Kalmykia: traditions and rituals

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We invite you to an exciting journey through Kalmykia!

You will get acquainted with the unique culture and traditions of the Kalmyk people. We will participate in ancient rituals, see the capital of Kalmykia, Elista, and majestic Buddhist temples, get acquainted with the beliefs of the Kalmyks, and taste dishes of national cuisine.

This trip will give you an unforgettable experience and a boost of energy for the whole year!

Location

Republic of Kalmykia, Elista

Sightseeing tours

Contact the tour coordinator

Weekdays: 8am - 8pm
Weekends: 8am - 7pm (GMT +3)

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Tour highlights

Jomba Tasting

We will visit the interactive museum of nomadic peoples, where we will not only learn about the nomadic way of life, but also taste Kalmyk tea.

Kalmyk flavor

We will experience the originality of the region by taste, hearing and touch — through tea ceremonies, the sounds of music, the tactility of Ovaa stones and writing

The Seven Days Pagoda

Let's make a wish, walk three times around the prayer drum filled with 75 million mantras, and it will definitely come true!

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival in Elista, a walk through the city of chess, the Stupa of Enlightenment
14:50-15:30 Check-in at the selected hotel.
16:00-17:00 Visit to the interactive museum of nomadic peoples: an excursion through the nomadic way of life, live performance on folk musical instruments; tasting of jomba – Kalmyk tea, fermented milk drinks, Kalmyk vodka.
Photographing in national costumes, lashing, Kalmyk puzzles.
17:00-18:00 City Chess city tour.
Guided tour of the Stupa of Enlightenment.
18:00 Return to the hotel.
Free time.

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Day 2 - Visit to Khuruli, a master class on Old Kalmyk writing, a city tour of Elista
08:00-09:00 Breakfast.
09:00-10:30 Guided tour of the Geden Sheddup Choy Korling Cultural Complex.
The Shakyusn-Xume Hurul is a Buddhist temple of the Geden Sheddup Choy Korling hurul complex, located in the suburbs of Elista.
This place was consecrated in 1992 by the Dalai Lama XIV himself during his second visit to Kalmykia, and four years later the Shakyusn-Xume hurul was erected on this site.
In 2004, the Dalai Lama visited Kalmykia and Elista for the third time, with the aim of holding the radne ceremony, after which hurul rightfully became a real abode of deities.
10:30-12:00 Guided tour of the Golden Abode of Shakyamuni Buddha in Hurula.
The Golden Abode of Shakyamuni Buddha" (Kalm. Burhn Bagshin altn siume is the largest Buddhist temple in Europe.
The entire architectural plan of the temple has the shape of a mandala. The hurula building is surrounded by 17 pagodas with statues of the great Buddhist teachers of Nalanda Monastery.
In the prayer hall of the Central Hurul "The Golden Abode of Shakyamuni Buddha", the first, the main object in size and significance that attracts the eyes of any person is the figure of Shakyamuni Buddha. The height of the statue is 9 meters.
12:00-13:00 Lunch.
13:00-15:30 Master class on Old Kalmyk writing "Todo bichig" (clear writing) and a story about the heroic epic "Dzhangar".
A distinctive feature of Oirat calligraphy is the vertical writing structure, with smooth lines and diacritical marks.
During the master class, you will learn the history of Oirat calligraphy, its sacred significance and create your own unique composition with good wishes.
The participants will also get acquainted with the amazing land of the epic "Dzhangar" and its heroes, find out the mysterious power of the heroic legend.
15:30-18:30 Then we will have a city tour of Elista. Let's go for a walk around the city.
We will walk through the city center, through the Seven Days Pagoda, which is the hallmark of our capital. It symbolizes the exit from samsara and the achievement of nirvana.
The largest prayer drum in Europe, the Kurde, is installed in the Pagoda, which is filled with 75 million mantras. After making a wish, walk around it three times, and it will definitely come true!
You will hear the music of the wind as you walk under the Golden Gate, decorated with 28 paintings by local artists.
The Kalmyk people have a tragic page in their lives – the deportation of 1943-1957.
We will visit the monument "Exodus and Return", dedicated to the victims of Stalinist repression, created by the outstanding contemporary sculptor Ernst Neizvestny.
Free time.

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Day 3 - Ethno-parking, national museum, rituals
07:30-08:30 Breakfast.
08:30-10:00 Departure to the ethno-parking lot.
Camel riding.
Acquaintance with the life of nomadic Kalmyks.
10:00-11:30 Excursion to the N. Palmov National Museum.
Here you can get acquainted with the nature of Kalmykia, Buddhist art, see historical artifacts of the Oirats, look at modern exhibits of painting, graphics and sculpture.
11:30-12:00 Of the ancient Kalmyk ritual "Ovaa".
Ova is an introduction to the culture of pre–Buddhist Kalmykia, with Tengrianism — the worship of the Eternal Blue Sky.
Building ova in places of power is an ancient tradition of the Mongolian peoples. Ova is a mound of stones, in the center of which a bunchuk is installed. Ova is given to the spirits of the area, the spirits of the ancestors.
13:00-14:00 Lunch.
14:00-17:00 The rite of life extension.
This ceremony is aimed at interaction and harmony with the energies of the universe.
A story about the birth of the universe and the appearance of the rite of life extension.
A master class on making the "Rook of Life" and "Yisn Gol".
A rite of life extension.
Day 4 - Completion of the tour
07:30-09:30 Breakfast.
09:30-11:30 Walking around the city, visiting souvenir shops.
11:30-12:00 Departure from the hotel.
Transfer to the airport of Elista/ Volgograd (on request for an additional fee).
Completion of the tour.

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Difficulty

Suitable for everyone

Accommodation

Hotel

3 nights

Comfort

Midscale
Upscale

The tour includes hotel accommodation.

The cost of the tour for 1 person, depending on the accommodation, RUB.:

Name of the hotel	Double occupancy	Single occupancy
"Nomad", "3A"	42 800	50 300

Due to the high load of accommodation facilities in the region, they can be replaced with hotels of the same price category and type with advance notification of the guest.

The Nomad Hotel

The Nomad Hotel is located in the center of Elista. It offers a reception, free parking and Wi-Fi, and territory security.

The hotel offers 31 rooms with different categories. Each room has a bed, wardrobe, electric kettle, LCD TV, air conditioning.

The hotel has its own kitchen with various appliances for use. Grocery stores are located nearby.

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Another option

The ZA Hotel

3A Elista Hotel — comfort on the way and in the city

Our hotel is conveniently located on the R-216 highway, just a few minutes from the center of Elista. This is a great place both for a short stop on the road and for a rest in the capital of Kalmykia.

It offers a 24—hour front desk, a cozy cafe and modern rooms with a private bathroom and everything necessary for a comfortable stay.