Ivolginsky Datsan (Ulan Ude) FAQs In 2026 - 2027

Ivolginsky Datsan is the center of Buddhism in Russia. It is a Buddhist monastery located in the Republic of Buryatia near the city of Ulan-Ude. This spiritual center serves not only as a place of worship and pilgrimage but also as a residence for monks, a cultural education center, and a museum of Russian and Tibetan Buddhist artifacts.

Ivolginsky Datsan was established in 1945. It was the first Buddhist monastery to be opened in the Soviet Union after the period of religious purges.

The main attractions at Ivolginsky Datsan include the main temple, which houses impressive thangkas (Buddhist paintings), statues, and a collection of Buddhist literature. Visitors can also see the Hambo Lama Itigelov Palace, a museum displaying Buddhist artifacts, and sometimes, the preserved body of Hambo Lama Itigelov himself, a revered monk whose body is said to have miraculously remained incorrupt after death.