Kalmykia (Republic)

Kalmykia is the only Buddhist region in Europe. Most of the religious population in this republic, located in the European part of Russia, practice a traditional form of Tibetan Buddhism. There are several dozen Buddhist temples and monasteries (khuruls), the most beautiful of which is the ‘Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni’ in the center of Elista, the capital of Kalmykia. 

Elista is also known as the chess capital of Russia (in addition to Khanty-Mansiysk). It even has its own ‘Chess City’ - a large sports, social, business and cultural complex, where national and international chess tournaments are regularly held.