We t is the cardio regarding Poultry. Konya, a community away from so many souls, squats slap in the center of Anatolia’s wild ordinary, surrounded by unlock, endless prairie. Turkey’s very culturally old-fashioned area, Konya appears in the beginning to be a location off rigorous headscarves and you will foreboding beards, off ostentatiously observed pieties and taboo drinks. But uncovering Konya is simple – to own here, in the middle of one’s dated area, inside the tomb off turquoise ceramic tiles, is Jelaluddin Rumi.
Rumi is among the planet’s very discover poets. Through the his lifetime, and because his passing inside 1273, pilgrims came in order to Konya. Now, Rumi’s tomb try Turkey’s second most-went along to site visitors destination following Topkapi Castle into the Istanbul. Rumi are a mystical, an effective Sufi saint who appreciated the religions, and whose very own religion are love. His supporters carry out (but still carry out) clean out on their own in trance and you may dancing, both spinning such as for example tops from day to night.
There’s an enormous, impressive this new municipal auditorium in which it tender whirling peoples ballet is actually did, and you will one amount of charming sleek-eyed mystics inside carpeting stores, cafes and you will gothic bazaars, every delighted so you’re able to receive you to an exclusive zikhr
These whirling dervishes are actually the brand new icon from Turkey’s tourism tips, and sip beverage on the Istanbul lodge reception enjoying specific worst bloke inside a large beige thought hat spinning to possess your own enjoyment. Into real deal, even when, come heree so you’re able to Konya and you reach Turkey’s soul. During the Rumi’s words:
“Anyone who you’re, been Even if you can be An infidel, a great pagan, or a fireworshipper, come Our very own brotherhood isn’t certainly despair Though you provides busted The vows off repentance a hundred minutes, already been.”
Pretty much every season due to the fact 1983, I have already been upcoming towards the a couple billion-or-so people who see Konya per year. Some are Turkish, some Iranians (whom claim Rumi because their individual, since the the guy had written inside their language and grew up in eastern Persia) including make pilgrimage.
In lieu of and work out Konya a stop towards a shuttle journey, I would recommend getting for most months, bathing in an impression, dining the Turkey’s greatest lamb, viewing the most useful Seljuk frameworks and you can – perhaps – shedding in love with Rumi. You could potentially fly within the inexpensively away from Istanbul, where there’s also an excellent scruffy, atmospheric show, otherwise arrive by-road. Konya is in effortless started to of cavern dwellers and carpet vendors of Cappadocia.
Rumi showed up right here given that a great boy, whenever Konya had started a district for 2,000 decades. It was situated of the Hittites, who had been succeeded from the Phrygians, then the Lydians, Persians, Cappadocians, the new leaders regarding Pergamon together with Romans, which called the put Iconium. New orleans saints Paul and you can Barnabus one another preached here, but of the 1071 the newest Seljuks, a Turcoman group, was in control, in addition to their structural legacy endures.
Its Karatay Medrese https://kissbrides.com/no/latviske-kvinner/ out of 1251 try a masterpiece away from embellished tiling and you will harmonious domes. It is today the fresh Art gallery regarding Tiles and you can Ceramics, whose information take care of the vibrancy and you will strike they’d whenever very first discharged. Close by, the newest Ince Minarali Medrese is actually new Art gallery off Stone and you can Timber Carving, in fact it is way less inactive than just You will find managed to make it voice. These property whet urge for food to get the ornately tiled Sircali Medrese, plus the stunning Sahip Ata mosque: rather than most of brand new Muslim industry, when you look at the Chicken you’re encouraged to go to mosques, any sort of the spiritual preferences.
On junction of your own old city and its own unattractive the fresh new neighbour is the Alaaddin mosque, the fresh new city’s vantage section, whose breathtaking dark pulpit and sensitive and painful prayer-specific niche come from 1155 (the newest complex was completed in 1221). The new boulevard radiating from this point will bring one Rumi’s tomb, at which significantly more later on. Rumi may Turks because the Mevlana (this new Sainted One), and after this Konya is actually thrall to Mevlanamania.
As i earliest appeared, Mevlana’s supporters, brand new Mevlevi, was indeed a prohibited organisation, accepted simply for its “folkloric dance” and you will whirlings. Conferences happened covertly, dishonestly.
I pointed out eating, also. Konya’s mutton-centric cuisine is excellent. Etli ekmek is a long, thin roll-up pizza bequeath with delicately spiced mince, and you can Konya kebab try a lamb shank, very slow roasted and you can supported into a support regarding cash with a nice purple onion. Top was at Konak (Restoran, Akcesme mah. Piriesat Cad. Zero 5, +ninety 332 352 85 47), whose soup and you may home made yoghurt was heaven-produced.
For this reason, superbly given, in accordance with of numerous cups of nice tannic teas inside you, help make your solution to Rumi’s tomb. You join the awestruck, the fresh new curious plus the fervent. A mystical twinkly light takes on towards tombs of Rumi and you will his supporters. The fresh new structure was embroidered having calligraphy, additionally the ceilings is good kaleidoscope out-of fantastically performed arabesques. Rumi’s tomb is included inside vastly stitched content out-of silver, and seems to radiate white and you may comfort and you will mercy.
Are all gone, to have let me reveal like
Several of your fellow pilgrims usually see Korans, and others Rumi’s poetry. Really need photos, although this is strictly taboo. You will find people that cry quietly, and those who laugh aloud; individuals who meditate non-stop, and those who rush due to.
To relax and play privately and you may insinuating alone in the consciousness ‘s the ney, a great reed flute. It may sound for example breathy heavens, but is truly the sound out of flame, which goes up and you will falls inside us. This is not particular sullen religious whining, nevertheless the voice from yearning, regarding communion, of center. You’ve got they – it’s spirit music, plus it very provides you with. So already been.
Turkish Air companies (020-7471 6666) flies in order to Konya thru Istanbul regarding Heathrow, Stansted, Birmingham and you will Manchester, regarding ?219 rtn inc taxation. Istanbul so you can Konya by railway will set you back from around ?24 go back, or just around ?thirty-six go back of the bus. Hotel Balikcilar has room or around ?70 (and get provides cold drinks). Resorts Dergah (+ninety 332 351 76 61) bedroom around ?20. Seats observe new spinning dervishes is actually free of the fresh tourist work environment, at the rear of Mevlana’s tomb. Mete Horzum in the SeleneTour (+90 532 564 9192, ) organizes personal whirling and you can zikhr of ?30pp.
