Buryat capital of Buddhist datsan temples near Baikal
Buryatia's capital glows with the golden roofs of Buddhist datsan temples that escaped Soviet destruction, creating an architectural fusion of Asian spirituality in the Russian far east. The city's large Buryat population maintains shamanistic and Buddhist traditions, making it profoundly different from Slavic Russian cities. The Odigo River divides the old and new towns, each with distinct character.
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