Lagan: areas, recreation, excursions, museums and churches, cuisine and restaurants, shopping and shops, attractions of Lagan.
- May tours
to Russia - Last minute tours
to Russia
Lagan is an almost environmentally friendly city. There are no factories or factories here that would pollute the environment, so the air here is unusually fresh, especially for residents of big cities. Residents of Lagan are mainly engaged in agriculture, fishing and raising livestock. And at the same time, the city does not give the impression of a village in decline: it is very beautiful, quiet and peaceful here.
Monuments of the Soviet past coexist with Buddhist temples, folk festivals are held on Fisherman Square on holidays, and from July to September everyone goes to the Volga to watch pink lotuses bloom. Blooming lotuses are the main attraction of Lagan. There are entire plantations of these flowers on the Volga, and the best way to observe this phenomenon is from a boat, since lotuses grow right in the water.
How to get there
Lagan (stress on the second syllable) is located in the Caspian Lowland - 300 kilometers from Elista and 9 km from the Caspian Sea. You can get here from the village of Ulan-Khol. The distance of 42 kilometers is covered by taxi or regular buses.
Lagan is separated from Astrakhan by 150 kilometers. Buses also run between cities. But seasoned tourists recommend taking a taxi - it’s definitely faster, although several times more expensive. Finally, if you want to come to Lagan from Elista, then be prepared for a long road of 300 km. The bus will cover it in about 5 hours.
Search for cheap flights to Lagan
My fishing in Kalmykia
One of my good friends was going to visit his former colleague in the city of Lagan and invited me and two other friends to go with him and go fishing there together.
This was not the first time he was going there, and he promised that the fishing would be great. In Lagan there are a lot of different fish, such as carp, crucian carp, pike perch, bream, roach, perch, etc.
I managed to ask for a vacation from work, and I happily agreed. I really love traveling to new places. Since we had been interested in fishing for a long time, we had rods and tackle; before the trip, we bought worms, maggots, bait and other consumables at a fishing store and hit the road.
How to get to Lagan
Fishing in Kalmykia began from the road. We left on the night of May 1st, the journey took about 21 hours. We drove to the Rostov region along the M4; a lot has been written about this route on the Internet. The road is excellent, but there is a toll. In the Rostov region we went to Volgodonsk, an interesting city with its own attractions. There the road was already worse, in some places completely bad, but it was tolerable.
From Volgodonsk to Elista the road is 230 km with a complete lack of gas stations, there are very few cars here, but the road is of normal quality. In Volgodonsk you definitely need to fill up your tank. Elista is also a very interesting city with many attractions. I took a photo in front of a Buddhist temple.
From Elista we went to Yashkul, then to Komsomolsky, and there was a turn to Lagan. After Yashkul, trash began: the two hundred kilometers of road from Yashkul to Lagan were so terrible that I have never seen anything worse. Pit upon pit, the track looks like it was after a bombing. It was necessary to drive very carefully, otherwise you could destroy the suspension and leave the wheels behind.
And finally, at about 9 pm we reached Lagan. We were met by a friend’s colleague and offered to rent an apartment from his friends. For a week of living in a two-room apartment, we paid 1000 rubles per person.
Fishing in Lagan
The next day we asked the locals what and how. We were told that in the spring only white fish bite; it is useless to catch a predator. But in the fall, in October, pike, pike perch and perch begin to be actively caught on bright acid jigs. Moreover, you can catch a lot of pike perch. Now they are biting roach, rudd, bream, crucian carp, and carp. You need to fish on the canal that leads from the city to the Caspian Sea.
From April 20 to June 20, there is a spawning ban in Lagan. You can only fish in the city; outside the city there is a spawning zone where fishing is prohibited. But we decided to move further away from the city.
We drove along the canal closer to the sea and began to unpack our fishing rods. Before we had time to unpack, the fishery inspector immediately drove up in an UAZ and said that this was a spawning zone, fishing was prohibited, otherwise there would be a fine.
The fisheries inspection turned out to be adequate guys. We met them, talked peacefully and parted on friendly terms, getting off with a warning. Then we fished only in the city, I’ll show you in the image below.
Before that, I only fished on rivers and lakes in the Moscow and Tver regions. Here, you’ll be lucky with your catch: you can sit all day and not get a single bite. In Lagan, fishing is completely different: you throw out the feeder, don’t have time to sit down, and then there’s a bream, roach or crucian carp sitting on the hook.
It bites on worms, maggots, corn, and everything in a row. There are kilogram crucian carp and bream. The fish are simply teeming. I saw children near the shore catching sprat with a net.
I wanted to catch a large carp. I tried to take a larger hook and attach a bunch of worms, but nothing worked, the worm was immediately eaten by the fry. It was possible to catch carp only with cake. I came across specimens weighing 2 kilograms, a friend pulled out one weighing 4.8 kg, it’s in the photo below.
To catch a large carp, you need to take a crocodile with up to 300 grams of dough, a thicker fishing line and a more powerful reel. The carp kicks very hard, the fishing lines tear and break, thin rods are just on their way. Local fishermen who are engaged in commercial fishing used nets to pull out 10 kilograms of carp. We were treated to some of these balyk, it was very tasty.
In general, vacation and fishing in Kalmykia were a success. This was the most economical trip, we spent money only on vegetables, lunch and dinner were prepared from the catch. We fried fish on the grill and cooked fish soup.
They wanted to wither the roach and bream, but it didn’t work out. We lived on the second floor, and there were too many flies on the balcony, gauze did not help, they still crawled towards the fish. In the end, we just bought a box of dried bream at the market. A ten-kilogram box cost a little more than 1000 rubles.
Back in Lagan, I tried a dish that I had never seen anywhere before - dumplings with pike perch.
In Lagan there is a fishing store where you can buy everything except worms. The worm is not sold in Kalmykia and digging it up is very problematic. To do this, you need to water the ground for a long time and wait until it comes up. Therefore, if you are going to go there for fishing, then you need to take worms with a reserve.
We bought jigs and still decided to try to catch the predator with a spinning rod, but, as the locals said, this idea was useless. In spring, the predator is well-fed and is not interested in any bait.
The next year, at the end of April, my friend again went to visit a colleague, brought me frozen carp, and, he says, in 2019 everything was the same, and nothing has changed.
City of Lagan: attractions
The town of Lagan is a large village, mostly private. There are, of course, nine-story buildings, but there are very few of them. The city has everything you need: a fire department, a police department, a hospital, schools, kindergartens, a savings bank, cafes, Magnit supermarkets and a market.
In the center of the city there is a park, which is made in Buddhist style. The main religion of Kalmykia is Buddhism. There are various monuments in the park; I liked the large monument to fishermen.
Despite the fact that the city of Lagan is located next to the Caspian Sea, I was not able to see the sea. It is impossible to get to it by car: the coast is swampy. You can only get to the sea by boat.
To swim to the sea, you need to obtain permission from the border guards. The Caspian coast in Kalmykia is a border zone. During the spawning ban, it is impossible to obtain permission to go to the sea.
In the second half of summer, lotuses bloom by the sea. Locals take tourists to see them for money. The city has beaches, summers here are very hot, and they say the water in summer is like fresh milk. Around the city there is an endless steppe. In April, tulips bloom in the steppe. There is also very fresh air in Lagan, you can feel it after Moscow.
Cuisine and restaurants
There are few places to eat in Lagan. If you want variety and try exotic cuisine, then you are in the wrong place. Most places offer everything from soups to fried fish.
In Lagan you can find a couple of places, for example, the Hadris cafe, where you can try Kalmyk cuisine. What's worth trying? Large dumplings, dotur, dishes made from milk, cottage cheese, tea with milk, butter, salt and nutmeg. In addition, flatbreads in lamb fat and araku are milk vodka.
The best hotels on the Caspian Sea
Top 5 all-inclusive hotels in Russia
Many tourists prefer to live in the private sector: you can rent an apartment or house through online booking services or by contacting local realtors - they have more choice, since not all residents have yet mastered the Internet. Although there are many hotels, most of them will disappoint even the most unassuming traveler.
"Admiral"
Makhachkala, Turali village
One of the most important advantages for which travelers choose Admiral is the systems installed in the hotel, guaranteeing that you will always have cold and hot water and electricity. There are two beaches nearby, and the airport and city center are quite close.
"Jami"
Makhachkala, Turali village
Two-story cottages are located on the seashore, in a safe, protected location, in the resort area of the capital. Guests have their own sandy beach.
"The president"
Makhachkala, Avtomobilistov street, building 7
Despite the official name, the President Hotel is small and cozy. It is located away from noisy highways, in the middle of a green garden. The rooms are spacious, the beds have orthopedic mattresses.
"Europe"
Derbent, III Internationala street, building 23a
The hotel complex "Europe" receives high marks for attention to guests, and for cleanliness, and for the work of the chef, and for its location - within walking distance from both the beach and the city center.
"Cassiopeia"
Izberbash, Primorsky village, house 36
This hotel is called one of the best coastal hotels in Dagestan. The rooms have refrigerators, minibars, air conditioners, and TVs. And even a comfortable sleep system is installed - Garden sleep system. There is no need to go to the sea: the complex has a swimming pool with a terrace.
The shops
There are few cafes in Lagan, but there are plenty of grocery stores. It feels like they were opened for almost every fifth resident. There are large ones, like the Mega supermarket, and smaller ones, where they sell everything you need, from chips to Kalmyk tea.
In Lagan you can find Kalmyk souvenirs. For example, the famous Kalmyk stone, in reference books it is named as opal and agate. It can be white or milky in color. Looks good. Surely it is somehow healing or, at least, useful for the fate of the person who wears it.
Beaches of Dagestan
The best beaches of Dagestan stretch across a wide sandy strip from Makhachkala to Kaspiysk. The most popular place is the south and west of Buinakskaya Bay. There are few organized beaches; locals swim on the wild ones, where it is quite dirty - tourists do not always clean up their trash.
The most well-groomed beaches are closed, they belong to tourist centers and hotels.
Central beach of Makhachkala
The main beach of the capital of Dagestan is not the most comfortable place to relax: there are always a lot of people, and the sea and shell rock on the shore are not clean enough everywhere. But there is all the infrastructure: changing cabins, sun loungers, there are many shops and cafes nearby. However, local residents recommend that instead of Central, go to more secluded wild beaches located in the vicinity of Dagestan.
Publication from the Malibu Recreation Center???⛱? (@malibu_dagestan) Jun 18, 2018 at 2:51 PDT
Basic safety rules in the resorts of Dagestan should not be neglected. On the most popular beaches, ladies can easily relax alone, but if they decide to go see remote villages, then you should definitely take a guide with you. It is better for girls to leave cities only when accompanied by a local resident - this way they will be able to avoid too much male attention.
Another favorite place of mine is the city beach of Makhachkala. This is my first time here in winter and it is very cold. The Caspian Sea is not the most popular destination for tourists, but I want to come back here again and again. On this beach any day of the year you will meet people playing sports. They run, jump, and swim in November-December. Moreover, most of them are very old people and even elderly, although there are quite a lot of young guys. It's nice to watch, this is where all champions are born. #Dagestan #Makhachkala #Makhachkala Beach
Posted by PAVEL FEDOROV (@pashka_vidik) Feb 16, 2022 at 3:15 PST
City beach in Kaspiysk
The beach is not bad, covered with shell rock; there is everything for relaxation, including changing rooms and sunshades. There is a special area for small children. The main drawback is the not particularly picturesque view of the workshop.
City beach in Izberbash
The beach in Izberbash is one of the best public beaches in Dagestan. It is wide, clean and well-maintained. The sea in these places is usually calm, the entrance to the water is gentle - convenient for families with small children. In the shower, if it works (this is not always the case!), thermal water flows.
Lagan Hotels
In this city, hotels can sometimes be hidden in unexpected places. Let's say you see a sign indicating that there is a sauna. And then - bam! - hotel. So if you are sent to an overnight stay, for example, at a vegetable warehouse, do not be surprised.
The Alyonushka and Ulan-Zalata hotels are famous in Lagan. They are designed for tourists and business travelers. If you come here in winter or autumn, then you don’t have to worry about places - they will definitely be there. In the middle of summer it is better to check. Suddenly Lagan is experiencing an unprecedented influx of tourists who came here to fish. The hotels offer standard rooms and junior suites.
Administrative-territorial structure
According to the Law of the Republic of Kalmykia “On the administrative-territorial structure of the Republic of Kalmykia” and the Register of administrative-territorial units of the Republic of Kalmykia, a subject of the Russian Federation includes the following administrative-territorial units:
- 1 city of republican significance (Elista city)
- 13 districts 1 administrative-territorial entity with special status City Chess
- 2 cities of regional significance (Gorodovikovsk and Lagan)
- 110 rural administrations 268 rural settlements 231 towns
- 37 villages
As of January 1, 2001, the republic included:
- 3 cities,
- 112 rural administrations (rural municipalities),
- 273 rural settlements.
The administrative center of the Republic of Kalmykia is the city of Elista
.
2 things to do in Lagan:
- Make a wish in front of a drum - in front of the Buddhist temples in Lagan there are khurde, prayer drums. If you want your wish to come true, spin the reel clockwise and go around it three times. Another wish granter is the Stupa with the figure of Buddha. They bring him gifts and also ask him for something. Unfortunately, no one keeps statistics on the fulfillment of desires.
- See pink lotuses blooming - there are entire plantations of these flowers on the Volga. Lotuses bloom from late July to September. They can be seen in the river delta, where the Volga breaks up into hundreds of small rivers. Here lotuses grow directly in the water, replacing the surface of the river.
Rural and urban settlements
Below are lists of rural settlements (rural municipalities) and urban settlements (urban municipalities) by district (district municipalities) of Kalmykia
Urban settlements (urban municipalities) are highlighted in bold
font.
Gorodovikovsky district
- Gorodovikovskoe urban municipality
- Vinogradnenskoe rural municipality
- Druzhnenskoe rural municipality
- Lazarevskoe rural municipality
- Pushkin rural municipality
- Rosenthal rural municipality
- Yuzhnenskoe rural municipality
- Bagaburul rural municipality
- Zundatolginskoe rural municipality
- Iki-Burul rural municipality
- Kevyudovo rural municipality
- Mantsinketsovskoe rural municipality
- Manych rural municipality
- Orgakinskoe rural municipality
- Primanych rural municipality
- Svetlovskoe rural municipality
- Utsala rural municipality
- Khomutnikovskoe rural municipality
- Chogray rural municipality
- Cholunkhamur rural municipality
- Altsynkhuta rural municipality
- Ergeninsky rural municipality
- Gashun-Burgustinskoe rural municipality
- Kegultinsky rural municipality
- Ketchenerovo rural municipality
- Sarpinskoe rural municipality
- Tugtuna rural municipality
- Chkalovskoe rural municipality
- Shatta rural municipality
- Lagansk city municipality
- Dzhalykovskoe rural municipality
- Krasi rural municipality
- Northern rural municipality
- Ulankhol rural municipality
- Iki-Bukhusovskoe rural municipality
- Maloderbetovskoe rural municipality
- Plodovitenskoe rural municipality
- Tundutovskoe rural municipality
- Khanatinsky rural municipality
- Khonchnur rural municipality
- Bolshetsarynsky rural municipality
- Voshodovskoe rural municipality
- Dzhangar rural municipality
- Idzhil rural municipality
- Mirny rural municipality
- Khosheutovskoe rural municipality
- Tsagan-Nur rural municipality
- Bulukta rural municipality
- Vorobyovskoe rural municipality
- Nartinskoe rural municipality
- Oktyabrskoe rural municipality
- Pervomaiskoe rural municipality
- Sandy Rural Municipality
- Priyutnenskoe rural municipality
- Uldyuchinsky rural municipality
- Arshanzelmen rural municipality
- Kanukovskoe rural municipality
- Kirov rural municipality
- Korobkinsky rural municipality
- Obilnenskoe rural municipality
- Sadovskoe rural municipality
- Salyntugtun rural municipality
- Umantsevskoe rural municipality
- Sharnutovskoe rural municipality
- Baga-Chonosovskoe rural municipality
- Verkhneyashkul rural municipality
- Voznesenovskoe rural municipality
- Iki-Chonosovskoe rural municipality
- Naintakha rural municipality
- Ovatinskoe rural municipality
- Trinity rural municipality
- Khar-Buluk rural municipality
- Tselinnoe rural municipality
- Chagorty rural municipality
- Yalmta rural municipality
- Adykovskoe rural municipality
- Artesian rural municipality
- Achinerovo rural municipality
- Komsomolsk rural municipality
- Kum rural municipality
- Narynkhuduk rural municipality
- Prikumskoe rural municipality
- Sarul rural municipality
- Barun rural municipality
- Berginsky rural municipality
- Tatal rural municipality
- Harbin Rural Municipality
- Tsaganaman rural municipality
- Erdnievo rural municipality
- Yustinskoe rural municipality
- Bagatugtun rural municipality
- Berezovsky rural municipality
- Veselovskoe rural municipality
- Krasnomikhailovskoe rural municipality
- Krasnopartizanskoe rural municipality
- Manych rural municipality
- Oktyabrskoe rural municipality
- Solenovskoe rural municipality
- Ulyanovsk rural municipality
- Esto-Altai rural municipality
- Yashalta rural municipality
- Gashun rural municipality
- Youth rural municipality
- Privolnenskoe rural municipality
- Tavngashun rural municipality
- Ulanerginskoe rural municipality
- Utta rural municipality
- Hartolga rural municipality
- Khulkhuta rural municipality
- Tsagan-Usna rural municipality
- Chilgiri rural municipality
- Elvga rural municipality
- Yashkul rural municipality
Iki-Burulsky district
Ketchenerovsky district
Lagansky district
Maloderbetovsky district
Oktyabrsky district
Priyutnensky district
Sarpinsky district
Tselinny district
Chernozemelsky district
Yustinsky district
Yashalta district
Yashkul district
Entertainment and attractions of Lagan
In the Caspian city it is worth visiting a Buddhist temple, going fishing, and then visiting the lotus valley.
Museum of Local Lore
This is a branch of the Kalmyk museum, which tells about the history of the region. People of many nationalities live in Lagan - Russians, Kalmyks, Tatars, Chechens, Dargins and others. Ethnographic exhibitions are constantly updated. The most popular halls are dedicated to the culture and life of the Kalmyks, the nature of the region, and stories about the first settlers. Web site.
Lotus Valley
In the East, the lotus is considered a sacred flower. Buddhists value it for its beauty and unique healing properties. The valley is located in the Volga delta - excellent conditions have been created here for lotuses to bloom. They reach a height of more than 2 meters.
It is best to observe them in the first half of the day - that is when the flower opens fully. Before sunset you won’t catch this beauty.
How lotuses appeared in the Volga delta is not known for certain. According to one version, the plant seeds were brought here by birds. Another option gives preference to Buddhist monks: they came and sowed.
Lagansky khurul
Lagansky khurul is a Buddhist temple. His Holiness the Dalai Lama XIV himself donated money for its construction. The Lama presented a khurul tanka, an icon depicting Buddha Shakyamuni, as well as plaster prints of his palms. These are the main relics of the temple.
The icons in the khurul are made on fabric. The most revered are the thangkas with the faces of Amitayus, Maitreya, the White Elder and Tara. Each deity brings something pleasant to a person: happiness, luck, longevity, etc.
Story
The settlement on Lagan Island arose as a settlement of peasant migrants from central Russia; its foundation dates back to 1870-1873. Collegiate assessor Gippius, who visited Lagan in 1889, wrote: “ The village of Lagansky is the westernmost village of the Astrakhan district, located in the open sea, on an island of the same name, which forms part of the Kalmyk steppe. There are no other Russian settlements in Lagan, except for the two industries (sea gangs) that exist here. The rest of the island's population consists of a small number of nomadic Kalmyks. The village of Lagansky is of relatively recent origin. His education dates back to the 70s...
».
Nevertheless, Lagan is mentioned in the List of populated places of the Astrakhan province of 1861, compiled according to information for 1859. According to the List, in 1859 there were 10 male and 5 female souls living in Lagan. The settlement belonged to the Astrakhan district of the Astrakhan province.
In 1873, the Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas the Pleasant, the patron saint of sailors, was consecrated in Lagan. In 1885, the fishery owner Erenbetov founded the Lagansky fishery. A post office was opened in 1902, and a telegraph office in 1905. By 1914, Lagan became the center of the Lagan volost; the village had 375 households, 1,030 men and 934 women lived.
During the Civil War in 1918-1919, the headquarters of the Caucasus-Caspian Front of the Red Forces was stationed here. Then, in the summer of 1919, the Reds abandoned their weapons and equipment and fled from the city under the attacks of the advancing white units: the detachment of General Daniil Pavlovich Dratsenko and units of the Caspian flotilla of the Volunteer Army under the command of captain 1st rank Konstantin Karlovich Schubert, advancing with the goal of blockading and capturing Astrakhan. The Whites held the city until the fall of 1919.
In 1927, Lagan, together with the villages of the Lagan district (Rakushi, Aktryk, Mangut, Alabuga, etc.) was included in the Kalmyk Autonomous Region formed in 1920. In 1929, the fishing collective farm “Kaspiets” was organized in the village. In 1936, the Caspian Fish Processing Plant opened its doors. Since 1936, Lagan has been a working village.
After the deportation of the Kalmyk people and the liquidation of the autonomous republic in 1944, the working village of Lagan was renamed Kaspiysky. This name was retained during the restoration of Kalmyk autonomy in 1957. In 1962, the fish canning plant was transformed into a meat canning plant and began producing meat products. At the same time, the ship repair mechanical station, the district industrial complex, the consumer services plant, the oil and gas exploration expedition, the editorial office and the printing house, the collective farms “Krasny Moryak” and “Kaspiets”, the road repair and construction site, PMK-412, PMK-6, and the garment factory continue their activities. .
In 1963, the working settlement of Kaspiysky was given the status of a city. In the same year, the Caspian Machine-Building Plant began operations. In 1991, the city returned its historical name Lagan.
Disadvantages of holidays on the Caspian Sea
12 apps and services for travelers
- Although there is infrastructure for tourists on the coasts of Dagestan and Kalmykia, it is very modest. There are few entertainment complexes for children and adults, water parks and other places for family recreation.
- Many beaches are covered with sand mixed with shell rock: it is uncomfortable to walk on, and small children can cut themselves.
- You should not hope that on the seashore you will be offered many dishes with fish and seafood. Dagestan cuisine is predominantly meat-based, so lovers of sea reptiles will be disappointed.
Publication from? Photographer? Samara (@lena_rashidova) Aug 1, 2022 at 2:14 PDT
Resorts of Azerbaijan on the Caspian Sea
Holidays in Azerbaijan will not be cheap, but - compared to neighboring countries - the service, infrastructure, transport and hotels here are in perfect order. The largest resort is Baku: excellent sandy beaches are located next to numerous hotels in the suburbs of the capital, on the shores of the Absheron Peninsula.
Well, some landscapes. A 30-minute taxi ride from Baku, and you can plunge into peace and tranquility. The Caspian Sea is shallow, like in Anapa) I never managed to “drown myself” properly. No matter how much you swim from the shore, everything is knee-deep #bacupbeach #prank was a success #Caspian Sea
Publication from TOURS TO THE MOUNTAINS AND SEA (@marina_klashkina) May 20, 2018 at 8:05 PDT
Smaller resort villages are scattered along the entire coast: Nabran is famous for its soft fine sand and the cleanest air of relict forests, Mardakan attracts young people with its nightlife, the shallow waters in Bilgya and Novkhana are popular with parents with children, and the unusual black sand has become the hallmark of the Lankaran balneological resort.
If a beach in Azerbaijan is well-maintained, it is usually closed and paid for. Residents profess Islam - there are separate beaches for men and women.
