Sharkan Nature Park, the estate of Tol Babay and the knitwear factory offer different perspectives on nature, Udmurt culture and craftsmanship. When planning your trip, it is important to consider not only the themes but also the ways to visit: house tours and games, a workshop offered by arrangement, and a factory tour with a set weekly time slot are subject to different conditions.
Nature Park: Conservation and Recreation
Sharkan Nature Park in Sharkan is a specially protected natural area with ecologically and aesthetically valuable natural complexes and features. Its purposes are nature conservation, environmental education and recreation; protecting the natural environment is therefore just as important as recreation. In the Udmurt Republic, the park lies between the Ita and Sharkan rivers and covers around 16,000 hectares. Around 507 species of higher plants grow there—about half of the republic’s total flora. Five functional zones have been designated: a protection zone, a reserve zone, a zone for organized tourism and recreation, a zone for traditional use, and a buffer zone. This division shows that conservation, traditional use and organized tourism serve different purposes in the park.
Tol Babay: Homes, Customs and Crafts
At Tol Babay’s estate, tours are offered of Tol Babay’s house or the house of Obyda-Kar, the Udmurt Baba Yaga. Workshops on making souvenirs are also available by arrangement. Visitors can also take part in Udmurt folk games and traditional customs. Each option has a different focus: a house tour explores one of the two named houses, a workshop focuses on making souvenirs, and the games and customs involve taking part in Udmurt traditions. Some activities may require advance arrangements, so check the visiting arrangements beforehand.
Tol Babay’s estate in the village of Sharkan, in the Udmurt Republic, also includes a carved wooden house, a children’s play area, a horse yard and a café serving Udmurt dishes. Check that the facilities are currently open before your visit.
Factory Tour by Advance Booking
The Sharkan knitwear factory specializes in women’s knitwear. Tourists can visit the workshops, production areas and equipment on a guided tour. Unlike the souvenir workshops offered by arrangement, a factory visit requires booking by phone; tours take place on Tuesdays between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Confirm the current arrangements before your visit.
Mythological and Religious Motifs
The “Skazochnaya polyana” in Sharkan is a clearing surrounded by wooden statues of Udmurt spirits and gods. The figures give the place a mythological focus. Also in Sharkan is the “Skoroposlushnitsa” icon, historically considered an Orthodox shrine of Udmurtia. If you would like to visit the icon, check its current accessibility in advance.
Discover more destinations: Votkinsk, Leninskiy, Mozhga, Khokhryaki, Yar, Sarapul, Pedonovo, Pirogovo.
Return to the regional travel guide: Udmurt Republic.
