Kalmykia.

History

Around 1630 the Oirats, western Mongols, migrated from southern Siberia to the Lower Volga and founded the Kalmyk Khanate. It reached the height of its power under Ayuka Khan, who ruled from 1672 to 1724. Elista was founded in 1865, became the centre of the Kalmyk Autonomous Oblast in 1920 and the capital of the Kalmyk ASSR in 1935. In 1943 the entire Kalmyk people was deported, and they were only able to return home in 1957.

Culture & traditions

Kalmykia is the only region in Europe where most believers follow Buddhism, mainly the Tibetan Gelug school, and the Dalai Lama has visited Elista several times. Elista's Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni opened in December 2005 and is described as the largest Buddhist temple in Europe. Elista also has the Pagoda of Seven Days with its prayer wheel, and a museum of Kalmyk Buddhist art in Chess City. The Kalmyks' nomadic ancestors lived in yurts and herded cattle, sheep, horses and camels.

Nature

Most of the republic lies in the Caspian Depression, dropping to 27 m below sea level. The largest lake is Manych-Gudilo, and there are also Lakes Sarpa and Tsagan-Khak. The Chyornye Zemli (Black Lands) Nature Reserve, created in 1990, protects the saiga antelope along with colonies of egrets, cormorants and rare pelicans. The climate is dry, with 170–400 mm of rain a year and hot summers.

Sport

In Kalmykia chess is more than a game: it is taught in every primary school. Chess City was built in Elista for the 1998 Chess Olympiad, and in 2006 the city hosted the world championship match between Veselin Topalov and Vladimir Kramnik. Elista also has the Oyrat Arena and the Djungar Ice Centre, and the Typhoon speedway team raced from 1967 to 1991.

Food & drink

The Kalmyks descend from nomadic herders: their ancestors kept cattle, sheep, horses and camels.

Practical information

The republic runs on Moscow time (UTC+3). Elista Airport has flights from Moscow and cities in southern Russia. The climate is continental and dry, with January averaging about −5 °C and July about +24 °C. Spring and early autumn are the most comfortable times to visit, avoiding the summer heat.

What to see

• Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni — the largest Buddhist temple in Europe
• Chess City — a chess quarter built for the 1998 Olympiad
• Pagoda of Seven Days — a shrine with a prayer wheel in Elista
• Chyornye Zemli Reserve — saiga and pelican colonies in the Caspian steppe
• Lake Manych-Gudilo — the republic's largest lake

Cities on the map

• Elista 104,082