We t is the cardiovascular system away from Chicken. Konya, a community off so many souls, leg squats slap in the exact middle of Anatolia’s insane ordinary, in the middle of unlock, endless prairie. Turkey’s extremely culturally traditional area, Konya looks initially become a location from tight headscarves and you will foreboding beards, of ostentatiously noticed pieties and forbidden beers. However, discovering Konya is not difficult – for right here, in the middle of the dated area, in his tomb of turquoise tiles, is Jelaluddin Rumi.

Rumi is just one of the world’s very realize poets. Throughout the his lifestyle, and since his dying from inside the 1273, pilgrims have come in order to Konya. Now, Rumi’s tomb try Turkey’s second very-went along to subscribers destination adopting the Topkapi Castle into the Istanbul. Rumi is a mystic, a good Sufi saint who loved all of the religions, and you can whose individual religion are love. Their supporters do (nevertheless create) eliminate on their own in the trance and you can dancing, possibly spinning such as tops all the time.

You will find a massive, unbelievable the brand new municipal auditorium where that it tender spinning person dancing is did, and you will people quantity of charming glossy-eyed mystics from inside the carpeting sites, cafes and gothic bazaars, all happy to invite that a private zikhr

This type of whirling dervishes are now actually the brand new icon regarding Turkey’s tourism methods, and you will drink beverage on your Istanbul hotel lobby watching specific worst bloke for the a tall beige experienced hat spinning for your entertainment. Into real thing, although, started heree https://kissbrides.com/no/hot-ukrainske-kvinner/ so you can Konya and also you come to Turkey’s soul. From inside the Rumi’s conditions:

“Whoever you happen to be, been Even although you is generally An infidel, a beneficial pagan, otherwise a great fireworshipper, become All of our brotherhood is not among depression you enjoys damaged Your vows regarding repentance a hundred minutes, become.”

Almost every seasons given that 1983, I’ve been coming to the a few billion-or-therefore tourist whom head to Konya annually. Some are Turkish, many Iranians (just who claim Rumi as his or her own, since he blogged inside their code and was born in eastern Persia) together with make pilgrimage.

As opposed to and then make Konya a halt toward a bus concert tour, I recommend becoming for some days, soaking-up an impression, food some of Turkey’s most useful lamb, seeing the most readily useful Seljuk frameworks and you can – maybe – falling crazy about Rumi. You could fly when you look at the cheaply regarding Istanbul, that there’s also a great scruffy, atmospheric illustrate, otherwise arrive by-road. Konya is in easy reach of your cavern dwellers and you will carpeting sellers away from Cappadocia.

Rumi showed up here given that good boy, whenever Konya had already been a neighbor hood for a few,000 decades. It absolutely was founded by Hittites, who have been been successful of the Phrygians, then your Lydians, Persians, Cappadocians, the fresh new leaders away from Pergamon additionally the Romans, who known as place Iconium. New orleans saints Paul and you will Barnabus each other preached right here, but because of the 1071 new Seljuks, an effective Turcoman group, was indeed responsible, and their structural history suffers.

Its Karatay Medrese away from 1251 is actually a masterpiece away from embellished tiling and you will unified domes. It is today the fresh Museum out-of Ceramic tiles and you can Ceramics, whoever content keep up with the vibrancy and you can punch they had when earliest fired. Nearby, new Ince Minarali Medrese grew to become the newest Art gallery off Stone and you may Wood Carving, in fact it is way less inactive than We have made it sound. These houses whet your appetite to obtain the ornately tiled Sircali Medrese, as well as the eye-popping Sahip Ata mosque: as opposed to most of the fresh Muslim industry, into the Turkey you’re encouraged to head to mosques, whatever your religious tastes.

Within junction of your old urban area and its own ugly the fresh neighbor is the Alaaddin mosque, the newest city’s vantage section, whose breathtaking ebony pulpit and you may delicate prayer-market come from 1155 (new cutting-edge was finished in 1221). This new boulevard radiating from here provides that Rumi’s tomb, of which even more later. Rumi can Turks while the Mevlana (the fresh Sainted One to), and after this Konya is within thrall in order to Mevlanamania.

Once i earliest arrived, Mevlana’s followers, brand new Mevlevi, had been a banned organisation, tolerated simply for the “folkloric dancing” and you may whirlings. Conferences occurred secretly, illegally.

I mentioned dinner, as well. Konya’s mutton-centric food is excellent. Etli ekmek is a long, slim move-up pizza give having delicately spiced mince, and Konya kebab are a lamb shank, extremely slowly roasted and you will supported towards the a support of bread that have a nice yellow onion. A is at Konak (Restoran, Akcesme mah. Piriesat Cad. Zero 5, +90 332 352 85 47), whose soups and you can do-it-yourself yoghurt is eden-produced.

Hence, splendidly fed, with of many glasses of sweet tannic beverage in you, create your way to Rumi’s tomb. You get in on the awestruck, this new interested and fervent. A mystical twinkly white plays on the tombs of Rumi and you can their supporters. The new wall space is padded having calligraphy, and ceilings is actually a beneficial kaleidoscope out-of remarkably performed arabesques. Rumi’s tomb is covered when you look at the greatly stitched content out-of gold, and generally seems to glow light and you can serenity and you may compassion.

Are common gone, having the following is love

A number of their other pilgrims usually realize Korans, while others Rumi’s poetry. Really need images, while this is purely taboo. Discover people who cry silently, and those who laugh out loud; those who meditate right through the day, and people who hurry as a consequence of.

To tackle quietly and you will insinuating in itself in the awareness ‘s the ney, good reed flute. It may sound particularly breathy heavens, but is really the voice regarding flame, and this rises and you will drops in to the us all. This isn’t specific sullen religious whining, although voice out-of wanting, of communion, of your cardiovascular system. You really have they – it is soul sounds, therefore very supplies you with. Therefore been.

Turkish Air companies (020-7471 6666) flies in order to Konya via Istanbul regarding Heathrow, Stansted, Birmingham and Manchester, of ?219 rtn inc taxation. Istanbul so you’re able to Konya because of the railway will set you back from all around ?24 go back, or around ?36 get back of the coach. Lodge Balikcilar possess bedroom or about ?70 (and get provides cold drinks). Hotel Dergah (+90 332 351 76 61) rooms as much as ?20. Seats observe the brand new spinning dervishes try without brand new tourist work environment, about Mevlana’s tomb. Mete Horzum on SeleneTour (+ninety 532 564 9192, ) organizes individual whirling and you can zikhr out of ?30pp.