WELCOME TO BURYATIA
KYAKHTA
The town of Kyakhta is an administrative centre of Kyakhtinsky region. It is
located on the Russian - Mongolian frontier. The town has received its name from
the Buryat word "hyag", that in translation into Russian means "wheat grass".
The town has the status of " Historical town of Russia ”, its past abounds in
the events connected to the history of the Russian - Chinese relations, Russian
trade and merchants, epoch of geographical discoverings in the Central Asia.
The construction of the town had began since 1727 when Russian cossacks had
founded the Troitskaya fortress, which later turned into the town of
Troitskosavsk. In a year, after signing the Russian - Chinese treatise about
frontier and trade relations by the authoriized ambassador of Russia, Savva
Lukich Vladislavich-Raguzinsky, a trading sloboda (a village) was founded 4
versts far from the fortress. Opposite to it on the Chinese side appeared a
Chinese trading village Maymachen, nowadays it is a town of Altan-Bulak. The
town of Troitskosavsk and a village Kyakhta in the course of time formed the
united settlement which received in 1934 the official name of the town of
Kyakhta. The town is located in the valley of a small Kyakhta-river, in sandy
steppe, therefore, it used to be frequently called “sandy Venice”. The climate
here is dry and sharply continental, with hot summer and poorly snowed winter.
The growth of Kyakhta was caused owing to the development of the Russian -
Chinese trade, that resulted in appearance of rich estate of Kyakhtinsky
merchants, whose charity helped to build the majority of buildings of ïðèåì ÷àÿ
â ãîñòèíîì äâîðå Êÿõòàthe town, also churches which distinguished in
monumentalism and richness of architecture and design. In the XVIII century
Kyakhta became widely known as the main trading center in the east of Russia. It
played the role of a link in trade relations between the West and the East. It
was crossed by a world famous trading “Tea way ”, and so Kyakhta half-officially
was called “ the Russian capital of tea ”, “ a gold gate of Russia ” or “Moscow
in the east ”.
During its blossoming Kyakhta was the city where compactly lived the largest in
the world number of merchants - millionaires, for that it was frequently called
the “ city of millionaires ”. It was famous not only in Russian empire, also it
was known in Europe, England and America, in the Central Asian states. Many ways
led here - diplomatic, trading, regional geographic, there was hardly a man
travelling in Eastern Siberia who didn’t visit this city.
The city developed not only as an advanced post of trade but also as the centre
of culture and spirituality, its inhabitants paid much attention to knowledge,
education, literature, art and science. Many famous scientists, statesmen,
public figures and writers left a bright trace in the history of Kyakhta. Plenty
of travellers enthusiastically responded about Kyakhta, marking its vigorous
public life and perspective future. Especially the hospitality of Kyakhtinsky
merchants was noted, who welcomed visitors with constant kindness.
About 200 years lasted the epoch of creation of a unique image of the town, one
of the most interesting towns of Russia.
During the Revolution and Civil war there happened events, data about which is
kept in archives. Kyakhta had an important value as a large political and
military centre influencing the course of events in this region. This value of
the town is kept till now. Frontier armies of Russia are located nowadays in
Kykhta and around it.
Later the town developed as a frontier trading and industrial centre in the
south of Buryatia. New districts have been built and the number of the
population has increased. But from the present point of view, Kyakhta has
remained one of small towns and due to that it has kept its originality and
image of ancient merchant town. In the central part of the town there are many
historical buildings representing samples of architecture of XVIII-XIX centuries
of the last millennium. Some objects are widely popular. One of such objects is
the building of Kyakhtinsky museum of regional studies, the oldest museum of
Buryatia, which collected the most interesting and often unique materials, its
exposition constantly attracts high attention among visitors.
The outstanding past of the town determines nowadays its future. Now Kyakhta
gradually becomes one of the centres of cultural tourism attracting , first of
all, with its picturesque, protogenic sight, and also history, which is one of
the most interesting pages in the history of Russia. The geographical position
of the town is very convenient. It is the first town of Russia for those, who
travel from the countries of Asia, and passing it, one can go to Mongolia from
Russia and further to other countries of Asia.
The traditions of Kyakhtinsky trade are kept now as well. Frontier trade
actively develops, the construction of the trading terminal is being conducted.
The town administration is ready to support projects and investments in the
development of trading and tourist business.
In the town develops the sphere of service, leisure and entertainments. Tourists
are admitted in 4 small hotels. The number of places in them does not achieve
100 yet, that limits the opportunities of reception, but, at the same time, it
has some advantages as there is no while a big stream of tourists and,
therefore, a town life preserves its a bit patriarchal rhythm. There are several
shops, some cafes and bars which offer dishes of both European and national
cuisines. One can use the services of gasoline stations and car repair shops,
enjoy entertainments in the house of culture with a disco and a cinema, in the
park of rest, there are also points of currency exchange, a computer club and a
point of free entrance the Internet.
On the Russian - Mongolian border there is the international automobile
transition through which the tourists travelling by car can go to the territory
of Russia or to leave it. They are able to do it also, travelling by train. All
frontier formalities, in that case, are made in the station of Naushki which is
29 kms far from the town.The distance from Ulan-Ude to Kyakhta is 235 kms and
regular minibuses ply between them.
Around Kyakhta there are plenty of natural and historical-cultural objects where
it is possible to make excursions. Basically they are objects of archeology.
There are no tourist agencies in the town yet, therefore, it is better to order
an excursion trip to Kyakhta in the agencies working in the city of Ulan-Ude or
to address to the Administration of the region and to Kyakhtinsky museum of
regional studies. At present the Administration of the Kyakhtinsky region has
the department of trade which is carrying out functions on development sphere of
tourism.
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Tour to Buryatia
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