I t ‘s the cardio of Chicken. Konya, a neighborhood out-of a million souls, squats smack in Anatolia’s insane basic, in the middle of discover, unlimited prairie. Turkey’s really culturally traditional city, Konya seems initially getting a place regarding strict headscarves and you will foreboding beards, regarding ostentatiously noticed pieties and you will taboo drinks. But discovering Konya is not difficult – for right here, at the heart of your dated urban area, in his tomb off turquoise ceramic tiles, was Jelaluddin Rumi.
Rumi is amongst the world’s extremely read poets. Throughout the their lifetime, and because his death when you look at the 1273, pilgrims have come in order to Konya. Now, Rumi’s tomb try Turkey’s 2nd very-decided to go to guests destination following the Topkapi Palace into the Istanbul. Rumi was a mystic, a great Sufi saint who enjoyed all the religions, and you will whoever individual faith are love. His followers create (nonetheless manage) get rid of on their own inside hypnotic trance and dancing, often spinning particularly passes all the time.
There is certainly a huge, impressive this new municipal auditorium where which tender spinning peoples dancing was did, and you will one level of pleasant glossy-eyed mystics during the carpeting storage, cafes and medieval bazaars, most of the pleased to help you invite you to a private zikhr
These spinning dervishes are now actually the brand new symbol of Turkey’s tourist tricks, and you can sip teas on your Istanbul hotel reception enjoying certain terrible bloke within the a tall beige noticed cap whirling getting your enjoyment. Toward real thing, even when, been heree to Konya and also you come to Turkey’s heart. Within the Rumi’s terminology:
“Anybody kissbrides.com BesГёk URL -en din who you are, started Even though you tends to be An enthusiastic infidel, an excellent pagan, otherwise an effective fireworshipper, come The brotherhood is not one of depression However features busted Your vows from repentance one hundred times, been.”
Almost every season just like the 1983, I have been future on one or two million-or-very tourists who see Konya a year. Most are Turkish, while most Iranians (which allege Rumi as his or her own, as the he authored in their language and you will was born in east Persia) as well as improve pilgrimage.
Rather than and then make Konya a halt for the a coach tour, I will suggest staying for most days, bathing in an impression, food several of Turkey’s top lamb, enjoying its top Seljuk structures and – perhaps – shedding crazy about Rumi. You can fly in cheaply off Istanbul, from where there is good scruffy, atmospheric instruct, or arrive by road. Konya is in easy arrived at of your own cave dwellers and you can carpeting sellers from Cappadocia.
Rumi arrived here once the a boy, whenever Konya had come a location for 2,000 years. It had been depending by Hittites, who have been been successful by Phrygians, then your Lydians, Persians, Cappadocians, brand new leaders from Pergamon in addition to Romans, just who called the set Iconium. Saints Paul and you will Barnabus both preached right here, but of the 1071 new Seljuks, a great Turcoman tribe, were in charge, in addition to their architectural legacy endures.
Their Karatay Medrese of 1251 was a work of art from elaborate tiling and you may unified domes. It’s today the brand new Art gallery out of Ceramic tiles and you will Ceramics, whose articles maintain the vibrancy and you can strike they had whenever very first discharged. Nearby, the fresh Ince Minarali Medrese is the brand new Museum out of Brick and Timber Sculpture, which can be way less dry than I have managed to make it sound. These two structures whet your appetite to discover the ornately tiled Sircali Medrese, and the breathtaking Sahip Ata mosque: instead of much of the Muslim globe, for the Poultry you’re motivated to check out mosques, any your own spiritual needs.
Within junction of the old town and its unattractive the fresh new neighbour is the Alaaddin mosque, this new city’s vantage area, whoever breathtaking black pulpit and you can sensitive prayer-market are from 1155 (new advanced are finished in 1221). The new boulevard radiating from this point provides one to Rumi’s tomb, where far more later on. Rumi could Turks because Mevlana (the latest Sainted You to), now Konya is in thrall to Mevlanamania.
When i basic came, Mevlana’s followers, the latest Mevlevi, was basically a blocked organisation, tolerated simply for the “folkloric dance” and you can whirlings. Conferences happened covertly, dishonestly.
I pointed out eating, as well. Konya’s mutton-centric cuisine is superb. Etli ekmek is a lengthy, thin move-right up pizza give with delicately spiced mince, and you will Konya kebab is a mutton shank, very slowly roasted and served into the a cushion out of money which have a sweet yellow onion. Best is at Konak (Restoran, Akcesme mah. Piriesat Cad. Zero 5, +90 332 352 85 47), whose soups and you will homemade yogurt are paradise-made.
Therefore, splendidly fed, in accordance with many glasses of sweet tannic teas in you, build your treatment for Rumi’s tomb. Your get in on the awestruck, the brand new interested as well as the fervent. A mysterious twinkly light takes on towards the tombs of Rumi and you can their supporters. Brand new wall space are embroidered which have calligraphy, as well as the ceilings was a good kaleidoscope out of incredibly performed arabesques. Rumi’s tomb is covered inside the vastly embroidered cloth out-of gold, and you may generally seems to radiate white and you will serenity and you will mercy.
All are moved, having listed here is like
Some of their other pilgrims will discover Korans, although some Rumi’s poetry. Really need photo, while this is strictly taboo. You can find individuals who cry gently, and people who make fun of aloud; people who meditate for hours, and those who rush compliment of.
Playing unofficially and you may insinuating in itself into the awareness ‘s the ney, a good reed flute. It may sound for example breathy heavens, it is truly the voice regarding flame, and this increases and you will drops inside people. That isn’t particular sullen religious complaining, although voice regarding craving, of communion, of your own cardio. You have it – it’s spirit tunes, and it also very provides you with. Therefore started.
Turkish Airlines (020-7471 6666) flies to help you Konya through Istanbul off Heathrow, Stansted, Birmingham and you will Manchester, regarding ?219 rtn inc fees. Istanbul so you’re able to Konya by the train costs from all around ?24 get back, or around ?thirty six return because of the bus. Hotel Balikcilar features bed room or just around ?70 (and have now serves cold drinks). Lodge Dergah (+ninety 332 351 76 61) bedroom doing ?20. Tickets to see the fresh new spinning dervishes try without this new traffic place of work, at the rear of Mevlana’s tomb. Mete Horzum in the SeleneTour (+90 532 564 9192, ) organizes private spinning and you can zikhr off ?30pp.
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