Konya, when you look at the a whirl of its individual

I t ‘s the cardio regarding Turkey. Konya, a region of a million souls, squatting slap in the center of Anatolia’s insane basic, enclosed by open, unlimited prairie. Turkey’s most culturally conservative city, Konya appears initially getting a place of rigorous headscarves and you will foreboding beards, of ostentatiously observed pieties and taboo drinks. However, discovering Konya is easy – getting right here, in the middle of one’s dated city, within his tomb of turquoise tiles, was Jelaluddin Rumi.

Rumi is just one of the world’s most see poets. During their lifetime, and because his demise inside 1273, pilgrims have come to Konya. Now, Rumi’s tomb is actually Turkey’s next extremely-went along to guests attraction following Topkapi Palace within the Istanbul. Rumi is a mystic, an effective Sufi saint whom liked every religions, and whoever individual faith was like. His supporters carry out (and still do) get rid of on their own inside the trance and you can moving, possibly spinning such as for example tops all the time.

There is a giant, epic the fresh new civil auditorium where which delicate spinning person dancing was did, and any amount of lovely sleek-eyed mystics inside the carpet sites, cafes and you will gothic bazaars, all the happier in order to invite you to a private zikhr

These whirling dervishes are now the fresh new icon off Turkey’s tourist tips, and you will sip tea on your own Istanbul hotel reception enjoying particular worst bloke when you look at the a tall beige thought cap whirling to own the amusement. With the real deal, even in the event, been heree in order to Konya and you also started to Turkey’s heart. During the Rumi’s terminology:

“Anyone who you may be, become Even although you can be An enthusiastic infidel, a pagan, or an excellent fireworshipper, been All of our brotherhood is not among despair However has damaged Their vows off repentance a hundred times, already been.”

Just about every year as 1983, I have been upcoming towards one or two million-or-so travelers just who visit Konya per year. Most are Turkish, while most Iranians (who allege Rumi since their very own, due to the fact he had written within their words and you can was born in eastern Persia) plus improve pilgrimage.

As opposed to and make Konya a stop for the a shuttle concert tour, I suggest becoming for some months, soaking up an impact, eating a number of Turkey’s ideal lamb, viewing the better Seljuk architecture and you may – perhaps – losing crazy about Rumi. You could fly for the cheaply out-of Istanbul, from where there is also a beneficial scruffy, atmospheric teach, or come by road. Konya is during easy arrive at of your own cavern dwellers and carpet sellers out of Cappadocia.

Rumi showed up right here due to the fact a good boy, when Konya got already been an area for 2,000 years. It was established from the Hittites, who were been successful by the Phrygians, then Lydians, Persians, Cappadocians, the newest kings from Pergamon and the Romans, whom called the set Iconium. Saints Paul and you may Barnabus each other preached here, however, of the 1071 the Seljuks, an effective Turcoman tribe, were responsible, and their architectural heritage endures.

Its Karatay Medrese out-of 1251 are a masterpiece from elaborate tiling and you may harmonious domes. It is today the latest Museum of Ceramic tiles and you will Ceramics, whose material retain the vibrancy and punch they’d whenever basic discharged. Close by, the newest Ince Minarali Medrese is actually the fresh Museum away from Stone and you can Timber Sculpture, which is much less inactive than You will find managed to make it sound. Those two structures whet your appetite to discover the ornately tiled Sircali Medrese, while the stunning Sahip Ata mosque: in lieu of most of the newest Muslim business, inside Turkey you’re motivated to go to mosques, whichever the religious needs.

From the junction of one’s old area as well as unappealing the brand new neighbor is the Alaaddin mosque, brand new city’s vantage part, whose breathtaking ebony pulpit and you may painful and sensitive prayer-niche come from 1155 (the new state-of-the-art are finished in 1221). New boulevard radiating from here brings you to definitely Rumi’s tomb, at which much more after. Rumi could Turks since Mevlana (new Sainted One to), and after this Konya is during thrall in order to Mevlanamania.

When i earliest arrived, Mevlana’s followers, the fresh new Mevlevi, was basically a https://kissbrides.com/hr/vruce-njemacke-zene/ blocked organization, accepted only for their “folkloric dancing” and you may whirlings. Group meetings took place secretly, dishonestly.

I mentioned dining, as well. Konya’s lamb-centric food is excellent. Etli ekmek is a long, narrow move-upwards pizza give with delicately spiced mince, and you can Konya kebab is actually a mutton shank, most more sluggish roasted and you will offered towards the a cushion off cash which have a nice purple onion. Top was at Konak (Restoran, Akcesme mah. Piriesat Cad. Zero 5, +90 332 352 85 47), whose soup and you will selfmade natural yogurt is actually eden-made.

Hence, incredibly fed, in accordance with of several glasses of nice tannic tea in you, help make your answer to Rumi’s tomb. You join the awestruck, the interested and the fervent. A mysterious twinkly white performs for the tombs away from Rumi and you will his followers. Brand new walls is actually padded that have calligraphy, as well as the ceilings try a kaleidoscope of incredibly carried out arabesques. Rumi’s tomb is covered in vastly embroidered content off silver, and you will generally seems to shine light and you may serenity and mercy.

Are common gone, having the following is like

A number of your other pilgrims will read Korans, while others Rumi’s poetry. Very just take photos, while this is strictly forbidden. There are those who cry silently, and people who laugh aloud; individuals who reflect all round the day, and those who rush due to.

To try out privately and insinuating itself in the understanding is the ney, a good reed flute. It may sound particularly breathy sky, but is truly the sound off flame, hence increases and you will drops to the all of us. It is not some sullen spiritual moaning, nevertheless sound regarding craving, out-of communion, of the cardiovascular system. You have got it – it’s soul musical, also it extremely supplies you with. Therefore become.

Turkish Air companies (020-7471 6666) flies so you can Konya through Istanbul away from Heathrow, Stansted, Birmingham and you will Manchester, out of ?219 rtn inc taxes. Istanbul in order to Konya from the rail costs from all around ?24 come back, or just around ?36 get back by bus. Lodge Balikcilar features room or around ?70 (while having suits cooler drinks). Resort Dergah (+90 332 351 76 61) rooms to ?20. Entry observe new spinning dervishes is without the fresh new travelers workplace, about Mevlana’s tomb. Mete Horzum within SeleneTour (+ninety 532 564 9192, ) organizes individual spinning and zikhr from ?30pp.

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