The area of the temple complex is almost 3,000 square meters. The complex also includes cultural and medical centres, a conference hall and a charitable dining hall.

Buddhism appeared in the Russian Empire in the early XVII century when Kalmyk people acquired Russian allegiance. In 1741, Russian Empress Elizaveta Petrovna approved a manifest according to which Buddhism was declared as one of the religions in the Russian Empire.

Buddhists in Moscow have been expecting the construction of the temple over a decade. In the early 2000s, the stone laying ceremony was held with the participation of the representatives from other confessions. In fact, the Sri Lankan Buddhist community in Moscow also took part in the ceremony and contributed to the construction. It was planned to complete the construction in 2008. However, the construction has not been started yet.

The Moscow Buddhist community has been actively involved in the construction of the temple, says president of the association of Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism Alexander Koibagarov.

“The Moscow Buddhist community is ready to approve the project. Nevertheless, the only problem facing it is the short of cash. However, when we met the chairman of the Buddhist community in Moscow Dulma Shagdarova, and she assured that the Buddhists were ready to start construction,” Koibagarov said.

The presence of about two dozens of Buddhist communities of various trends in Moscow is also a problem in the construction of the temple in the Russian capital, because the temple will belong to one of them. However, for the Buddhist followers to which Buddhist schools the temple will belong is not important, they are interested in the presence of a Buddhist temple in the Russian capital, says chairman of the centre of the Drikung Mahayana school of Buddhism Alexander Dogaev.

“We need a temple, of course. It will be a place of worship and a place where the followers of various schools of Buddhism meet. There has been a Buddhist temple in the capital of the republic of Kalmykia in southern Russia. The followers of various schools of Buddhism gather there to perform their rituals. It is also a cultural and religious centre, as well as a centre of meditation and Buddhist studies. I believe that a similar centre will appear in Moscow, and it will be a cultural and educational centre for the followers of all schools of Buddhism. As far as I know, the centre plans to invite teachers from various schools of Buddhism,” Dogaev said.

The construction will start with the building of a stupa. Buddhists in Moscow also hope that a Buddhist temple will be built at the memorial complex on the Poklonnaya Hills. At present, there are an Orthodox Church, a Mosque and a Synagogue. It was planned to build a stupa several years ago. It should be not only a monument to Buddhists having who sacrificed their lives in the Great Patriotic War, but also a symbol of public harmony and the integrity of Russia.
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