Ulan-Ude - Some Images

This monument signifies the place of Ulan Ude foundation - Batareinaya Mountain.

The first occupants of the area where Ulan-Ude now stands were the Evenks and, later, the Buryat Mongols. Ulan-Ude (old name Verkhneudinsk) was founded in 1666 by the Russian Cossacks as the fortress Udinskoye. Due to its favourable geographical position, the city grew rapidly and became a large trade centre which connected Russia with China and Mongolia and, from 1690, was the administrative center of the Transbaikal region. In 1775, the city, now Udinsk, was chartered as a city and in 1783 was renamed Verkhneudinsk. After a large fire in 1878, the city was almost completely rebuilt. The Trans-Siberian Railway reached the city in 1900 causing an explosion in growth. The population which was 3,500 in 1880 reached 126,000 in 1939. On 27 July 1934, the city was renamed Ulan-Ude.  Ulan-Ude lies 3,500 miles east of Moscow and 60 miles south-east of Lake Baikal. It is located 1,970 ft above mean sea level at the foot of the Khamar-Daban and Khrebet Ulan-Burgasy mountain ranges, next to the confluence of the Selenga River and its tributary, the Uda which divides the city into two parts.  We live on the east side of the Uda river.  A few images of Ulan-Ude are shown below.

The largest Lenin head in the world is located in Ulan-Ude on Sovetov Square only 1-block away from our apartment.  Vladimir Ilyich Lenin (Russian: Владимир Ильич Ленин), 22 April [O.S. 10 April] 1870 – 21 January 1924), born Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, was a Russian revolutionary and communist politician who led the October Revolution of 1917. As leader of the Bolsheviks, he headed the Soviet state during its initial years (1917–1924), as it fought to establish control of Russia in the Russian Civil War and worked to create a socialist economic system.  As a politician, Vladimir Lenin was a persuasive orator, as a political scientist his extensive theoretic and philosophical developments of Marxism produced Marxism–Leninism, the pragmatic Russian application of Marxism.

Buryatian singers in their beautiful costumes waiting their turn to sing at the stage shown below to celebrate  Independance Day.

There were different performers all day long and into the night which ended with a fireworks display.

The Opera House across the street from where we live.  Our computer station is at a window that overlooks the Opera House.  The Buryat National Academic House of Opera and Ballet was established in 1949. Since then the theatre has staged a large variety of performances of Russian, Buryat and world musical art. Many outstanding workers of opera and ballet art have contributed greatly to the development of its traditions. The theatre is well known by its dancers and singers. It has been a laboratory for creating national opera and ballet, the advocate of the best works of Russian and world classical art. The repertoire of the theatre is varied and includes performances to satisfy sophisticated interests of its admirers. The theatre has been assigned the status of the specially valuable Russian cultural heritage object.  It is located at the address: 51 Lenin ulitsa.  The Opera House is currently closed for renovation.  It is being renovated by the same company who is building our new chapel in Ulan-Ude.

Back of the Opera House showing its magnificent articturical structure and the terraces.

Please double click on the photo see the Buddhist Datsan located at the top of the hill, which is at the end of  Marchutka 97 route.  This picture was taken from the top of another hill over looking the city, we hiked up here as a zone last week.  President Zenchov, the Elder's Quorum President, hikes up here every morning for his personal prayers.

Sister Moleff is by the scary figure.  Each Datsan has such scary figures to ward-off evil spirits. 

A view from the Datsan overlooking the Ulan-Ude valley.  The river is the Selenga and we are looking towards Mongolia.  We like to come up here to enjoy the view.  Sister Moleff also enjoys the Datsan gift shop.

This grove of trees is on the top of the hills above Ulan-Ude.  A favorite place for President Zenkov to be alone for prayers.

A sample of the many different wildflowers that grow on the hills above Ulan-Ude.

This is Babaluba; if the rest of the Church members had the faith of this grandmother, Satan would have no power over the hearts of men.  Elder Harper and Elder Wilson took us to meet her the first night we were here.  The first thing I noticed about her was the light in her eyes.