Buddhist Sights of Transbaikalia | The Lake Baikal Guidebook

Ivolginsky Datsan

We invite everyone, who is interested in eastern culture, Buddhist and shamanist peoples by traditions to join us in a unique spiritual adventure. Pilgrimage on sacred places is the most ancient spiritual practice known in all traditions. The participants will visit Buddhist temples and sacred places, where Buddhist yogis have done meditation practice, will visit the special places of power ancient shamans and curative sources. During the travel participants could communicate with Buddhist lamas, receive consultations from the astrologists and doctors of the Tibetan medicine, observe living shaman's rituals. According to preliminary applications the adjusting of itinerary and prolongation of travel on Buddhist places of Mongolia is possible by the wishes of the participants.

1 day - reception and accommodation of the visitors in hotel. Excursions in Ivolginski datsan (Buddhist monastery) and ethnographic museum.

2 day - Beginning of auto travel 1 (2 450 kms). Visit Atsagatski datsan and museum of Agvan Dorzhiev in the village Atsagat (Zaigraevski district RB). Visit of ruins Aninski datsan (Khorinski district RB). Visit Egituiski datsan (Eravninski district RB). Extension of a day time route is 350 kms.

3 day - Departure from Egituiski datsan at 9AM. Visit of Kizhinginski datsan (Kizhinginski district RB). Night time in Aginskoe (Aginsk Buryat Autonomous district).Extension of a day time route is 800 kms.

4 day - Departure from Aginsk. Visit of Aginski datsan (Aginski Buryat national district). Visit Tsugolski datsan (Aginski Buryat íŕö. A district). Night time in village Mogoitui. Extension of a day time route is 300 kms.

5 day - Visit of a sacred mountain Alhanai and its curative water sources. Extension of a day time route is 150 kms.

6 day - Ascension on a sacred mountain Alhanai.

7 day - Departure in Ulan-Ude. Extension of a day time route is 750 kms.

8 day - Day of the rest.

9 day - Beginning of auto travel 2 (1 150ęě). Trip on lake of Baikal. Night time on a health resort Goryachinsk. Extension of a day time route is 200 kms.

10 day - Visit of Kurumkanski datsan (Kurumkanski district RB). Visit to practising shamans. Extension of a day time route is 300 kms.

11 day - Departure on Alla water sources (thermal sources). Extension of a day time route is 50 kms.

12 day - Departure on Garga water sources (thermal sources). Extension of a day time route is 100 kms.

13 day - Pedestrian campaign in piedmonts Bargusin mountains. Extension of a day time route is 20 kms.

14 day - Trip on lake of Baikal, rest in the village Maximiha. Extension of a day time route is 200 kms.

15 day - departure in Ulan-Ude. Extension of a day time route is 300 kms.

Kizhinginskaya valley

In a southeast of republic Buryatiya, near to border of the Chita area, was stretched Kizhinginskaya valley. The small rivers - Kizhinga and Kodun, under of which the two valleys were named, smoothly flow among hills and woods on wide steppe. Than they flowing together at a mountain Chelsana, turn to north to Uda-river and further to Baikal. Kizhinginskaya a valley is one of picturesque places of republic, land glorified in verses and songs.

The name "Kizhinga" occurs from Manchurian word "Kesinge", that in translation means made "happy". Since olden days 11 kins of Buryat tribe Khori were settled on these valleys. They considered a bird Swan their foremother , which has given birth eleven perfect sons from Khoridoj-mergen. . The perfect legend is alive till now and the people carefully keeps it in mind and worships. There are a lot of the buddhist's sights, nature sights, mud and mineral springs arshan in Kizhinga's area of republic Buryatiya. The buddhist's monastery is located in a beauty spot Burgastai, where the Stupa Jarunkhashor, sister of the world famous Nepalian Stupa Svayambunath, is under construction. The mountain Chelsana is a residence of White old man Sagaan Ubegen (owner of surroundings), here come men from Kizhinginskaya valley by birth and make tribute, will annually be carried out(spent) oboo ritual rites propitiate of spirits. In woods near mineral sources the summer develops (unwrapped) spontaneous wild resorts. The mineral sources of Kizhinginskaya valley do not concede on curative influence Tunka and Chita sources. Also . Kizhinga is a native land famous buddhist's philosopher Bidia Dandaron proclaimed per 50 years Tantra on West! . His European followers come to native land of Master, make pilgrim to places his meditation retreat to waterfall Suarhe.

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In 2000 in Kizhingski district of Buriatia the project on professional training of the managers and guides ecotourism due to support given was carried out on the basis of the Agreement on cooperation between Institute of sustainable communities and USAID. Within the framework of this project the professional managers and guides ecotourism were prepared, the routes for acquaintance of the travellers with natural and cultural monuments are developed.