Turkey Holiday sights Nemrut Mountain

Nemrut Mountain

Nemrut Mountain is located South of Malatya (75km) or North of Kahta (50km), Adiyaman in SE Turkey. The statues were found in 1881 by Kral Sester, a German archeologist. In 1987, Nemrut mountain was made a world heritage site by Unesco and immediatly after the area was declared a national park by the Turkish Ministry of Forest.

At the cone shape summit of this 2,200m elevated mountain one can find statues mythical figures of Apollon, Zeus, Hercules and others. The statues stare at you silenty more than 2000 years. More statues on the Western side than the East side.

The altar is located on the east site. These statues were carved around 63 B.C during the reign of Antiochus-I, the emperor of the Commagene King. Here you can wonder around the cone shape, a man made summit, where Antiochus's tumules was located which were hidded under the man made limestone dome.

It is amazing to watch the sun sets and sun rises at the summit. However, the sun rise is very cold, make sure that you have thick sleeping bags or blankets from the hotel you stay in, even in the hot summer days.

Remember, you will be watching the sun rise at 2,200m (7,000ft) elevated mountain. Actually, the best way is to stay (sleep) at the mountain on the eastern site which I did in 1986 and watch the sun rise at 3am. The colors are more than beautiful!!!.

The best way to travel the area is by plane to Adiyaman (from Istanbul or Ankara) and take a special tour to Kahta and follow the road signs where you will pass the small tumulus of Karakus (belongs to Antiochus's wife), over looking to Nemrut Mountain (as seen on the picture), the Cendere Bridge (over Kahta River), Eski Kahta Castle, Arsemia, the towns of Damlacik, Narince and Karadut ( it has good pansions after passing the town) and reach the Mountain. The good road ends near the edge of the summit, however, one has to walk (or rent a mule) 1 km more, steep up hill, to reach the top where the statues are located.

While you are there make sure to make a loop around the summit and enjoy the view and see more stateus on the north side as well. There are lots of restaurants on the way (at Damlacik and Karadut) and at the top, no need to carry food or water with you. This is at least a 12 hours tour to enjoy. You may swim in the Kahta River, under the Cendere Bridge (see the picture), during July and August (a branch of famous Euphrates) during the hot summer days.
In the area, the weather is always very hot ,over 45C during the day time but very dry, between June-September make sure to stay at the hotels which have air-conditon rooms. If they do not have it stay at Karadut village pansions, at 1000m high, over looking to Nemrut Mountain where you do not need an air-condition.
I worked in the area (1985-1990) as a petroleum geologist for ARCO International Oil and Gas Company and did lots of field work and mapping the geology every corner of the area and visited all the villages and towns A.. to Z. When you go to Nemrut, you will pass in front of the two oil fields discoved by ARCO that I had worked, one is rigth after the town of Damlacik on your rigth called "Cendere Oil Field" and the other one is very near Karadut Village, called "Ozan Sungurlu Oil Field", both of them are still pumping oil.