The town of Kyakhta

The town of Kyakhta is an administrative centre of Kyakhtinsky region. It is located on the Russian - Mongolian frontier. The town has received its name from the Buryat word "hyag", that in translation into Russian means "wheat grass".

The town has the status of " Historical town of Russia ”, its past abounds in the events connected to the history of the Russian - Chinese relations, Russian trade and merchants, epoch of geographical discoverings in the Central Asia.

The construction of the town had began since 1727 when Russian cossacks had founded the Troitskaya fortress, which later turned into the town of Troitskosavsk. In a year, after signing the Russian - Chinese treatise about frontier and trade relations by the authoriized ambassador of Russia, Savva Lukich Vladislavich-Raguzinsky, a trading sloboda (a village) was founded 4 versts far from the fortress. Opposite to it on the Chinese side appeared a Chinese trading village Maymachen, nowadays it is a town of Altan-Bulak. The town of Troitskosavsk and a village Kyakhta in the course of time formed the united settlement which received in 1934 the official name of the town of Kyakhta. The town is located in the valley of a small Kyakhta-river, in sandy steppe, therefore, it used to be frequently called “sandy Venice”. The climate here is dry and sharply continental, with hot summer and poorly snowed winter.

The growth of Kyakhta was caused owing to the development of the Russian - Chinese trade, that resulted in appearance of rich estate of Kyakhtinsky merchants, whose charity helped to build the majority of buildings of прием чая в гостином дворе Кяхтаthe town, also churches which distinguished in monumentalism and richness of architecture and design. In the XVIII century Kyakhta became widely known as the main trading center in the east of Russia. It played the role of a link in trade relations between the West and the East. It was crossed by a world famous trading “Tea way ”, and so Kyakhta half-officially was called “ the Russian capital of tea ”, “ a gold gate of Russia ” or “Moscow in the east ”.

During its blossoming Kyakhta was the city where compactly lived the largest in the world number of merchants - millionaires, for that it was frequently called the “ city of millionaires ”. It was famous not only in Russian empire, also it was known in Europe, England and America, in the Central Asian states. Many ways led here - diplomatic, trading, regional geographic, there was hardly a man travelling in Eastern Siberia who didn’t visit this city.

The city developed not only as an advanced post of trade but also as the centre of culture and spirituality, its inhabitants paid much attention to knowledge, education, literature, art and science. Many famous scientists, statesmen, public figures and writers left a bright trace in the history of Kyakhta. Plenty of travellers enthusiastically responded about Kyakhta, marking its vigorous public life and perspective future. Especially the hospitality of Kyakhtinsky merchants was noted, who welcomed visitors with constant kindness.

About 200 years lasted the epoch of creation of a unique image of the town, one of the most interesting towns of Russia.

During the Revolution and Civil war there happened events, data about which is kept in archives. Kyakhta had an important value as a large political and military centre influencing the course of events in this region. This value of the town is kept till now. Frontier armies of Russia are located nowadays in Kykhta and around it.

Later the town developed as a frontier trading and industrial centre in the south of Buryatia. New districts have been built and the number of the population has increased. But from the present point of view, Kyakhta has remained one of small towns and due to that it has kept its originality and image of ancient merchant town. In the central part of the town there are many historical buildings representing samples of architecture of XVIII-XIX centuries of the last millennium. Some objects are widely popular. One of such objects is the building of Kyakhtinsky museum of regional studies, the oldest museum of Buryatia, which collected the most interesting and often unique materials, its exposition constantly attracts high attention among visitors.

The outstanding past of the town determines nowadays its future. Now Kyakhta gradually becomes one of the centres of cultural tourism attracting , first of all, with its picturesque, protogenic sight, and also history, which is one of the most interesting pages in the history of Russia. The geographical position of the town is very convenient. It is the first town of Russia for those, who travel from the countries of Asia, and passing it, one can go to Mongolia from Russia and further to other countries of Asia.

The traditions of Kyakhtinsky trade are kept now as well. Frontier trade actively develops, the construction of the trading terminal is being conducted. The town administration is ready to support projects and investments in the development of trading and tourist business.

In the town develops the sphere of service, leisure and entertainments. Tourists are admitted in 4 small hotels. The number of places in them does not achieve 100 yet, that limits the opportunities of reception, but, at the same time, it has some advantages as there is no while a big stream of tourists and, therefore, a town life preserves its a bit patriarchal rhythm. There are several shops, some cafes and bars which offer dishes of both European and national cuisines. One can use the services of gasoline stations and car repair shops, enjoy entertainments in the house of culture with a disco and a cinema, in the park of rest, there are also points of currency exchange, a computer club and a point of free entrance the Internet.

On the Russian - Mongolian border there is the international automobile transition through which the tourists travelling by car can go to the territory of Russia or to leave it. They are able to do it also, travelling by train. All frontier formalities, in that case, are made in the station of Naushki which is 29 kms far from the town.The distance from Ulan-Ude to Kyakhta is 235 kms and regular minibuses ply between them.

Around Kyakhta there are plenty of natural and historical-cultural objects where it is possible to make excursions. Basically they are objects of archeology. There are no tourist agencies in the town yet, therefore, it is better to order an excursion trip to Kyakhta in the agencies working in the city of Ulan-Ude or to address to the Administration of the region and to Kyakhtinsky museum of regional studies. At present the Administration of the Kyakhtinsky region has the department of trade which is carrying out functions on development sphere of tourism.