking and payment for services by bank card;
• Internet and dry cleaning;
• safe and concierge;
• bar and elevator;
• TV in rooms and ATM;
• laundry and cafe;
• heating and bath accessories.

The price includes a buffet breakfast.

Hotel Marco Polo

The hotel is located: Kalmykia, Elista, City-Chess quarter, house No. 24. Room prices from 4.5 thousand rubles.

The 3* hotel has:

• parking and terrace;
• the ability to pay for services by credit card;
• restaurant and room service;
• safe and elevator;
• 24-hour front desk;
• refrigerator and laundry;
• iron and bath accessories;
• air conditioning and internet.

Guest House "Tulip"

Hotel location: Kalmykia, Elista, st. Pobeda, house no. 16. In a 3* guest house, the cost of a bed starts from 500 rubles. up to 2.5 thousand rubles. per night.

The guest house offers:

• shared kitchen and terrace;
• Internet and air conditioning;
• storage room and washing machine;
• laundry and room service;
• heating and 24-hour reception;
• kitchenette in the room and parking;
• possibility of living with animals;
• non-smoking rooms;
• rooms are soundproofed.

Hotel "6 squares"

The hotel is located at: Kalmykia, Elista, st. Yuri Klykova, house No. 79. The cost of a double room is from 850 rubles. per night, cost of a single room from 750 rub. per night. There is a bar, parking and free internet.

Hotel "Olympus"

The hotel is located at: Kalmykia, Elista, st. Republican, house No. 24. The hotel has only 16 rooms.

Here it is offered:

• Internet and heating;
• air conditioning and room service;
• possibility of living with animals;
• bath amenities and kitchen corner in the room;
• TV in the room and 24-hour reception.

Hotel "City Chess"

Hotel location: Kalmykia, Elista, City-Chess quarter, building No. 18. Room prices from 3.3 thousand rubles. There are 35 rooms in the hotel.

The hotel has:

• tennis court and swimming pool;
• parking and air conditioning;
• TV in rooms and 24-hour reception;
• cafe and laundry;
• terrace and beauty salon;
• rooms with soundproofing and refrigerator;
• non-smoking rooms and heating;

• kitchen corner in the room and restaurant.

Hotel Alpha

Hotel location: Kalmykia, Elista, 5th microdistrict, building No. 7b. Room rates from RUB 1,550.

The hotel has only 11 rooms, which include:

• 24-hour front desk;
• parking and internet;
• heating and TV in the rooms;
• airport transfer and room service;
• bath accessories and air conditioning.

Gostiny Dvor Bike Post

Gostiny Dvor is located at: Kalmykia, Elista, st. V.I. Lenina, building 311 “a”. The cost of rooms in Gostiny Dvor starts from 1.8 thousand rubles. per night. There are only 5 rooms in Gostiny Dvor.

Here it is offered:

• parking and terrace;
• air conditioning and bath accessories;
• transfer from and to the airport;
• restaurant and bar;
• TV in rooms and barbecue equipment;
• laundry and heating.

sacred tree

Near the small village of Khar-buluk, it is interesting to get acquainted with the unique natural monument of the Republic of Kalmykia. The “Lonely Poplar” grows among the steppe; 5 people can grasp its trunk. The height of the tree planted by the monk Purgash-Bakhshi reached 37 m.

People from all over Kalmykia come here to ask Buddha for health, happiness, and wealth. The bottom of the poplar is tied with colored scarves. The springs that flow near the majestic landmark have healing properties. Viscous water dissolves kidney stones and kills all kinds of microbes.

After studying the map with the main objects, tourists set off on a trip to Kalmykia from Elista. It will appeal to the category of people who are not indifferent to Buddhist culture and those who adore living nature. An unforgettable impression will remain from a unique phenomenon - the flowering of millions of colorful tulips.

How to navigate

There is no municipal transport in Kalmykia. The most common public transport in the region is private minibuses that ply along the city streets.

To move around the city, you can use the taxi service. You can also rent a car without a driver.

Kalmykia is distinguished by its unique Buddhist national attractions and unique culture. This is an amazing land of steppes and deserts, where many endemic plants and animals grow and live that cannot be found in other regions of the Russian Federation.

Author: Olga Zhanskaya