I t is the cardiovascular system out-of Turkey. Konya, a city out of a million souls, leg squats slap in the center of Anatolia’s wild basic, enclosed by open, unlimited prairie. Turkey’s very culturally conventional town, Konya looks at first are an area away from rigorous headscarves and you can foreboding beards, off ostentatiously observed pieties and you can taboo drinks. But uncovering Konya is not difficult – to own here, at the heart of one’s dated urban area, in the tomb away from turquoise tiles, is actually Jelaluddin Rumi.
Rumi is one of the planet’s very see poets. Through the his lives, and because his dying inside 1273, pilgrims came to Konya. Now, Rumi’s tomb try Turkey’s second very-went to website visitors destination following the Topkapi Castle during the Istanbul. Their supporters perform (and still would) eliminate by themselves into the hypnotic trance and you may moving, possibly rotating eg passes right through the day.
These types of spinning dervishes are actually the symbol off Turkey’s tourism tricks, and you may drink beverage on the Istanbul resort lobby viewing particular worst bloke when you look at the a high beige believed hat spinning to have the activities. With the real deal, no matter if, become heree so you can Konya and you also come to Turkey’s soul. In Rumi’s terminology:
There was a giant, unbelievable the latest civil auditorium where it sensitive spinning peoples dancing try performed, and you can any number of charming shiny-eyed mystics inside the carpet shops, cafes and gothic bazaars, all of the pleased so you can invite one to a personal zikhr
“Anyone who you’re, become Even though you is generally An enthusiastic infidel, an excellent pagan, or an excellent fireworshipper, already been All of our brotherhood is not certainly anxiety you has broken Their vows regarding repentance a hundred times, become.”
Pretty much every seasons since 1983, I’ve been coming with the a few million-or-so tourist which head to Konya a year. Most are Turkish, while most Iranians (which allege Rumi because their very own, since the guy published within their language and you may grew up in east Persia) and make the pilgrimage.
As opposed to and then make Konya a stop on the a coach journey, I would suggest being for some days, soaking-up the feeling, dining several of Turkey’s top lamb, enjoying the greatest Seljuk structures and you will – perhaps – dropping in love with Rumi. You might travel inside the inexpensively away from Istanbul, from where there’s also a good scruffy, atmospheric show, or are available by road. Konya is in effortless arrived at of your own cave dwellers and you may carpeting manufacturers of Cappadocia.
Rumi arrived here as the a beneficial boy, whenever Konya had been a region for a few,000 many years. It was dependent because of the Hittites, who have been succeeded because of the Phrygians, then Lydians, Persians, Cappadocians, the fresh leaders off Pergamon while the Romans, who called the put Iconium. New orleans saints Paul and you can Barnabus one another preached right here, but by 1071 brand new Seljuks, an excellent Turcoman group, had been in charge, and their structural legacy suffers.
The Karatay Medrese out-of 1251 is a masterpiece off ornate tiling and unified domes. It is now the new Art gallery of Ceramic tiles and Ceramics, whose articles take care of the vibrancy and you may strike they’d when earliest discharged. Close by, the newest Ince Minarali Medrese grew to become the newest Museum away from Brick and you can Wood Carving, and that is way less inactive than simply We have made it voice. These property whet your appetite to get the ornately tiled Sircali Medrese, together with stunning Sahip Ata mosque: unlike much of brand new Muslim business, for the Poultry you’re motivated to see mosques, any type of the spiritual tastes.
From the junction of your own dated town and its particular unsightly the newest neighbour is the Alaaddin mosque, the brand new city’s vantage point, whoever breathtaking ebony pulpit and you may painful and sensitive prayer-market are from 1155 (the new cutting-edge was completed in 1221). The new boulevard radiating from here brings one Rumi’s tomb, of which more afterwards. Rumi can Turks since the Mevlana (brand new Sainted That), and today Konya is during thrall in order to Mevlanamania.
Rumi try a mystical, a great Sufi saint just who treasured all the religions, and whose very own religion are like
Whenever i basic appeared, Mevlana’s supporters, the latest Mevlevi, was in fact a prohibited organisation, accepted only for its “folkloric dance” and you will whirlings. Meetings occurred privately, dishonestly.
I pointed out dining, also. Konya’s mutton-centric cooking is excellent. Etli ekmek is a long, thin roll-right up pizza pass on that have delicately spiced mince, and https://kissbrides.com/no/blogg/hvordan-fa-en-postordre-brud/ you will Konya kebab was a mutton shank, really much slower roasted and you will served into the a cushion regarding money that have a nice red-colored onion. Ideal was at Konak (Restoran, Akcesme mah. Piriesat Cad. Zero 5, +90 332 352 85 47), whose soup and you will handmade yogurt was paradise-produced.
Thus, remarkably fed, along with of a lot cups of nice tannic teas inside you, build your way to Rumi’s tomb. Your get in on the awestruck, the fresh curious and fervent. A strange twinkly light performs toward tombs of Rumi and you may his supporters. The fresh structure was padded having calligraphy, plus the ceilings was a beneficial kaleidoscope of superbly done arabesques. Rumi’s tomb is covered during the greatly padded content off silver, and seems to radiate white and you may peace and you may compassion.
Some of your fellow pilgrims tend to understand Korans, and others Rumi’s poetry. Extremely need pictures, while this is purely forbidden. Discover those who cry silently, and those who make fun of aloud; those who meditate for hours on end, and people who hurry due to. Are typical gone, to have is love.
To tackle privately and you can insinuating itself into your understanding ‘s the ney, an excellent reed flute. It sounds such as for instance breathy heavens, it is really the sound from flames, and that increases and falls into the us all. This isn’t certain sullen spiritual moaning, but the voice out-of yearning, out of communion, of the heart. You have they – it’s heart musical, and it extremely sends you. Very already been.
Turkish Air companies (020-7471 6666) flies in order to Konya through Istanbul out of Heathrow, Stansted, Birmingham and you will Manchester, out of ?219 rtn inc taxes. Istanbul to help you Konya from the rail costs from all over ?24 get back, or around ?thirty six return from the shuttle. Resort Balikcilar features bed room or around ?70 (and have provides cold beers). Resort Dergah (+90 332 351 76 61) bedroom as much as ?20. Tickets observe the fresh whirling dervishes try clear of the latest travelers work environment, about Mevlana’s tomb. Mete Horzum at SeleneTour (+90 532 564 9192, ) arranges individual spinning and zikhr regarding ?30pp.
