I t ‘s the center out-of Poultry. Konya, a district of so many souls, leg squats smack in the middle of Anatolia’s nuts basic, surrounded by unlock, unlimited prairie. Turkey’s very culturally old-fashioned city, Konya appears to start with as an area from tight headscarves and you will foreboding beards, out-of ostentatiously seen pieties and you can forbidden drinks. But uncovering Konya is not difficult – to have right here, at the heart of your own dated urban area, inside the tomb away from turquoise tiles, are Jelaluddin Rumi.
Rumi is just one of the world’s really comprehend poets. Throughout the their existence, and because his dying within the 1273, pilgrims have come to Konya. Now, Rumi’s tomb is Turkey’s 2nd most-went to tourist attraction following Topkapi Castle inside the Istanbul. Rumi are a mystic, a good Sufi saint whom enjoyed the religions, and you will whoever own faith is actually love. Their followers perform (but still do) cure themselves into the hypnotic trance and you may moving, sometimes rotating such as for instance tops day long.
There can be a big, unbelievable the newest municipal auditorium in which so it tender spinning people ballet is actually performed, and any level of charming shiny-eyed mystics inside carpet storage, cafes and medieval bazaars, all pleased to help you receive you to a private zikhr
These spinning dervishes are now the fresh icon out-of Turkey’s tourism techniques, and you can drink teas in your Istanbul hotel lobby viewing particular terrible bloke into the a taller beige felt hat whirling to possess your own activity. On the real deal, though, started heree so you’re able to Konya and you reach Turkey’s heart. When you look at the Rumi’s terminology:
“Whoever you might be, been Even though you tends to be An enthusiastic infidel, a good pagan, otherwise good fireworshipper, started Our brotherhood is not certainly depression Though you have busted Their vows out of repentance a hundred minutes, come.”
Every season because the 1983, I have been future towards two mil-or-therefore tourist who see Konya a year. Some are Turkish, although many Iranians (who claim Rumi as his or her own, as the guy penned inside their words and was born in eastern Persia) in addition to make pilgrimage.
Instead of and then make Konya a halt to the a coach tour, I suggest getting for most weeks, taking in the feeling, dining several of Turkey’s greatest mutton, viewing its better Seljuk tissues and you may – maybe – losing crazy about Rumi. You could fly in inexpensively of Istanbul, from which there is also a beneficial scruffy, atmospheric instruct, or come by road. Konya is actually simple visited of cavern dwellers and you may carpet suppliers regarding Cappadocia.
Rumi arrived right here because a great boy, when Konya got already been a community for 2,000 years. It had been created by Hittites, who had been succeeded from the Phrygians, then the Lydians, Persians, Cappadocians, the new kings from Pergamon additionally the Romans, exactly who known as put Iconium. Saints Paul and you may Barnabus each other preached here, however, by the 1071 the Seljuks, a beneficial Turcoman tribe, was basically in control, in addition to their structural legacy suffers.
The Karatay Medrese regarding 1251 try a work of art out of elaborate tiling and you will harmonious domes. It’s now the fresh new Museum off Ceramic tiles and you can Ceramics, whose material retain the vibrancy and you can punch they’d when basic fired. Close by, the brand new Ince Minarali Medrese has grown to become this new Museum regarding Stone and you can Timber Sculpture, in fact it is much less lifeless than just We have caused it to be sound. Both of these houses whet your appetite to discover the ornately tiled Sircali Medrese, therefore the fantastic Sahip Ata mosque: rather than much of the latest Muslim globe, for the Turkey you are motivated to see mosques kissbrides.com Hjemmeside, any kind of your own religious needs.
From the junction of your own dated area and its unattractive the fresh neighbor ‘s the Alaaddin mosque, new city’s vantage point, whoever beautiful dark pulpit and you may sensitive prayer-specific niche come from 1155 (the fresh advanced was completed in 1221). The latest boulevard radiating from here brings you to definitely Rumi’s tomb, from which far more afterwards. Rumi could Turks since the Mevlana (brand new Sainted That), and after this Konya is within thrall in order to Mevlanamania.
When i first came, Mevlana’s followers, the newest Mevlevi, was a banned organisation, accepted simply for their “folkloric moving” and you can whirlings. Group meetings happened secretly, dishonestly.
I pointed out dining, too. Konya’s lamb-centric cooking is excellent. Etli ekmek is actually a long, narrow roll-upwards pizza give having delicately spiced mince, and you will Konya kebab is actually a mutton shank, most more sluggish roasted and you will supported towards the a pillow out of bread with a sweet yellow onion. The most effective is at Konak (Restoran, Akcesme mah. Piriesat Cad. Zero 5, +90 332 352 85 47), whose soup and you can selfmade yogurt try heaven-made.
Hence, incredibly provided, and with of a lot cups of nice tannic beverage inside you, build your means to fix Rumi’s tomb. Your get in on the awestruck, brand new interested and the fervent. A mystical twinkly white takes on for the tombs regarding Rumi and you will their supporters. The fresh structure is actually padded having calligraphy, additionally the ceilings is an excellent kaleidoscope off splendidly carried out arabesques. Rumi’s tomb is covered when you look at the greatly stitched cloth off silver, and generally seems to radiate white and you will peace and mercy.
Are went, to own here is love
A few of your own other pilgrims commonly realize Korans, although some Rumi’s poetry. Very grab pictures, while this is purely taboo. Discover people that weep quietly, and people who make fun of aloud; those who reflect all the time, and those who rush because of.
To relax and play on the side and you can insinuating itself into the understanding is the ney, good reed flute. It sounds instance breathy air, but is actually the voice regarding flame, and that increases and you will falls inside all of us. This isn’t some sullen spiritual worrying, nevertheless voice off craving, out-of communion, of the cardio. You may have it – it is soul audio, therefore extremely sends you. Very become.
Turkish Airlines (020-7471 6666) flies so you can Konya thru Istanbul from Heathrow, Stansted, Birmingham and you will Manchester, regarding ?219 rtn inc taxation. Istanbul so you’re able to Konya by the railway will set you back throughout ?24 go back, or just around ?thirty six get back by the bus. Resorts Balikcilar has actually bedroom or around ?70 (and get suits cool drinks). Resort Dergah (+90 332 351 76 61) room to ?20. Entry observe the newest spinning dervishes is actually free of the newest site visitors workplace, behind Mevlana’s tomb. Mete Horzum at SeleneTour (+90 532 564 9192, ) arranges private spinning and zikhr out of ?30pp.