One of the most famous city-squares in the world, the Red Square, situated in the heart of Moscow, reflects its deep historical and iconic importance in Russia’s identity.
The Red Square. L>R: Kremlin, State Historical Museum, GUM. Some construction work was going on there.
I went to the Red Square, known as Krásnaya plóshchad in Russian (Красная площадь क्रास्नया प्लोश्चद) on my second day in Moscow. The Square separates the Kremlin from a historic merchant quarter known as Kitai-gorod. Major streets radiate from here in all directions, thus making it the center of not only Moscow, but all of Russia. Krasnaya Ploshchad is open to the public practically all day. With the fall of communism, the significance of Red Square might have fallen, but it is still one of the most powerful landmarks in the country.
The name of Red Square derives neither from the colour of the bricks around it nor from the link between the colour red and communism. Rather, the name came about because the Russian word красная (krasnaya) can mean either “red” or “beautiful”. The place was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage list in 1990.
Lenin’s Mausoleum
Kremlin and Lenin’s Mausoleum
Lenin’s Tomb, situated in Red Square in Moscow, is the mausoleum that serves as the current resting place of Vladimir Lenin. His embalmed body has been on public display there since the year he died in 1924 (with rare exceptions in wartime).
One has to deposit their luggage at the State Historical Museum in order to visit Lenin’s Mausoleum. You are not allowed to talk, run or indulge in any non-serious behavior. Guards posted every few meters will make sure you keep walking. Photography is not permitted inside. Lenin’s body can be seen enclosed in a glass case and brightly illuminated. He looks exactly like his statues and pictures. You may stand here for a couple of seconds, but you’ll be nudged to move on by guards who look like ghosts – since they are completely covered in dark army uniforms except for their faces which look bright and pale in the dim light.
Behind the Mausoleum is the Kremlin Wall. This huge wall is a tribute to the Bolsheviks who fought for their country during the 1910s. There are others buried there besides these men, including a number of different writers and former leaders of the country. You can also see the large busts documenting who is buried where. A tourist graveyard!
St. Basil’s Cathedral
Saint Basil’s Cathedral and statues commemorating the leaders of Russia’s volunteer army against the Polish invaders
Probably the most famous pictures of Russia feature this old church with its spiraling colorful onion domes. For a long time, this building was like a symbol of Russia – just like one thinks of Paris when one sees the Eiffel Tower. The church was first built by Ivan the terrible in 1555 CE and several additions were made later. You are allowed to go inside the building, and it has interesting design inside about which I’ll blog later.
Walking on the Red Square
The Red Square
After you’ve seen Lenin’s tomb, St. Basil’s Cathedral and the State History Museum, you could either enter the large GUM (Shopping Mall) and get lost inside, or simply stroll on the red square. There are a number of little sights to see. Near the colorful building is the Lobnoye Mesto, a circular platform where public ceremonies used to take place. Next to the GUM is the Kazan Cathedral, standing in its unique architectural fashion.
The square, only 330m x 70m, is nothing but a open piece of land paved with stones. The square was used by Russian Tsars for coronation, and later, governments used it for important occasions. It was the place where the Soviet might was paraded for decades. Now the square is used for recreational purposes too, such as music concerts. Walking around the square, it is wonderful to imagine the grandeur of these proceedings.
I thought the place was very charming, and I went to the red square 3.5 times over my stay in Moscow. Every time, the beauty of the red square only increased.
Information
Being in the center of the city (as you can tell by zooming the map), its rare to miss the Red Square – Kremlin complex. Several metro stations (there are atleast 4 around it) will take you very close to there. Police conduct random checks at the entrance gate, so if you are foreign-looking, be ready to show your passport (yes, original passport!) and the migration card.
Oh as a tip, do not drink beer on the red square, you can drink outside. 🙂
St. Basil’s Cathedral and the large clock on Kremlin’s main tower. (Picture taken on a cloudy day from the south east end)
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Lovely pictures of Saint Basil’s Cathedral! It looks like a castle out of fairy tale story, I always think of it as part of a fairy tale 😀
I know!! me too! It looks so charming and unreal! 🙂
Wow!
Thanks Mahendra! And that’s why I went there again and again.
Very nice pistures, interesting post
Thanks Sujata, welcome to my blog.
Awesome! How do you manage to visit so many countries? (must be an oft-asked question to you, I guess :)).
Ah, I blow up all my savings and then live poorly… lol. Seriously, last year I had a job and money, so I traveled. This year… pffff…. 😀
Wow. Too bad you can’t take photos in Lenin’s Tomb. It’s similar with other tombs: I believe in Hanoi, in Ho Chi Minh’s tomb, you cannot even bend your arms akimbo, because it is taken as a sign of disrespect.
Oh really? That’s very strict! I am now curious to find out what other bodies are preserved… 🙂
Beautiful photographs. I had no idea they have kept the body at public display. Its a little strange.
I guess it was kinda strange to see that too! But its a unique way to preserve a body that defined the identity an entire nation.
Reminds me of Tiananmen and the Mao’s mausoleum…
The cathedral is quite unique!
Ah, I am dying to go to China some day…!
Priyank,
Explain to me how you can go to a place 3.5 times?
The cathedral is beautiful….I can’t believe it was built in 1555 – looks more futuristic….almost out a Disney land set:)
The red square is lovely…..no wonder you went there 3.5 times.
Hahahha, you noticed that! 🙂 Well the fourth time I simply strolled around the GUM (departmental store) building, so I was watching the Red Square from the building on the Red square but didn’t actually step on the square since the entrance was far away. I guess that qualifies as a half-visit, doesn’t it? 🙂
I love the cathedral too, I thought it was big and mystical, but in reality its quite small and cosy!
I love this post on красная Square. Nice to read about it all, but I hope to experience it too someday!
Thanks Celine. 🙂
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[…] towns have a Kremlin. The Kremlin at Moscow has a 2.25km long red wall, east of which is the Red Square. Foundation of this Kremlin was laid around 1150 […]
Hi Priyank,
That was a great post.
These spots have been witness to great periods in history. Very beautiful and so clean and so well maintained.
How was GUM?
Anil
Oh GUM is grand! I should post about it when I am back from Sochi to Moscow. 🙂
[…] Mausoleum, Red Square, […]
priyank,
Thanks a lot for sharing you experiences with everyone. Please
keep it up.
Thanks for visiting Kokila!
Hey – great pics! Moscow is high on the list of future visits. I had no idea Lenin’s Mausoleum was so big, but I guess its understandable. Cheers! 😉
Hi Cam! Welcome to my blog and thanks for the comment! I had no idea of its deep significance until I visited!
[…] Red Square. The illuminated building to the right is the GUM department store, while the red building to the […]
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