Vacation at the Datsan

The Buddhist temple in Saint Petersburg is the northernmost in the world. It is called "Datsan Gunzechoinei." In Tibetan, "Gunzechoinei" means "Source of the Holy Teaching of the All-Compassionate Lord Hermit." It is known that Daniil Kharms liked to come here to rest in the shade of the trees; in the memories of Kharms' acquaintances, there is a note that "Daniil Ivanovich used to go there." The poet called the temple the Buddhist Pagoda, and his friends said that here he recharged his inspiration. One of the entries in Kharms' diary reads: "Went with Marina to the Buddhist pagoda, taking a bag with sandwiches and a flask with red wine diluted with water." In the story "The Old Woman," we read: "We pass Lansky and Novaya Derevnya. There flashes the golden top of the Buddhist pagoda, and there appeared the sea."
The building was constructed in 1915 by architect G.V. Baranovsky according to the canons of Tibetan architecture, with decoration participation by Nicholas Roerich. At the end of 1916, regular services in the temple ceased, and all the monks left the city. In 1924, it began functioning again. It operated until 1935, when it was closed again, and persecution of the monks began. During the blockade, it was used as a radio station. Now it is once again a datsan.

Source: http://www.d-harms.ru/places/buddiyskiy-dacan.html