Konya Travel Guide

Located in the south central Anatolia, Konya is Turkey’s largest province with a population around of 2.2 million inhabitants. Since its foundations in the Hittite’s times this region has had significant importance as a trading and grain production centre. Today it is the most religiously conservative region in Turkey.

It is claimed that this region is one of the first inhabited places in the world by the humans. Throughout its history the region was inhabited by many ancient civilizations from Hittites to Persians, from Romans to Seljuks, and by the Ottomans whose have left remains of its culture that are still visible. One of the most remarkable things in this region was and is its religious role that for 800 years has been the birthplace of the Whirling Dervishes.

Mosque Church and Synagogue

Mevlana Mausoleum and Dervish Convent (Center): The idea of constructing such a structure was originated from the will of Sultan-ul Ulema Bahaeddin Veledin, father of Mevlana, when he wanted to be burried there after his death in 1230 and the structure turn out to take its shape as a single tomb was built upon his grave. After the death of Mevlana,a tomb was built there by Pervane Muiniddin and his wife Gürcü Hatun.

The tomb has taken its current dervish convent structre as further religious and social architectural additions were carried out. Succeeding to the death of Mevlana that is from 1273 improvements as to the dervish convent building continued and it was converted into a museum after the Proclamation of the Republic. In the museum there are properties belonging to Mevlana and other dervishes as well as valuable samples of hand-painted erchiefs,handwritings, ornaments, wooden works of art and instruments of the Mevlevi music, carpets and pileless carpets.

The most appealing section of the tomb is the Kubbe-i Hadra (Green Vault) above the graves of Hz. Mevlana and his son Sultan Veledin. Inside of the structure built by Architect Bedreddin during Seljuk Period in 1396 is coated with green tiles. The inner walls of the tomb was embellished with plaster relief and designs. The sarcophagus of Hz. Mevlana is one of the superior samples of wooden crafts of the period.Yet this high sarcophagus is above that of his father Sultan-ul Ulema Bahaeddin Veledin's. On the north side of the tomb, there are Semahane( where Mevlevi dervishes perform the sema) and a small mosque constructed by Kanuni Sultan Süleyman in 16th century.

Seb-i Aruz Pool, on the other hand, is before the kitchen of the dervish convent. Within the frame of the annual commemoration ceremonies organized in the name of Mevlana, whirling dances of the Mevlevi dervishes( sema) around the pool are performed in certain days called as Seb-i Aruz (Feast Day). Since the death of Hz. Mevlana was considered as a reunion with God, these days have been renamed as feast days. Most above all Hz. Mevlana is a great humanist, a perfect advocate of peace and a sage figure.

Alaaddin Mosque (Center): Konya is on Alaaddin Hill. The first Seljuk work of art dating back to 12th century, Alaaddin Mosque is not an organic whole since its plan has exposed to various changes in the course of time. On the magnificient pulpit of the first mosque made of ebony tree and dated 1155, there are epitaphs of Sultan Mesut and Kiliçaslan II and the names of Master Mengümberti on them.

Two different periods are observed in the mosque which is thought to have been constructed in accordance to the superiority of its pulpit as the most ancient Seljuk work of art.

Aziziye Mosque (Center): As the first construction built by Mustafa Pasa in 1676 was destructed by a big fire in 1867, this mosque that has remained till today was constructed through the contributions of Abdülaziz and his mother Pertevniyal Hatun in 1872.

Ince Minareli Mosque and Theology School (Center): On the western slope of the Alaaddin Hill, the theology school(medresseh) was constructed by Seljuk Vizier Sahip Ata in 1260. Despite of the splendid view of the crown gate, it is a plain and unadorned structure.

Sublime stone masonry presenting the grandeur of the Seljuk architecture demonstrate the most praiseworthy art since the French gothic.

Iplikçi Mosque and Theology School (Center): On the eastern side of the Alaaddin Hill, it is located on Alaaddin Road. According to the endowment of the medresseh, it is estimated that the first structure was constructed by the Vizier Semseddin Altunbanin (Altiapa) during Kiliçaslan II. (through end of the 12th Century). The mosque and medresseh( theology school) was extended and restored by Haci Ebu Bekir in 1332.

Mihrab, ( nicheof a mosque indicating the direction of Mecca) encircled with two belts adorned with intermingling geometric motifs of tiles with the colors of turquoise and violet; and curled ornamentations( widely used by the Seljuks of Anatolia) made of turquoise and darkblue tiles, is among the most oldest examples of this kind in Anatolia.This edifice is of high esteem since Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi gave lectures in that place.

Sahip Ata Kulliye (Center): Recent reseraches have revealed the fact that Sahip Ata Cami instead stretched out to the facade with double minarets and was a wooden mosque perched on wooden piers. The inscriptions stated that the construction of the building had been commenced by Seljuk Vizier Sahip Ata and that it was a masterpiece of architect Kölük Bin Abdullah. In this respect, it was the oldest Seljuks mosque to be known with its wooden piers .

Completed in 1283, the tomb and the dervish convent later restored to its recent form as a külliye which is a complex of building adjacent to a mosque. Only the magnificient mihrap (niche of the mosque indicating the direction of Mecca) decorated with dazzling mosaic tiles remains to our present times.

Lala Mustafa Pasa Kulliye (Ilgin): Külliye is compsed of three sections as a mosque,imaret( kitchen) and an inn. The mosque constitutes a part of the külliye covering a wide section in the bazaar.

Built by Lala Mustafa Pasa in 1576, the külliye was in some sources said to have been one of the works of art of Mimar Sinan.

Esrefoglu Mosque (Beysehir): On the eastern section of Beysehir District,it is located at Içeri Quarter. It was constructed between the years in 1296-1299 and the most authentic and the biggest wooden mosques in Anatolian region.

Sublime stone and wooden masonry, designs, adornments of mosaic tiles all together create a harmonious outcome with the latest and the most mature style of Seljuk art.

One of the most splendid samples of tiled minarets, the mihrab of the mosque completely adorned with turquoise, dark blue and violet mosaic tiles is of 6 meters height and 5.50 meters width. The structure reflects the flavour of Beylikler Devri (Esrefoglu Domain) with its rich stone masonry, glazed tiles on its interior space, fortifications and wooden decorations on the minber (hooded dais).

Nasreddin Hoca Tomb (Aksehir): On the eastern part of the ramparts of Aksehir province, the tomb is located at the cemetry named with the name of the city. The present appearance of the tomb was acquired by the Aksehir Head Official Sükrü Bey in 1905 as the structure has had difficulty in retaining its authentic view during series of maintances.Only the main tomb of the ancient structure has remained. On the head end of the sarcophagus of the master of humour, there is the date of his death written reversed as 386 symbolizing his jokes.

Sille Siyata Monastery (Center): Among the important centers of the early Christian period, this monastery is 8 km northwest from the center of Konya province. Among the various tombs engraved to rocks by monks, Akmanastir ,Haglos Kharitan (St. Choritan),leads among the others and one of the primary monastries in the world.

Akmanastir (Haglos Kharitan, Sille): It is located between Konya and Sille. Having been composed of buildings forming a circular structure around the engraved rooms, the monastery was constructed in 274 as a dedication to Saint Horion.

Haghia Eleni Church (Sille): Located at Sille Subdistrict and constructed in 327 during the reign of Emperor Konstantinus, it was the first Christian church to be constructed in Anatolian Region. The church is adorned with the figures of Jesus, Virgin Mary and the Apostles. On the interior door of the church, which has been restored and not been in service currently, there is a poem written in Greek language by Turkish expressions stating that the building was constructed in the name of Mikail Arhonkolan.

Lystra (Meram-Hatun Saray):

It is located at Zolkara which is in the west of Konya, at 1 km distance to Hatunsaray town and 400 meters inside from the right side of the main road.

During the reign of the Roman Emperor Agust, Lystra joined the colonized cities of Nykaoline region (6 B.C). Later on it became an important center of episcopacy during Christian times. Though St. Paul had set out to Yalvaça (Antiocheia) from Tarsus, he decided to come to Lystraya and addressed his sermons there. In the very first year one of the ten apostles Artemus became a pishop in Lystra. Today traces of settlement have been witnessed at Lystra ruins.

Thermal Resorts

Ilgin Thermal Resort
Location: Just outside Ilgin, 88km north-west of Konya.
Transportation: Konya is well connected to the rest of the country by road and air. The resort lies just off the main highway to Ilgin.
Water temperature: 42°C
pH value: 7.0
Physical and chemical properties: Hyperthermal, hypertonic and radioactive, bicarbonate, calcium, sodium, carbon dioxide.
Recommended: Applications Drinking, bathing and inhalation.
Helps to heal: Rheumatism, gall bladder and liver problems, poor metabolism.
Accommodation: Konya Ilgin Thermal Facilities - 570 beds.

Caves of Konya
Balatini Cave
Location: Konya, Beysehir District
The cave is located with in the borders of Çamlik Village and Derebucak district in Beysehir - Konya you can arrive at the cave by stabilized way, branched from 45 km of Konya - Beysehir - Üzümlü - Manavgat. The cave is situated 5 km far from Çamlik ve6 km from Derebucak. It is also 3 km northwest of Körükini and Suluin caves.

Properties: The total length of the cave is 1830 meters and has two entrances displaying the properties of sinkhole and fountain. The entrance which is closer to the road draws the water of little uvula and run down 2km south, from a cracked valley border, slope of Uzunsu river side.

Balatini Cave is developed from two different levels, are an top of the other. The fossil branch surface of upper level is completely covered with cave clay and ended with the statue Room filled with the little statues made by the visitors. The lower level is the main gallery which contains the water. You can go through the gallery by foot when the level of water decreases. The three small pool, can be, passed by transition technique or by boat. The Statue Room and the natural rock sculptures are worth to be seen.

Körükini Cave
Location: Konya, Beysehir District
Properties: The total length of cave is 1250m. and Uzunsu River is flows from the interior of the Körükini Cave. After leaving the cave, Uzunsu River flows through the Degirmen Valley and reaches to Degirmenini Cave. The cave is completely active so passing the river with boat, especially at the parts where there are waterfalls between the rock blocks is hard and needs experience. Summer and autumn is more suitable seasons to enter the cave. In spring, entering the cave might be dangerous because of the waterfalls and siphons.

Büyük Düden Cave

Location: Konya, Derebucak District

The cave is in Derebucak district of Konya Province. It is at the 18th km in the direction of Ibradi from Derebucak after Konya-Beysehir-Derebucak road, and it is situated at the west side of Kembos Plain.

Properties: Kembos Plain with a width of 1km and a length of 15km drains the snow water melting in the spring and especially the water accumulated here via Uzunsu Creek by means of Feyzullah sinkhole, another chasm. Water drained from these sinkholes is joined to Manavgat Creek by passing through Altinbesik Düdensuyu Cave. Although the cave does not have a touristic importance, it is important regarding the speleological aspect. There exists numerous lakes, big halls and siphons in this sinkhole which has a length of 714 meters.

Tinaztepe Cave System

Location: Konya, Seydisehir District

The Tinaztepe Cave System is at the Keçili Village locality which is at 35 km. southwest of Seydisehir. The cave is at 5km west of Mortas Aluminum bed. The Seydisehir-Manavgat highway passes close to the cave.

Properties: This cave system has developed inside the creates limestone and is formed by three layers one on other. The upper layer having 100 meters length is completely fossilized. The intermediate layer has 1015 meters of total length and is semi active. Water flows Inside this layer at precipitant seasons and it ends with a siphon. The lower layer is a branch developed on a big fault and is active displaying sinkhole cave characteristics. In precipitant seasons, the surface waters of a wide area flows here. These waters flow inside the Susuz Güvercinlik Cave which is at southeast and come out from the springs near Sugla Lake. The explored length of this active cave until now is 527 meters. But the total length of this cave had not been completely determined. The deep but narrow lakes and siphons inside this cave makes the explorations difficult.