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The capital city of Kalmykia republic.
Elista (from Kalmuk “Elst” - sandy) (Stepnoy in 1944-1957) - the city in the southern part of Russia, the capital of Kalmykia Republic. Elista is located in the south-eastern Ergeney, in the very center of Kalmykian steppes.
Elista city population - 103,000 (2009).
Elista phone code - +7 84722. Postal codes - 358000-358014.
By the fall of 1865 there were 15 houses in Elista. This year is considered the year when the city was born. Since the early 20th century Elista became the center of Manych ulus, Chernoyar district, Astrahan region. In February 1918 Soviet power was established in Elista. In 1930 Elista became a town. In August 1942, during the World War II Elista was occupied by German troops. On December, 1942 it was set free by the Soviet Army.
On December, 28th, 1943, the Kalmyk population of Elista was deported by force to Siberia, Kazakhstan and Middle Asia according to Stalin’s accuse in cooperating with Germans. In 1957 the Kalmyks were allowed to come back. From 1944 to 1957 the Kalmyk Autonomous Republic was abolished, Elista was called the town of Stepnoy and was a part of Stavropol region.
Nowadays Elista is a political, administrative, cultural and economic center of the Republic of Kalmykia. The largest Lenin square is in the center of Elista city. There is a fountain “Three lotuses” and a chess board of 5x5 m size there. It is a popular place among young people.
On a high hill in the southern part of the city there is a memorial in honor of the soldiers who set the capital of Kalmykia free - the tankmen of the 6th tank troop of the 28th Army. In 1965 in the park “Drouzhba” the memorial was erected in honor of Komsomol members and partisans who perished during Civil War and World War II.
There is an airport Elista, a bus terminal and a train station in the city. The city transportation consists only of mini vans.
Elista Russia city scenery
Elista Russia city view
Elista Russia city fountain
Among the places of interest in Elista there is a meter and a half statue of Buddha-Shakyamuni, made of white Ural marble. The statue was erected on July, 6th, 1995, on the 60th anniversary of Dalai Lama XIV. Nowadays the rotunda with the statue of Buddha became not only a special decoration of the city but a cult place as well.
Another Elista district - City-Chess - should be mentioned. In its center there is a Palace of Chess build for the purpose of holding chess competitions. City-Chess presents realization of the project New Vasyuki from the novel “12 Chairs”, the avenue heading there is named after Ostap Bender.
The displays at the Palmov Republican Museum of local study show the history of development and growing of the Republic. The Drama theatre in Elista which was opened in 1936, was a great event in the cultural life of Kalmykia Republic and is named after its founder Baatr Basangov.
There are Kalmyk State University, Automobile College, Colleges of Medicine and Culinary, Arts School, classical and other gymnasiums, commercial and technical lyceums, 3 professional schools, high schools and kindergartens in Elista city.
The first Buddhist chapel in Kalmykia, Syakyusyan-Syume, was opened on October, 5th, 1996. It took 4 years to construct the chapel, the money for which was donated by the inhabitants and the President of Kalmykia Kirsan Ilyumzhinov.
On December, 27th, 2005, the biggest Buddhist chapel in Kalmykia Republic was sanctified - the New Central hurul (Golden Home of Buddha Shakyamuni), inside there is the tallest statue of Buddha in Europe.
Elista city administration building
Elista city Dzhangar monument
Elista city Buddhist temple
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