The correct name for the pillars is serge, which literally means “hitting post.”

Their purpose is more ritual than practical: it is believed that celestials, earthly inhabitants and inhabitants of the underworld should tie their horses to three horizontal grooves. And the ribbons are not ribbons at all, they are special hadak scarves.

They are tied to make a request to the spirits: different colors symbolize different requests. For example, white is health, green is fertility, and so on. You can see the serge pillars on the sacred island of Olkhon and even make your innermost wishes on one of our trips to Baikal.

Group tours to Lake Baikal can be found here .

Individual tours - here .