Tran-Siberian 07: Irkutsk City Tour - Yekaterinburg

"Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve..." – Napoleon Hill

(Prowling red sable at Irkutsk Moscow Gate)

Day 07: Wednesday, 8 May 2024
Route: Irkutsk City Tour
Train Route: Irkutsk to Yekaterinburg (56 hrs)

We had our last breakfast at the Central Hotel of Irkurst restaurant. By 0900 hrs we checked-out and kept our luggage in the hotel.

(Having breakfast before we checked out)

This morning we went for Irkutsk city tour on our own. The van dropped us at the Irkutsk Angara Waterfront where we began our walking tour. The main square was being prepped for the upcoming May 9 Victory Day commemorating Russian victory over Germany in the World War Two.

(Preparation for the Victory Day celebration)

Irkutsk is one of the largest cities in Siberia, the capital of the Irkutsk region. It is located in Eastern Siberia, on the banks of the Angara River, at the confluence with the Irkut River, hence the name of the city. Irkutsk. It is about 66 km to the west of Lake Baikal and about 5,200 km to the east of Moscow.

(Crossing the highway to the waterfront)

(A clean blue Angora River)

Irkutsk was founded in 1661. The settlement received the status of a town in 1686. Later, in 1760, the Siberian Road connected Irkutsk with the European part of the Russian Empire. From the beginning of the 19th century, Siberia in general and Irkutsk in particular became the place where a lot of Russian officers and nobles were exiled for taking part in Decembrist uprising. At the end of the 19th century, about 30% of Irkutsk population consisted of exiles. It was one of the reasons why the city became the cultural and educational center of Siberia.

(A stroll through the park: beautiful buildings and sculptures)

We took a leisure walk along the waterfront. The Angara is a major river in Siberia, which traces a course through Russia's Irkutsk Oblast and Krasnoyarsk Krai. It drains out of Lake Baikal and is the headwater tributary of the Yenisey. It is 1,849 km long.

(The Angara, the only river flowing from Lake Baikal)

Standing on the lower embankment of the Angara is a monument to the teacher surrounded by children. It is located in front of the Pedagogical Institute and Irkutsk State University. It shows a primary school teacher with many students herded around her legs. The noses and ears of the children, and the fingers of the teacher are shiny due to excessive rubbing for luck by the locals!

 

(A Monument to the Teacher)

A triumphal arch which is known as the Moskovskie or Moscow Gates marks the entrance to the city if coming from the European part of Russia. Construction of the gates began in 1811 to mark the 10 year anniversary of Emperor Alexander I's reign. The Moscow Gate attracts tourists and newlyweds for photo sessions.

(The Arc de triomphe of Irkutsk)

(A friendly red Sable at the Moscow Gate) 

Next place of attraction was the Old quarter Kvatel 130 Irkutsk. It is a small historic area of Irkutsk where old houses built back in the 17th century stood abandoned for many years but have been restored in the last couple of years. The area is now the hippest part of the city with restaurants, museums, bars lining the streets and facades of beautifully restored old wooden houses.

(The Irkutsk babr with a sable in its mouth)

(Siberia most impressive original timber architecture)

(Recreation of an entire quarter of wooden buildings)

(A pleasant place to stroll)

(Accompanied by a friendly chubby dog)

We had an early lunch of Fish & Chips and Pilaf rice at a Tajikistan Halal Restaurant located near the Irkurst Central Market. We bought a loaf of sliced bread and fruit juice for our 56 hours Tran-Siberian Rail ride to Yekaterinburg later today. Bought some fridge magnets for souvenir and a Buryat beret.

(A large domestic farmers market)

(Wide variety of products from local farmers)

(Beef pilaf and fish and chips for lunch)

From the Central Market the van sent us to Irkutsk Old Mosque for Zohor/Asar prayers. The mosque design was based on samples of stone mosques of the Middle Volga region, in particular, the city of Kazan, which are distinguished by the peculiarity of the influence of European and Orthodox architecture. During Friday prayers, Muslims of different peoples of Russia, Central Asia, the Caucasus and far abroad gather here. The mosque can accommodate two thousand worshippers.

(Irkutsk Cathedral Mosque, the Irkutskaya Sobornaya Mechet)

(A photo with the imam of the Irkutsk old mosque)

(The main prayer hall during Zuhur prayers)

By 1400 hrs the van sent us to Irkutsk Train Station. Expected time of departure was at 1600 hrs but the train was delayed for almost an hour. We finally left the Irkutsk Train Station at 1700 hrs.

(Our cabin for three days)

(A brief stop at smaller train stations)

(The distance between the cities is about 2,815 km)

This second phase of our Trans-Siberian train journey from Irkutsk to Yekaterinburg took approximately 56 hours. We will be spending 3 days and 2 nights on the train.

(Sceneries between train stations)

Tonight we had rice and daging dendeng and sambal bilis for dinner. The two of us occupied a 4-berth cabin which was quite comfortable. There are 2 communal washrooms with toilets and a shower. Hot and cold water is available at the pantry. There is a microwave oven to heat packed food.

(A late sunset in Siberia)

(Rice and dendeng nyet berapi for dinner)

👈👈Day 06: Irkutsk, Lake Baikal, Russia

Day 08: Irkutsk to Yekaterinburg, Russia🚂👉👉