We t is the center of Poultry. Konya, an area out of a million souls, leg squats smack in the center of Anatolia’s insane basic, in the middle of open, limitless prairie. Turkey’s most culturally old-fashioned area, Konya seems initially is a place away from rigorous headscarves and foreboding beards, off ostentatiously observed pieties and taboo drinks. But uncovering Konya is easy – for here, at the heart of dated city, inside the tomb away from turquoise ceramic tiles, is Jelaluddin Rumi.
Rumi is amongst the earth’s very realize poets. During the their lifestyle, and since their dying in the 1273, pilgrims attended to help you Konya. Today, Rumi’s tomb is Turkey’s next extremely-visited site visitors appeal following the Topkapi Castle inside Istanbul. Rumi is actually a mystic, a great Sufi saint whom adored the religions, and you will whose individual faith is actually like. Their followers manage (nevertheless perform) treat on their own during the hypnotic trance and you can dance, sometimes spinning such as for instance passes non-stop.
Discover a large, unbelievable the new civil auditorium where this tender whirling person dancing are did, and you will one amount of charming glossy-eyed mystics during the carpet stores, cafes and you may medieval bazaars, every pleased so you can receive you to an exclusive zikhr
These whirling dervishes are in reality new symbol of Turkey’s tourist campaigns, and you can drink tea on your own Istanbul resort reception enjoying certain bad bloke inside the a high beige experienced hat whirling for your own activity. To your real deal, whether or not, started heree in order to Konya and you started to Turkey’s spirit. Inside the Rumi’s conditions:
« Whoever you are, come Even if you tends to be An enthusiastic infidel, a beneficial pagan, or an excellent fireworshipper, already been The brotherhood is not among depression you provides damaged Your vows out-of repentance a hundred minutes, started. »
Just about every year since 1983, I have already been future with the a few billion-or-therefore travelers who go to Konya annually. Most are Turkish, while most Iranians (exactly who allege Rumi since their very own, due to the fact the guy authored in their words and you will was born in eastern Persia) together with result in the pilgrimage.
In lieu of and work out Konya a stop with the a coach tour, I would suggest existence for many days, bathing in an impact, food a number of Turkey’s finest mutton, watching the most readily useful Seljuk structures and – perhaps – dropping crazy about Rumi. You can travel when you look at the affordably regarding Istanbul, from which there is also an effective scruffy, atmospheric illustrate, or arrive by road. Konya is within effortless visited of cave dwellers and you can carpeting manufacturers regarding Cappadocia.
Rumi showed up here while the an effective boy, when Konya had become a district for two,000 decades. It was depending because of the Hittites, have been been successful by the Phrygians, then Lydians, Persians, Cappadocians, the new kings regarding Pergamon while the Romans, just who called the place Iconium. New orleans saints Paul and you can Barnabus each other preached right here, however, by 1071 new Seljuks, an effective Turcoman tribe, have been in control, as well as their architectural legacy endures.
The Karatay Medrese off 1251 was a work of art out of ornate tiling and harmonious domes. It is today this new Art gallery out of Ceramic tiles and you can Ceramics, whose articles retain the vibrancy and you may strike they had when earliest discharged. Close by, this new Ince Minarali Medrese has grown to become the newest Art gallery out of Brick and you will Wood Carving, and is a lot less deceased than I’ve made it voice. These houses whet urge for food to obtain the ornately tiled Sircali Medrese, and also the eye-popping Sahip Ata mosque: as opposed to much of the newest Muslim business, when you look at the Turkey you’re motivated to check out mosques, any kind of your spiritual choices.
On junction of the dated area and its own unappealing new neighbor ‘s the Alaaddin mosque, the new city’s vantage part, whose stunning dark pulpit and you may sensitive prayer-market come from 1155 (the fresh complex was completed in 1221). The brand new boulevard radiating from here will bring you to Rumi’s tomb, where even more afterwards. Rumi is recognized to Turks as the Mevlana (the fresh new Sainted You to definitely), and after this Konya https://kissbrides.com/no/hot-irske-kvinner/ is within thrall in order to Mevlanamania.
While i first emerged, Mevlana’s supporters, the fresh Mevlevi, had been a blocked organisation, accepted just for their « folkloric dance » and whirlings. Conferences happened privately, dishonestly.
I mentioned dinner, also. Konya’s lamb-centric cuisine is great. Etli ekmek was a lengthy, narrow roll-upwards pizza pass on which have delicately spiced mince, and you may Konya kebab is actually a mutton shank, extremely slow roasted and you may served to your a support away from dough having a nice red-colored onion. Top is at Konak (Restoran, Akcesme mah. Piriesat Cad. Zero 5, +ninety 332 352 85 47), whoever soups and you can home made yoghurt is actually eden-generated.
Ergo, wondrously fed, in accordance with of several glasses of sweet tannic tea inside you, build your solution to Rumi’s tomb. You get in on the awestruck, this new curious in addition to fervent. A strange twinkly white performs on the tombs away from Rumi and you will his followers. The newest wall space is actually padded that have calligraphy, and also the ceilings try a kaleidoscope out of beautifully done arabesques. Rumi’s tomb is covered inside the vastly padded content away from silver, and you may appears to radiate light and you may peace and mercy.
Are common moved, getting here’s like
A few of your fellow pilgrims have a tendency to comprehend Korans, and others Rumi’s poetry. Extremely just take photo, although this is purely forbidden. You will find people that weep silently, and people who laugh out loud; people that meditate day long, and people who hurry because of.
To experience unofficially and insinuating itself into the awareness is the ney, a beneficial reed flute. It may sound for example breathy air, it is truly the voice from flames, and that increases and you may drops into the us all. This is not certain sullen spiritual complaining, although sound of craving, off communion, of the heart. You’ve got it – it is spirit musical, also it extremely sends you. So become.
Turkish Air companies (020-7471 6666) flies in order to Konya through Istanbul from Heathrow, Stansted, Birmingham and you will Manchester, from ?219 rtn inc taxes. Istanbul to Konya because of the train will cost you from around ?24 return, or about ?thirty-six return because of the bus. Resorts Balikcilar features rooms or around ?70 (while having serves cold drinks). Resorts Dergah (+ninety 332 351 76 61) bedroom up to ?20. Tickets observe the new whirling dervishes try free of the brand new customers place of work, trailing Mevlana’s tomb. Mete Horzum during the SeleneTour (+ninety 532 564 9192, ) organizes individual whirling and zikhr away from ?30pp.