Historically, Buddhism was incorporated into Siberia in the early 17th century. Buddhism is considered to be one of Russia's traditional religions and is legally a part of Russian historical heritage. Besides the historical monastic traditions of Buryatia, Tuva and Kalmykia, the religion of Buddhism is now spreading all over Russia, with many ethnic Russian converts.
Ivolginsky Datsan
Chitinsky Datsan
Hambyn-Hure Datsan in Ulan-Ude
Burkhan Bakshin Monastery in Elista, Republic of Kalmykia
Buryatia, officially the Republic of Buryatia, is a republic of Russia located in the Russian Far East. Formerly part of the Siberian Federal District, it has been administered as part of the Far Eastern Federal District since 2018. It borders Irkutsk Oblast and Lake Baikal, the deepest lake in the world to the north, Zabaykalsky Krai to the east, Tuva to the west and Mongolia to the south. Its capital is the city of Ulan-Ude. It has an area of 351,300 square kilometers (135,600 sq mi) with a population of 978,588. It is home to the indigenous Buryats.
View of Lake Baikal in Buryatia
View of the valley of the Uda near the village of Khorinsk
Landscape of southern Buryatia
Unusual blue diopsidite skarn from the Dovyren Highlands, Buryatia.