General Information

Kudymkar town is the center of the Komi-Permiatsky Autonomous Region of the Russian Federation — one of the few territories in Russia where the indigenous peoples (represented by Komi-Permians) constitute more than half of the population. The population of the Komi-Permiatsky Autonomous Region is 160,000 people and it’s area is about 33,000 sq. km.
Kudymkar is located north-west of the Perm region, 190 km from Perm city which is quite popular among tourists. However, because it is rather small and has little economic and tourist significance, it is not easy to get there. The town stands on the Inva river. The area of Kudymkar is 32,7 sq.km and the population is 34,000 people.

City telephone code: +7 34260.

History

According to the archaeological excavations, the first settlement on the left bank of the Kuva river where Kudymkar stands was established in the VII or XVIII century AD.

In the XVI century Russian settlers colonized the land. In the early XVII century the first Christian church with chapel — the temple of Nikolaj the Miraculous — was erected. That was the time when the old wooden idols were replaced with new Muscovite ones. It was the beginning of the amalgamation of local pagan culture with Russian and Christian culture. The amalgamation resulted in amazing synthetic folklore which is now attracting the attention of the scholars.

By the middle of the XVII century Kudymkar became a pogost, i.e. a large settlement with a cemetery and church, and a local center.

Kudymkar, Kudymkarskoe — these were the names for the town in different periods of time.

Thanks to the favourable disposition at the point where the Kuva and Inva Rivers merge, the settlement was constantly expanding. The construction was performed according to the special plan of the Stroganov family who owned the land. That plan also foresaw the constructing of the bridge over the river Inva.

In the early XVIII century Emperor Peter the Great granted the Russian great landowner Grigori Stroganov the greater part of the Permyak-inhabited areas and they became his “eternal and hereditary demesne”. The Komi-Permiaks became serfs. In 1861 they rebelled against the rule of Stroganovs.

In 1925 the Komi-Permiatsky Autonomous Region was founded. In 1930s, during the Stalin’s rule, most of the Permiak intellectuals, including the authors of the Komi school textbooks, scientists, researchers and pioneers of the Komi-Permiak national literature, were killed or detained in prison camps.

1960s mark the beginning of a massive emigration of the Permyaks from their traditional settlements. This is possibly the reason why the number of the Permyaks living on their original territory has not increased since the 1970s.

In 1990 the decree of Russian Ministry of Culture declared Kudymkar a historical monument.

Population

Local population is represented by Komi-Permiaks. The Komi ancestors originally inhabited the middle and upper Kama River regions. They were closely related with the Udmurts, but at some point more than two thousand years ago, they split. Those who stayed in the Kama basin are now known as Komi-Permyaks.

From the XVI century onwards, the Russians started to settle in the area, and salt and mining industries were established. Many Komi-Permyaks were used as cheap labour in these industries, suffering poverty and loss of their traditional way of life.

In the last decades, more and more Komi-Permyaks have been assimilated, and the proportion of the Komi-Permyaks living in the Komi-Permyak Autonomous Okrug (region) has gone down, as many have moved out to other parts of the Perm oblast or regions.

Today in the rural areas, the Permyaks are in the majority and their numbers there have increased even more, as more non-Permyaks than Permyaks leave the villages.

However russification of the Permyaks in their territory takes place at a quick pace, especially in the administrative centers and bigger towns. Today young Komi people are facing the typical problems of indigenous peoples. They are losing knowledge of their mother tongue as they have lost contact with their native settlements.

Economy

For decades the Komi-Permiatsky Autonomous Region has been regarded only as the source of raw materials. Therefore the public services and commodities in the area are in a very poor condition and the young people are leaving in great numbers. For an example, between 1959 and 1979, 79,000 Permyaks or 1/3 of the population left the area.

Today, food industry takes an important place in the town’s industrial production. The main products like bread, meat and milk products are produced in the city. The other industries include machine-building, metal-working, ore, linen, construction materials productions, wood working and printing industries.

Transportation

Kudymkar is not a big transport hub of the region. It is situated on the asphaltic feeder road from Kazan-Perm federal road to the southern-most district center. There is the bus traffic to Perm and all major cities of the region.

Local transport is available. There is also a small airport in the town.

Culture and Traditions

Kudymkar is a cultural center of the Perm region so there are several places worth seeing. On the territory of Kudymkar there are 6 architectural, 21 historical monuments and 1 archaeological monument. The latter is dated the XII century. Five monuments are under the state protection. One of them is located in the Stroganovs estate manor in Solikamsky district of Perm region. Those interested in arts can find the museum of Subbotin-Permiak who is the famous local artist also worth seeing.

There is the Drama Theater in the town that received honours for it’s prominent performances. In the theatre, the plays are staged both in Russian and Komi-Permiak languages.

The old building of St. Nikolai church built by Voronikhin architect in 1795 attracts much interest.

Although the town has little economic significance, in terms of traditions and culture this little provincial town is quite notorious. Some specialists say it has special aura and mythological background which can be easy felt in its air. The folk trades and handicrafts are still widely practiced.

The City Today

Kudymkar looks like a small backwoods Uralian town, with all its advantages and disadvantages, with quite dirty main street and sleepy inhabitants. Old cottages and old customs are adjacent to restaurants and state institutions in the center of the town. At the same time, because of the prevalence of local population, this is not a typical Russian town. Everything there is done in a slightly different way and the town has the unique atmosphere.

Hotels

Parma Hotel is located on Piatdesiat Let Oktiabria str., 38, Kudymkar. Phone: +7 34260 20997.

Evgeniya Stroganova