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Mari El tourist information
Mari El tourist information
Mari El is notable for being one of the last strongholds of organized paganism in Europe. While many of the Mari people have converted to Russian Orthodoxy, a sizable number practice the Marla Faith, which combines Christianity with significant native shamanistic traditions. The Russian and Soviet governments have been suspicious of Finno-Ugric nationalism within Mari El (and Udmurtia), however, and have discouraged the Marla Faith; accordingly, it may be difficult to have any experiences with the Marla Faith while visiting the region. But if you do, you may be lucky enough to experience some of the Mari People's millenia old traditions, like their marriage ceremonies in sacred forest groves.
Today, ethnic Russians comprise a narrow plurality of the population, just under 50%, while the native Mari people comprise about 42%.
Mari El may also be an alluring destination to visitors looking for "the real Russian forests." Its unspoilt forests and numerous lakes make the region an intriguing choice for backcountry horseback riding and hiking, as well as hunting and fishing.
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Mari El
Where To Stay & Best Hotels in Mari El - updated May 2024
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Mari El Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.