Khuzhir
The Starting Point to Discover Olkhon Island
Khuzhir village is the capital of «Pearl of Baikal» Olkhon Island. The town is tiny, but exploring the whole Island will take about two days. Read about how to spend your time discovering Olkhon Island and its attractions by the link on the right. In this topic, we will tell you about Khuzhir tourist attractions.
Khuzhir
The Starting Point to Discover Olkhon Island
Khuzhir village is the capital of «Pearl of Baikal» Olkhon Island. The town is tiny, but exploring the whole Island will take about two days. Read about how to spend your time discovering Olkhon Island and its attractions by the link on the right. In this topic, we will tell you about Khuzhir tourist attractions.
Khuzhir on the map
What’s interesting in Khuzhir?
- Village population – about 1500 people
- The village is situated in the center of Olkhon Island
- Khuzhir is a significant touristic point in the Baikal region
- Shaman Rock and 13 Columns of Serge
What’s interesting in Khuzhir?
- Village population – about 1500 people
- The village is situated in the center of Olkhon Island
- Khuzhir is a significant touristic point in the Baikal region
- Shaman Rock and 13 Columns of Serge
Khuzhir Attractions
In the past, Khuzhir was a small fishing village. But over time, the number of international tourists increased, and Khuzhir became a starting point to explore the Island.
However, tourists can see not only the Baikal wild nature – there are some exciting places for them in the village itself.
A place near Khuzhir. Photographer Oleg Dolgikh
A place near Khuzhir. Photographer Oleg Dolgikh
Serge columns. Photographer Oleg Dolgikh
Shaman Rock. Photographer Lev Belykh
Shaman Rock. Photographer Oleg Dolgikh
Local History Museum named after N. Revyakin
Nikolay Revyakin was a teacher of the local school in Khuzhir. In the early 1950s, he organized special classes of local history. After few years, based on these classes was created the Museum of Local History.
Currently, the Museum has a collection of more than 5,000 items covering the Island’s history up to the present day. There are various things of the Buryats’ life, including rocks and minerals, religious worship objects, mysterious shamanism items, and shamanic customs.
13 Columns of Serge
Serge had an essential part in the life of Buryats in the past. The word «Serge» means hitching post (a column for tying a horse). Usually, Buryats put Serge near the entrance in a town, house, or a sacred place, where live spirits. These columns were like a sign for any stranger that this land, home, or territory has an owner.
According to one version, the columns have three notchings: the lower one was for guests of the place. The second or middle notching was for a master of the Serge. And the upper notching was for Gods and Spirits.
Today tourists can see 13 Serge near Shaman Rock. Visiting this sacred place of power, do not forget to make a wish and tie a colored band on the column. Different colors of the bands symbolize specific desires: white means thanksgiving to local spirits and hope for their help; green – asking Trees and Grass for health; by the red stripe, you ask the Sun for wealth and prosperity.
Shaman Rock
Shaman Rock situating near Khuzhir village, is the most famous attraction on Baikal. The Rock with two peaks admires for its beauty and power. The Buryat people believe that the cave inside the Rock is the home of the Son of God Khan-Khute Baabay.
He was the oldest of the thirteen sons whom God sent to make a judgment upon men. Descended to the earth, Khan-Khute chose the Rock as his home. The Son of God became the master of the Island Olkhon and the protector of the entire shaman religion of the North.
No wonder that in ancient times Shaman Rock was used for shamanistic rituals and sacrifices. Nowadays, local people treat this place with great respect and care.
Shaman Rock is also called Burkhan Cape. These two names mean the same place
Oshchepkov Art Gallery
There are thousands of published photos of Olkhon Island. But paintings of Vladimir Oshchepkov and Arina Yatsynorich are unrealistically beautiful! In their arts one can see not only the beauty of Baikal’s nature, but a reflection of life as it is seen by an ordinary person at the very heart of the Great Lake — Olkhon Island.
Since 1992, the artists live permanently on Olkhon Island, in Khuzhir. They designed and built their own studio with an art salon and gallery, where their own works are exhibited.
In addition, gallery visitors can buy a picture as a souvenir.
Khuzhir Attractions
In the past, Khuzhir was a small fishing village. But over time, the number of international tourists increased, and Khuzhir became a starting point to explore the Island.
However, tourists can see not only the Baikal wild nature – there are some exciting places for them in the village itself.
A place near Khuzhir. Photographer Oleg Dolgikh
Local History Museum named after N. Revyakin
Nikolay Revyakin was a teacher of the local school in Khuzhir. In the early 1950s, he organized special classes of local history. After few years, based on these classes was created the Museum of Local History.
Currently, the Museum has a collection of more than 5,000 items covering the Island’s history up to the present day. There are various things of the Buryats’ life, including rocks and minerals, religious worship objects, mysterious shamanism items, and shamanic customs.
A place near Khuzhir. Photographer Oleg Dolgikh
13 Columns of Serge
Serge had an essential part in the life of Buryats in the past. The word «Serge» means hitching post (a column for tying a horse). Usually, Buryats put Serge near the entrance in a town, house, or a sacred place, where live spirits. These columns were like a sign for any stranger that this land, home, or territory has an owner.
According to one version, the columns have three notchings: the lower one was for guests of the place. The second or middle notching was for a master of the Serge. And the upper notching was for Gods and Spirits.
Today tourists can see 13 Serge near Shaman Rock. Visiting this sacred place of power, do not forget to make a wish and tie a colored band on the column. Different colors of the bands symbolize specific desires: white means thanksgiving to local spirits and hope for their help; green – asking Trees and Grass for health; by the red stripe, you ask the Sun for wealth and prosperity.
Serge columns. Photographer Oleg Dolgikh
Shaman Rock
Shaman Rock situating near Khuzhir village, is the most famous attraction on Baikal. The Rock with two peaks admires for its beauty and power. The Buryat people believe that the cave inside the Rock is the home of the Son of God Khan-Khute Baabay.
He was the oldest of the thirteen sons whom God sent to make a judgment upon men. Descended to the earth, Khan-Khute chose the Rock as his home. The Son of God became the master of the Island Olkhon and the protector of the entire shaman religion of the North.
No wonder that in ancient times Shaman Rock was used for shamanistic rituals and sacrifices. Nowadays, local people treat this place with great respect and care.
Shaman Rock is also called Burkhan Cape. These two names mean the same place
Shaman rock. Photographer Oleg Dolgikh
Shaman Rock. Photographer Lev Belykh
Oshchepkov Art Gallery
There are thousands of published photos of Olkhon Island. But paintings of Vladimir Oshchepkov and Arina Yatsynorich are unrealistically beautiful! In their arts one can see not only the beauty of Baikal’s nature, but a reflection of life as it is seen by an ordinary person at the very heart of the Great Lake — Olkhon Island.
Since 1992, the artists live permanently on Olkhon Island, in Khuzhir. They designed and built their own studio with an art salon and gallery, where their own works are exhibited.
In addition, gallery visitors can buy a picture as a souvenir.
How to get to Khuzhir
Learn how to reach Khuzhir and Olkhon Island:
Be cautious in using your car; there can be big queues at the ferry crossing. In the worst-case scenario, you have to spend several hours waiting. But route buses and minibusses use the ferry without queuing. Moreover, there is only one gas station on the Island. Local people prefer not to buy gas there because of its low quality. Therefore, we recommend you buy gas in Irkutsk in advance.
The other way to use public transport is to take a minibus on the Central Market. We marked this place on Irkutsk Map. The price to go from Irkutsk to Khuzhir is 450 roubles. Just find a minibus with the inscription «Olkhon» or «Ольхон» (in the Russian language) and take a seat. Pay directly to the driver when you have arrived at Khuzhir.
The cost is similar for both options.
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How to get to Khuzhir
Learn how to reach Khuzhir and Olkhon Island:
Be cautious in using your car; there can be big queues at the ferry crossing. In the worst-case scenario, you have to spend several hours waiting. But route buses and minibusses use the ferry without queuing. Moreover, there is only one gas station on the Island. Local people prefer not to buy gas there because of its low quality. Therefore, we recommend you buy gas in Irkutsk in advance.
The other way to use public transport is to take a minibus on the Central Market. We marked this place on Irkutsk Map. The price to go from Irkutsk to Khuzhir is 450 roubles. Just find a minibus with the inscription «Olkhon» or «Ольхон» (in the Russian language) and take a seat. Pay directly to the driver when you have arrived at Khuzhir.
The cost is similar for both options.
It is possible to visit Olkhon by ship. This option isn’t cheap, but it’s possible to organize a ferry trip to Olkhon Island.
