Kalmykia - Calmucchia

Kalmykia is a region of the Russia.

To know

The Republic of Kalmykia (in Russian: Респуяблика Калмыкия, Kalmyk: Хальм Тангч) is an autonomous republic of Russian Federation.

Background

The peculiarity of this republic is given by the fact that it is the only European territory in which a substantial portion of the population professes Tibetan Buddhism. The Russians began to use the term "Kalmyk" in the sixteenth century, learning it from the Tatars, and then also use the name Oyirad, which was instead of Mongolian origin. It was the Kalmyks (and not the Mongols) who controlled that vast area, known as the "Great Tataria" or "Calmucco Empire", which stretched from the Great Wall of China to the Don River, from the Himalayas to Siberia.

The European steppes, thanks to the humid air coming from the Atlantic Ocean, have always been much more welcoming than the Asian ones. Precisely for this reason, in the past centuries, the nomadic tribes of Central Asia often tried to gain control of the vast plains of Eastern Europe. The first were the Hungarians (whom the Kalmyks called Uugr) in the 8th century, then it was the turn of the Tatars (Mangyd in the Kalmyk language) in the 13th century; finally came the Kalmyks (or, as they call themselves, Dörvn Öörd, ie "the four allies") in the 17th century.

Chief Torghuud, Khoo Örlög, decided to move west in the early 17th century. But not because of a mythical internal struggle against the Kalmyks, created by the Khoshuud tribe. Khoo Örlög was not a refugee. He leads the Torghuuds and part of the Dörvuuds. Khoshuud and Ölööd joined them almost a century later. The Kalmyks reached the steppes of southeastern Europe in 1630. The land was not free, it was home to the powerful Nogai hordes. But under the pressure of the Kalmyk warriors, the Nogay fled to the Crimea and the Kuban River. All other nomads of the European steppes became vassals of the Kalmyk Khan.

The Kalmyks did not settle only around Astrakhan on the Volga delta. The Kalmyk dominions extended from the Urals to the River Terek and still maintained a close link with the remaining Kalmyks in the Central Asian homeland. Allied with Russia, the Torghuuds thrived during the reign of Ayuki Khan, who was awarded the title of Khan by the sixth Dalai Lama.

At the end of the 18th century, disappointed by the growing Russian interference, Kalmyk Khan and Ubashi, Ayuki's grandson, decided to return to their homeland. By order of the Khan some 200,000 Kalmyks began an unprecedented march towards Central Asia. After almost seven months, the Kalmyks managed to reach the outposts in Manchuria around Lake Balkhaš. The view that only a few survived the risky journey was created by the propaganda of Imperial Russia.

Kalmykia obtained the status of autonomous oblast on November 4, 1920, and was elevated to the status of an autonomous republic by the Russian SSFS on October 22, 1935. In 1943, republic status was revoked and Kalmykia was placed directly under the control of the central government. .

Forced collectivization was a social, economic and cultural disaster, unsuitable for the Kalmyk temperament and the dry, treeless environment. During World War II Stalin, after having witnessed the deployment of the Kalmyks with the Germans and the formation of the Kalmucken Kavallerie Korps due to local resentment for the Soviet regime, at the end of the conflict he deported the entire Kalmyk nation without warning to Siberia, on wagons. cattle in the middle of winter. Half of the deportees perished during the journey and in the subsequent years of exile, an ethnic cleansing hitherto unknown to the outside world.

Due to the widespread dispersion in Siberia, the Kalmyk language and culture have suffered a probably irreversible decline. Khrushchev allowed their return in 1957, when they found their homes, jobs and land occupied by Russian and Ukrainian immigrants, who remained there. Nevertheless, on January 9, 1957, Kalmykia again became an autonomous oblast and on July 29, 1958, an autonomous republic of the Russian Federation. After the dissolution of the USSR, Kalmykia maintained the status of an autonomous republic within the Russian Federation as of March 31, 1992.

Spoken languages

The Russian and the Kalmyk are the main languages ​​spoken in the area.

Culture and traditions

Kalmykia is the only Buddhist state in Europe, all the architecture, festivals, clothes and customs, therefore, follow those that can be observed in Tibet in a wonderful synthesis with the Russian local characters.

Territories and tourist destinations

Urban centers

Other destinations

How to get

Although it is an autonomous republic, Kalmykia is still part of the Russian Federation. So, in terms of visas and passports, the same rules apply as for a trip to other parts of the Russia.

By plane

The capital Elista has a small airport that connects Kalmykia to Moscow it's at St.Pietroburgo.

On the train

There is a direct Moscow-Elista that passes through Stavropol ' but bear in mind that it can cost a lot and the journey will be long. The best solution is to arrive (by train or plane) at Volgograd and from there take a maršrutka to Elista, which will cost you much less.

How to get around

What see

• Buddhist Golden Temple (Золотая обитель Будды Шакьямуни) (to Elista). It is a huge Buddhist temple completed in 2005 and immediately became an unmissable attraction in the Kalmyk capital. 
• Lotus flower crops. Directly inspired by the Buddhist religion, entire lotus meadows have blossomed here, a fascinating sight for all green-fingered tourists. 
• Goddess of abundance (БОЖЕСТВО БОГАТСТВА). In Kalmykia you will find many fountains dedicated to this goddess; it is recommended to offer a votive gift to the goddess in the form of a yellow or white coin. It is a gesture highly regarded by the locals who will see you. 

What to do

• The national sport of Kalmykia has long been the game of Chess. Therefore you will find more or less official competitions in every city and as long as you know how to express yourself with the locals it will not be difficult at all to learn this game or join a competition.

• In the nature reserves fishing and hunting are very popular but find out about protected species in advance.
• The Kalmyks pass down from generation to generation the ancient dances of their people and their culture. If you are lucky and you arrive here for some local festival you will be amazed by the beauty of these ancient and traditional dances.
• Horseback riding is another popular pastime here in Kalmykia.
• Observation and study of tulips: April and May are the months dedicated to this flower and organizing a tour in one of the reserves dedicated to it will be very easy in those months.

At the table

• Berk - Traditional Kalmyk dish very similar to gnocchi but stuffed with meat and much larger than Italian ones.
• Borcg - Fried bread that goes with any dish.
• Machan Šeltagan - Hot soup with potatoes and meat.
• Dotur - Lamb meat dish.
• Bortsoki - Typical sweets of the area.

Drinks

Apart from the beer which is the most popular drink even if in varieties typical only of Kalmykia and quite different from ours, also try:

• Džomba - Also called Kalmyk tea it is a drink based on tea, milk, butter, salt and various spices (anise, bergenia etc ..., to varying degrees depending on who prepares it).
• Kumis - Drink made from fermented mare's milk. The local population produces it at home and considers it a highly curative drink.
• Araka - Drink derived from Ayran (yogourt water and salt) fermented to obtain a vodka similar to milk. In addition to Kalmykia it is one of the typical drinks of Kazakhstan andNorth Ossetia.

Tourist infrastructure

In Elista, the capital, there is no problem finding tourist infrastructures (hotels, information centers, restaurants) but in the rest of the region you should inform yourself before leaving.

Safety

Kalmykia is a fairly quiet land and in general also characterized by a healthy air and high quality food and drink although very different from those in Europe. Just be careful not to drink water from springs or springs as it contains a high content of various salts and minerals. From April to September, bring sunscreen with you.

Other projects

• Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Kalmykia
• Commons contains images or other files on Kalmykia

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