Cape Burkhan (Shaman-rock) description and photos - Russia - Siberia: Olkhon Island (Topic)

Cape Burkhan (Shaman rock) description and photo - Russia - Siberia: Olkhon Island. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photos and a map showing the nearest significant objects.

Photo and description

Cape Burkhan, known as Shaman-rock, is a visiting card of Lake Baikal. The cape is located on Olkhon Island, near the village of Khuzhir. Shaman-rock is not only a state natural-historical monument, but also one of the shrines of Asia.

Cape Burkhan got its name after penetration at the end of the XVII century. in the Baikal region of Tibetan Buddhism, which partially replaced shamanism.
In ancient times, cult sacrifices to the owner of Olkhon Island were held on the Shaman Rock.

The two-peaked rock is made of crystalline limestone-marble covered with bright red lichens, and the adjacent shore is made of granite rock, interspersed with hornblende gneiss. Cape Burkhan juts out far into Lake Baikal and is connected to the coast only by a narrow and low isthmus. The isthmus of the Shaman-rock is covered with sediment, passing into the grassy, meadow coast of the neighboring bay.

For a long time, the cave of Cape Burkhan was considered the seat of the master spirit of Olkhon. People were forbidden to approach the residence of Ezhin, the owner of Olkhon. Only the shaman had the right to access here. Earlier, various shamanic rituals were held in the cave, and after a while the altar of Buddha was located here, as evidenced by the preserved inscription in Sanskrit and a rock painting at the foot of the rock.

Women and children were especially forbidden to approach the cape. According to one version, the ban for women is due to the fact that the presence of "sinners" in the cave could desecrate the purity of this sacred place. As for children, according to the conviction of shamans, if a child is very sensitive from birth, staying in this "ghost palace" can cause unpredictable consequences for it.

Near Cape Burkhan, on the rocks, you can see ancient inscriptions in Mongolian and Tibetan languages. Not far from the Shaman Rock, on a white marble rock, there are images of shaman tambourines made by people of the Iron Age. Unfortunately, some of these images were destroyed during the development of white marble for lime burning.

We also recommend reading Hill of Glory description and photo - Crimea: Yalta

Topic: Cape Burkhan (Shaman-rock) description and photos - Russia - Siberia: Olkhon Island.