Bodhidharma Datsan, Warm Springs and Cape Shaman

At the beginning of the XVII century Buddhism penetrated from Tibet into the territory of Lake Baikal.
The Bodhidharma Datsan was built in 1911. Datsan is translated from Tibetan as "monastic school". Every day services are held in Bodhidharma Datsan.
Shamanism and Buddhism in Buryatia are harmoniously intertwined. On your way to Datsan you are likely to notice several "towers" made of stones - This is an ancient place, the Sacred Glade. The towers are called oboo, which means "a hundred thousand stones" in Tibetan. It's how the Buryats worship the spirits of nature.

There are several mineral springs in Arshan. You can take water with you at the Bronze Boy spring. It is carbonated, tasty and quite cold.
There is a "drinking pavilion" on the territory of the sanatorium with mineral water resembling Narzan. However, it is open only at certain hours.
Walking around Arshan, you will see a grove tied with colored ribbons. Most likely, you are at the "eye spring". The water here is rich in iron and is good for your eyes.

In 2014, an unusual natural attraction appeared in Arshan - the Stone River.
After heavy rains a stream of water, earth and stones came down from the mountains. It swept away everything in its path, breaking trees. And stopped behind the territory of the sanatorium "Sayany". The guests were very lucky.
The fallen trees were eventually removed, but it is not easy to move so many rocks. They really remind a river with a wide bed. You can make atmospheric photos here.

Tal peak is the largest of the extinct volcanoes. It is severely destroyed, but a crater up to 6 metres deep is preserved.
Several thousand years ago, volcanoes were actively erupting. The red-hot lava flowed 70 kilometers down. Layers of solidified lava in some places are up to 1.5 km thick.
It is now safe to walk the hills and climb the peaks. Thanks to volcanic activity, the national park is now home to fertile fields and hot springs.

In the past century, oil was searched for in the vicinity of the village of Zhemchug. Instead, they found two healing thermal springs with unique water.
In the well R-1 water has methane and a small amount of radon and hydrogen sulfide. The smell is not very pleasant, but it is good for your health. The water temperature here is 38 °C.
In pool G-1 is more complex composition, close to Essentuki. The temperature of the spring is 56 °C.

• You should bring a towel, swimsuit and slippers. The water is beneficial if you do not bathe more than 10-15 minutes a day.

There are contraindications to bathing in thermal springs.
Opening hours: 10:00-20:00.

After the springs, the most pleasant thing is to relax and not to rush anywhere. Especially when there is a cafe with tasty bouzas and local chebureks.
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

According to a legend, the mound of the leader of the Tatar-Mongolian army was preserved in the village of Tibelti.
Still, it looks like a beautiful fairy tale. The Mongols were nomads, they did not arrange special funeral rites. They, of course, honored the memory of their ancestors, but they preferred to hide the burial sites.
According to one version, when they buried Genghis Khan, they let a herd of horses past his grave, so that no one would find the burial place and desecrate it.

Kultuk is the first and oldest settlement of Russians in the south of Baikal. The settlement was founded in 1647. Irkutsk appeared 14 years later.
At the end of the 18th century the Great Tea Way, a caravan road to Mongolia and China, started from here.
The same name is given to the local southwest wind. It often blows in unexpectedly. It happens in spring in clear weather and in autumn, bringing with it a storm. It can be predicted by fog on the Khamar Daban range.
The observation platform offers a beautiful view of the surroundings.

The cape, sacred to the Buryats, is called Aikha Shulun, translated as "fearful stone".
According to a legend, sacrifices were once held here and a shaman was buried in one of the caves. Symbolically from here Baikal begins. On old photographs and postcards one can see the Khobot rock close to the Shaman cape; it was blown up in the last century.
Archaeologists have found traces of Neolithic people here, and locals have seen rock paintings.

The Circum-Baikal railway - one of the most expensive and beautiful railroads in the world - starts from Slyudyanka-2 station.
Until the 50s it was an active part of the Trans-Siberian Railway, later it was flooded when the Angara HPP was launched. The section from Baikal settlement to Slyudyanka II station became a dead end.

You can have dinner in a cozy cafe. The menu includes delicious burgers, pastas, salads. Locals say that this cafe has the tastiest pizza. And there is also a warm atmosphere and friendly staff.
The cafe is open from Tuesday to Sunday.

A good place to relax after a busy day.