Eastern flavor of Kalmykia

Kalmykia is perhaps the most unusual place in Europe. Here is the only European desert, a real desert with dunes and sandstorms. Here lives the only people of the Mongolian race and Buddhist faith in Europe, who came here from distant Asia almost four centuries ago. Elista is the capital of Kalmykia. Elista is considered the chess capital of Russia, everything here is imbued with the spirit of chess, and many of the city's sights are associated with chess. The capital of Kalmykia is also, together with Ulan-Ude, one of the largest Buddhist centers in Russia.