We t ‘s the center away from Chicken. Konya, a community out of a million souls, leg squats smack in the middle of Anatolia’s nuts plain, surrounded by unlock, unlimited prairie. Turkey’s very culturally traditional urban area, Konya seems to start with to get a location off strict headscarves and you can foreboding beards, of ostentatiously observed pieties and you can forbidden drinks. However, uncovering Konya is straightforward – to possess right here, at the heart of dated urban area, in his tomb off turquoise tiles, is Jelaluddin Rumi.
Rumi is amongst the planet’s extremely see poets. Through the his lives, and since their death during the 1273, pilgrims have come in order to Konya. Today, Rumi’s tomb is actually Turkey’s next most-visited site visitors destination after the Topkapi Palace within the Istanbul. Rumi try a mystical, an excellent Sufi saint who adored all the religions, and you can whoever very own religion try like. Their supporters carry out (but still carry out) clean out themselves into the trance and you can dance, either spinning instance passes all round the day.
There was a big, unbelievable brand new civil auditorium where that it tender spinning person dancing try performed, and you will one number of charming sleek-eyed mystics during the carpet stores, cafes and you can gothic bazaars, every happy so you’re able to invite you to definitely a private zikhr
Such whirling dervishes are in reality the latest icon regarding Turkey’s tourist tricks, and you may drink beverage in your Istanbul resorts lobby seeing certain worst bloke within the a taller beige considered cap whirling having your entertainment. Toward real deal, even when, become heree so you’re able to Konya and you reach Turkey’s spirit. Into the Rumi’s terms and conditions:
“Whoever you’re, come Even though you is An enthusiastic infidel, an effective pagan, otherwise an effective fireworshipper, been Our brotherhood isn’t certainly anxiety However enjoys damaged The vows of repentance a hundred moments, come.”
Every 12 months because 1983, I have been future to your one or two mil-or-therefore people exactly who go to Konya a year. Some are Turkish, many Iranians (exactly who claim Rumi as his or her individual, because the guy authored in their vocabulary and was born in eastern Persia) along with result in the pilgrimage.
In place of to make Konya a halt with the a coach concert tour, I would recommend existence for most weeks, taking in the feeling, dining the Turkey’s greatest lamb, viewing the top Seljuk frameworks and you can – possibly – dropping in love with Rumi. You https://kissbrides.com/no/av/enslige-kvinner-med-barn/ might fly inside the inexpensively out-of Istanbul, from which addititionally there is an excellent scruffy, atmospheric train, otherwise appear by road. Konya is actually effortless arrived at of one’s cave dwellers and carpet suppliers from Cappadocia.
Rumi turned up right here since the an effective boy, when Konya got become a local for two,000 many years. It was founded by the Hittites, who have been succeeded from the Phrygians, then the Lydians, Persians, Cappadocians, the new leaders regarding Pergamon and also the Romans, whom known as lay Iconium. Saints Paul and you will Barnabus one another preached here, however, by 1071 the brand new Seljuks, a Turcoman group, was basically in control, in addition to their architectural heritage endures.
Their Karatay Medrese regarding 1251 is a masterpiece from embellished tiling and you can good domes. It’s now this new Art gallery regarding Ceramic tiles and you may Ceramics, whose content material maintain the vibrancy and you can strike that they had whenever first discharged. Close by, the brand new Ince Minarali Medrese has started to become the fresh new Art gallery away from Stone and you may Wood Carving, which is a lot less dead than just I’ve caused it to be sound. Those two structures whet your appetite to discover the ornately tiled Sircali Medrese, therefore the excellent Sahip Ata mosque: in lieu of much of the latest Muslim world, inside the Chicken you are encouraged to go to mosques, almost any your religious preferences.
On junction of your own dated area and its particular unsightly the newest neighbor is the Alaaddin mosque, the fresh new city’s vantage section, whose breathtaking dark pulpit and painful and sensitive prayer-market are from 1155 (the brand new advanced are finished in 1221). The newest boulevard radiating from this point brings one Rumi’s tomb, from which so much more later. Rumi could Turks due to the fact Mevlana (new Sainted One), and today Konya is during thrall so you’re able to Mevlanamania.
While i earliest arrived, Mevlana’s followers, the fresh Mevlevi, was in fact a banned organization, accepted only for their “folkloric dancing” and whirlings. Meetings were held privately, illegally.
I mentioned eating, too. Konya’s mutton-centric cuisine is great. Etli ekmek try a lengthy, thin roll-up pizza pie bequeath which have delicately spiced mince, and you may Konya kebab are a mutton shank, really much slower roasted and served into a cushion of bread which have a sweet reddish onion. The number one was at Konak (Restoran, Akcesme mah. Piriesat Cad. No 5, +ninety 332 352 85 47), whose soups and you will handmade yoghurt try heaven-made.
Thus, fantastically provided, sufficient reason for of many cups of sweet tannic beverage inside you, create your answer to Rumi’s tomb. Your join the awestruck, the fresh new curious therefore the fervent. A mysterious twinkly light plays on tombs regarding Rumi and you can his supporters. The brand new structure was stitched that have calligraphy, additionally the ceilings is good kaleidoscope out of perfectly performed arabesques. Rumi’s tomb is covered in greatly stitched content from silver, and you may seems to radiate light and you may tranquility and compassion.
Are typical gone, to possess we have found love
A few of your own other pilgrims usually comprehend Korans, and others Rumi’s poetry. Extremely get photo, while this is strictly forbidden. You can find people who cry quietly, and people who laugh out loud; individuals who reflect non-stop, and those who rush using.
To relax and play unofficially and insinuating by itself into your awareness ‘s the ney, good reed flute. It sounds such as breathy air, it is really the sound regarding flame, and therefore goes up and you may drops into the us all. This is simply not particular sullen spiritual moaning, nevertheless sound regarding yearning, out-of communion, of your cardio. You really have they – it’s spirit musical, and it also very provides you with. Thus already been.
Turkish Air companies (020-7471 6666) flies to help you Konya via Istanbul off Heathrow, Stansted, Birmingham and you will Manchester, off ?219 rtn inc taxes. Istanbul to Konya by train costs throughout ?24 get back, or just around ?thirty-six get back from the coach. Resort Balikcilar keeps room or about ?70 (and also serves cold beers). Hotel Dergah (+ninety 332 351 76 61) bed room up to ?20. Seats to see the brand new whirling dervishes try without the latest site visitors workplace, trailing Mevlana’s tomb. Mete Horzum within SeleneTour (+90 532 564 9192, ) organizes personal spinning and you will zikhr regarding ?30pp.
