We t ‘s the heart off Turkey. Konya, a neighborhood of so many souls, squatting smack in Anatolia’s crazy basic, in the middle of open, endless prairie. Turkey’s extremely culturally old-fashioned town, Konya looks initially to get a place of rigorous headscarves and foreboding beards, out-of ostentatiously observed pieties and you will taboo beers. However, uncovering Konya is easy – for here, at the heart of the dated town, within his tomb out of turquoise tiles, was Jelaluddin Rumi.
Rumi is one of the earth’s really read poets. During his life, and because their death within the 1273, pilgrims attended so you’re able to Konya. Today, Rumi’s tomb try Turkey’s 2nd very-went along to guests attraction after the Topkapi Castle for the Istanbul. Rumi is a mystic, an excellent Sufi saint which adored the religions, and whose very own faith try love. His supporters manage (nonetheless perform) eradicate by themselves from inside the trance and you will dancing, possibly spinning such as passes for hours on end.
There clearly was an enormous, epic this new municipal auditorium where it tender whirling person dancing is actually performed, and people level of lovely glossy-eyed mystics when you look at the carpet shop, cafes and gothic bazaars, every delighted to help you receive that a private zikhr
Such spinning dervishes are in fact the fresh new symbol of Turkey’s tourist procedures, and drink tea on your Istanbul resort lobby enjoying specific poor bloke inside the a high beige thought cap whirling to have your activities. Toward real thing, regardless if, been heree so you can Konya and also you started to Turkey’s heart. In the Rumi’s conditions:
“Anyone who you happen to be, started Even although you could be A keen infidel, an effective pagan, otherwise good fireworshipper, started Our brotherhood isn’t among depression If you provides broken Their vows away from repentance one hundred moments, already been.”
Just about every season just like the 1983, I’ve been upcoming into the several billion-or-therefore people whom check out Konya a-year. Some are Turkish, many Iranians (whom allege Rumi as his or her very own, because the guy composed within their words and you may was born in eastern Persia) and additionally improve pilgrimage.
In the place of and make Konya a stop towards a shuttle trip, I recommend being for a few days, bathing in an impact, eating several of Turkey’s greatest mutton, enjoying its better Seljuk tissues and you can – possibly – dropping in love with Rumi. You could potentially travel into the inexpensively from Istanbul, from where additionally there is a scruffy, atmospheric teach, or arrive by-road. Konya is within easy come to of the cavern dwellers and you can carpet suppliers out-of Cappadocia.
Rumi arrived here because the an excellent boy, whenever Konya got been a city for two,000 age. It had been based by the Hittites, who had been succeeded by Phrygians, then Lydians, Persians, Cappadocians, the kings out of Pergamon in addition to Romans, which known as set Iconium. Saints Paul and you will Barnabus one another preached here, but of the 1071 the new Seljuks, an excellent Turcoman group, was indeed responsible, in addition to their architectural heritage suffers.
Its Karatay Medrese out-of 1251 was a work of art of ornate tiling and you may harmonious domes. It’s now the Art gallery from Tiles and you can Ceramics, whose content take care of the vibrancy and you will strike they’d when basic fired. Close by, the Ince Minarali Medrese has become the fresh Museum out-of Stone and you can Timber Carving, which will be a lot less dead than I’ve caused it to be voice. These two buildings whet your appetite to discover the ornately tiled Sircali Medrese, and also the eye-popping Sahip Ata mosque: in the place of a lot of new Muslim industry, from inside the Turkey you are encouraged to visit mosques, any kind of their religious choice.
At the junction of one’s old town as well as unsightly the fresh neighbor ‘s the Alaaddin mosque, the new city’s vantage section, whose beautiful ebony pulpit and you may sensitive prayer-specific niche come from 1155 (the newest state-of-the-art is completed in 1221). The boulevard radiating from this point will bring that Rumi’s tomb, from which even more later on. Rumi is recognized to Turks while the Mevlana (the newest Sainted That), now Konya is during thrall so you’re able to Mevlanamania.
As i basic emerged, Mevlana’s followers, new Mevlevi, was indeed a prohibited organisation, accepted simply for their “folkloric dance” and you will whirlings. Group meetings took place secretly, dishonestly.
I pointed out dinner, as well. Konya’s lamb-centric food is excellent. Etli ekmek is actually a lengthy, slim roll-right up pizza pie give which have delicately spiced mince, and you may Konya kebab is a mutton shank, most slower roasted and served with the a cushion off bread having a nice reddish onion. The most effective was at Konak (Restoran, Akcesme mah. Piriesat Cad. No 5, +ninety 332 352 85 47), whoever soups and homemade yoghurt try heaven-produced.
Thus, remarkably provided, sufficient reason for many cups of nice tannic tea in you, create your way to Rumi’s tomb. Your join the awestruck, the brand new interested as well as the fervent. A mystical twinkly white takes on with the tombs off Rumi and you can their followers. The new walls was embroidered which have calligraphy, while the ceilings is actually an excellent kaleidoscope regarding perfectly performed arabesques. Rumi’s tomb is covered into the significantly padded content out-of gold, and you will generally seems to radiate white and you may comfort and you will compassion.
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A few of your own other pilgrims usually see Korans, although some Rumi’s poetry. Most simply take photographs, while this is strictly taboo. You can find individuals who weep silently, and people who make fun of out loud; individuals who meditate from day to night, and people who rush owing to.
To try out on the side and you may insinuating alone into your awareness is the ney, an excellent reed flute. It may sound such as breathy sky, it is really the voice from fire, and this goes up and you may falls to the us all. This is not specific sullen https://kissbrides.com/moroccan-women/ religious moaning, nevertheless voice regarding yearning, off communion, of one’s center. You really have it – it is soul tunes, also it very supplies you with. Thus started.
Turkish Air companies (020-7471 6666) flies so you’re able to Konya thru Istanbul of Heathrow, Stansted, Birmingham and you may Manchester, regarding ?219 rtn inc fees. Istanbul so you’re able to Konya of the railway costs from all over ?24 go back, or just around ?thirty six go back by the coach. Resort Balikcilar enjoys bedroom or around ?70 (and have now suits cold drinks). Lodge Dergah (+90 332 351 76 61) bedroom around ?20. Seats to see the latest spinning dervishes try free of the fresh new website visitors workplace, at the rear of Mevlana’s tomb. Mete Horzum from the SeleneTour (+ninety 532 564 9192, ) arranges private whirling and zikhr out-of ?30pp.