When people say "domestic tourism," they usually mean Lviv, the Carpathians, or Odesa. Cherkasy rarely appears on this list — and unfairly so. The city on the shore of the Kremenchuk Reservoir has several locations that can confidently stand alongside the country's tourist attractions.
A temple you wouldn't expect in an industrial city
On a hillside above the Dnieper River stands the Buddhist temple "White Lotus" — both in scale and ambition, it is truly unusual: it is considered the largest Buddhist temple in Europe. Tea ceremonies and meditative practices are held here, and blooming tulip trees in spring turn the climb to the temple into a separate route. This is not a museum exhibit — the temple is active, and visitors are welcomed regularly.
A greenhouse with a Kharkiv iguana
On the territory of the Children's Park (Khreschatic St., 168) is located the "Angkor Wat" greenhouse — an exhibition of the Roshen zoo called "The Wonderful World of the Tropics." Inside are about 200 species of tropical and subtropical plants, artificial ponds with koi carp that can be fed, arachnids, snakes, and an iguana named Chigívara, which was evacuated to Cherkasy from Kharkiv. This is not a simplified "nature room" — the format is closer to a small tropical biome.
A park that is not ashamed of its 39 hectares
"Pine Forest" is a landscape architecture monument of national significance, established in 1967 on the shore of the Kremenchuk Reservoir.
The park covers 39.2 hectares and is built as a cascade: a system of ponds, whose water cascades down to the Dnieper. The central pond features a mermaid sculpture; below it is an alley with sculptures of prehistoric animals. In 2018, "Pine Forest" was recognized as one of the best urban parks in Ukraine. There are cycling paths, picnic areas, and an ice skating rink in winter.
The rest of the route
- Cherkasy Zoo "Roshen" — hundreds of animals, including large predators and reptiles, located in Victory Park.
- Art Museum — opened in 1991, now a center of cultural life in the city; regular exhibitions of contemporary Ukrainian artists.
- "Victory" Park — 20 hectares with cascading ponds and fountains, locals call it the "park by the airplane."
- The Arch Bridge of Love in "Pine Forest" — built in 1968, one of the oldest such structures in Ukraine.
Practical information
Most locations are within walking distance or one trolleybus stop from the city center. The "Angkor Wat" greenhouse and zoo are on the same street. The "White Lotus" temple requires climbing a hillside — allow 20 minutes on foot or by taxi. A full route can realistically be completed in one day without rushing.
Cherkasy has long existed as a transit point between Kyiv and Uman. If domestic tourism in Ukraine is truly growing — will such a city become an independent destination rather than a stop on the way?
