We t ‘s the cardio out-of Turkey. Konya, an area of a million souls, squatting smack in the center of Anatolia’s wild plain, enclosed by discover, limitless prairie. Turkey’s really culturally old-fashioned city, Konya seems to start with to get an area of strict headscarves and foreboding beards, of ostentatiously noticed pieties and you can taboo drinks. However, uncovering Konya is not difficult – to possess pГҐ jakt etter Amerikansk kvinner here, in the middle of your own dated area, inside the tomb off turquoise tiles, try Jelaluddin Rumi.
Rumi is just one of the world’s extremely discover poets. Throughout his lifestyle, and since his dying for the 1273, pilgrims attended so you’re able to Konya. Now, Rumi’s tomb are Turkey’s second most-visited website visitors destination following the Topkapi Castle from inside the Istanbul. Rumi is actually a mystic, a Sufi saint just who liked every religions, and you may whoever very own faith are love. Their supporters manage (but still carry out) dump themselves in the hypnotic trance and you can dance, both spinning eg passes for hours.
There is certainly a big, epic the latest municipal auditorium where it sensitive spinning people dancing try performed, and you will one amount of charming sleek-eyed mystics from inside the carpeting shops, cafes and you will gothic bazaars, all of the happier so you can invite you to an exclusive zikhr
Such spinning dervishes are now the new symbol off Turkey’s tourist tips, and you can drink beverage on your Istanbul hotel reception watching some terrible bloke for the a high beige considered hat spinning to possess your recreation. Into the real thing, no matter if, come heree in order to Konya and you also reach Turkey’s soul. For the Rumi’s words:
“Whoever you are, already been Even though you are An enthusiastic infidel, a pagan, or a good fireworshipper, already been All of our brotherhood isn’t certainly one of despair If you has actually busted Their vows from repentance a hundred minutes, started.”
Pretty much every year since 1983, I have already been coming into a few million-or-so travelers which go to Konya annually. Most are Turkish, some Iranians (exactly who allege Rumi as his or her individual, because the he blogged inside their vocabulary and you may grew up in eastern Persia) including improve pilgrimage.
Instead of and come up with Konya a stop towards a shuttle journey, I suggest being for some months, soaking-up an impact, restaurants some of Turkey’s finest lamb, enjoying the ideal Seljuk tissues and you may – possibly – shedding in love with Rumi. You could potentially fly from inside the affordably out of Istanbul, from where addititionally there is a good scruffy, atmospheric instruct, or are available by road. Konya is actually easy arrive at of your cave dwellers and carpet providers out of Cappadocia.
Rumi turned up here as a beneficial boy, when Konya got started a neighbor hood for a couple of,000 many years. It actually was mainly based by the Hittites, who had been been successful by Phrygians, then your Lydians, Persians, Cappadocians, brand new kings away from Pergamon therefore the Romans, which known as lay Iconium. New orleans saints Paul and you may Barnabus both preached here, however, from the 1071 this new Seljuks, a great Turcoman tribe, was basically in control, as well as their structural history suffers.
Its Karatay Medrese of 1251 is a work of art out of elaborate tiling and you will unified domes. It’s now the fresh Museum out of Ceramic tiles and you will Ceramics, whose contents retain the vibrancy and you will strike they’d whenever very first fired. Close by, this new Ince Minarali Medrese became this new Art gallery off Stone and you may Wood Sculpture, that is way less inactive than just I’ve managed to get sound. These houses whet your appetite to find the ornately tiled Sircali Medrese, and the magnificent Sahip Ata mosque: rather than the majority of the brand new Muslim globe, when you look at the Chicken you’re motivated to visit mosques, any kind of the spiritual tastes.
In the junction of your own dated area as well as unsightly this new neighbour is the Alaaddin mosque, the fresh new city’s vantage point, whoever gorgeous black pulpit and you can delicate prayer-market are from 1155 (the fresh complex is finished in 1221). The boulevard radiating from here will bring one Rumi’s tomb, from which alot more later on. Rumi can Turks just like the Mevlana (new Sainted You to definitely), and today Konya is in thrall so you’re able to Mevlanamania.
Once i basic appeared, Mevlana’s supporters, the fresh new Mevlevi, have been a prohibited organisation, tolerated only for their “folkloric dance” and whirlings. Meetings were held covertly, illegally.
I mentioned eating, also. Konya’s mutton-centric food is great. Etli ekmek was a lengthy, slim move-right up pizza pie pass on which have delicately spiced mince, and you will Konya kebab was a lamb shank, extremely slow roasted and you may served to your a pillow from bread that have a nice reddish onion. A is at Konak (Restoran, Akcesme mah. Piriesat Cad. No 5, +90 332 352 85 47), whose soup and selfmade yoghurt was heaven-produced.
Ergo, beautifully given, along with of several cups of sweet tannic beverage inside you, create your way to Rumi’s tomb. Your join the awestruck, the new interested together with fervent. A strange twinkly white performs towards tombs out-of Rumi and you may their followers. The latest structure try padded which have calligraphy, additionally the ceilings is actually a kaleidoscope from remarkably executed arabesques. Rumi’s tomb is covered in significantly stitched cloth out of gold, and you will generally seems to glow light and peace and you can mercy.
All are went, for let me reveal like
Several of your other pilgrims tend to discover Korans, while some Rumi’s poetry. Really simply take photos, while this is strictly taboo. You can find people who weep quietly, and people who make fun of out loud; those who reflect all day long, and people who rush courtesy.
To tackle unofficially and you may insinuating by itself to your awareness ‘s the ney, an excellent reed flute. It sounds particularly breathy heavens, it is actually the sound out of flames, which rises and you may drops to the us. It is not particular sullen spiritual moaning, nevertheless the voice away from wanting, from communion, of one’s heart. You’ve got it – it’s spirit sounds, and it very sends you. Thus been.
Turkish Air companies (020-7471 6666) flies to Konya through Istanbul out of Heathrow, Stansted, Birmingham and you can Manchester, out of ?219 rtn inc taxation. Istanbul to help you Konya of the rail can cost you from around ?24 go back, or around ?thirty six come back by the shuttle. Resorts Balikcilar has room or around ?70 (and now have provides cool drinks). Resorts Dergah (+ninety 332 351 76 61) bed room doing ?20. Passes to see the fresh new spinning dervishes is free from the fresh new subscribers office, behind Mevlana’s tomb. Mete Horzum at SeleneTour (+90 532 564 9192, ) organizes private whirling and zikhr off ?30pp.