04.06.2020

Elista is a gem of Russia

The central Kalmyk khurul and the Save the Tibet Foundation presented the beautiful film Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni. You can watch it on www.kirsan.today. The film is beautifully made.  It is about the charms of Elista. 

Not so long ago, Forbes journalist Jared Ranahan called some cities in Russia underestimated. It’s interesting. But the most remarkable thing is that not a Russian, but a Western journalist draws our attention to the unclaimed tourist potential of such cities as Yekaterinburg, Murmansk, Elista, Pskov and Khabarovsk.
It is gratifying that among the largest economic, political and cultural Russian regional centres, the capital of Kalmykia, Elista, is also mentioned. And this is no coincidence.  Elista is the only city in Europe where there are so many Buddhist architecture, temples, and monuments.

 

There are richly decorated Buddhist temples, stupas and other religious buildings associated with one of the largest world religions. Well, it’s a shame that the city is underestimated as a tourist gem of Russia and the world.

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama visited Kalmykia at the invitation of first President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov in 2004. During the visit, the world leader of Buddhists blessed the construction of the temple and consecrated “The Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni.” This is the largest Buddhist temple in Europe.
It is noteworthy that Kirsan Nikolaevich contributed his personal funds to the construction of the temple, and residents of all regions of Kalmykia, regardless of religious affiliation and beliefs, made voluntary donations for its construction.
It was under Kirsan Ilyumzhinov that Elista acquired such a flavour that the visitors of Kalmykia immediately see that they were in the capital of the Buddhist republic. The republic is still proud of everything that was created in past years under Kirsan Ilyumzhinov. The first president of Kalmykia, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, looking at the facts with an open mind, made a significant and noticeable contribution to the development of the republic, in that both Kalmykia and its capital, Elista, became known throughout the world.
Thank you for everything, Kirsan Nikolaevich! I remembered with excitement the time when we were building our first Khurul. We, the journalists of the republican media, covered every day of the construction. With what inspiration and diligence people worked! They realized that they were building something special, which would go down in history, so they invested a piece of their soul in the common cause.
I and my relatives thank you for all the temples built in Kalmykia with your help. Take care of yourself! I hope that all of us, the people of the republic will have the opportunity to do new good deeds with you.
Just like that, sincerely and sincerely from the bottom of her heart,  Mira Haptakhanova from Elista thanked Kirsan Ilyumzhinov on his Instagram. So-called  the "underestimated cities" must attarct enthusiastic tourists. Elista has much to show them. Kirsan Ilyumzhinov laid a solid foundation in order to attract tourists from all over the world to the capital of Kalmykia.
* Syakyusn-sume is a Buddhist temple in the Republic of Kalmykia. Khurul is located six kilometres from the capital of Kalmykia, near the village of Arshan. The official name of this religious building is “Geden Sheddup Choikorling”, which in Tibetan means “The Holy Monastery of Theory and Practice of the Gelug School” or in a free translation means “The Holy Monastery of Enlightened Monks”. This name was bestowed by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama in advance, even before the construction of the temple, in 1992.

Purvya Mendyaev