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Konya
Konya Collage
Konya Location of Konya, Turkey
Coordinates: 37°52′N 32°29′E / 37.867°N 32.483°E / 37.867; 32.483
Country	Turkey
Region	Central Anatolia
Province	Konya
Government
- Mayor	Tahir Akyürek
Area
- Total	39,000 km2 (15,058 sq mi)
Elevation	1,200 m (3,937 ft)
Population (2007)
- Total	1,412,343
- Density	50/km2 (129.5/sq mi)
Time zone	EET (UTC+2)
- Summer (DST)	EEST (UTC+3)
Postal code	42XXX
Area code(s)	(+90) 332
Licence plate	42
Website	www.konya.bel.tr

Konya is a city in the Central Anatolia Region of Turkey. It is the capital of the Konya Province, and had a city population of 1,003,373 in 2009^[1] while the provincial population (including the other urban centers in the Konya Province) was 1,959,082 in the same year.^[2]

Etymology

Konya, also spelled in some historic English texts as Konia or Koniah, was known in classical antiquity and during the medieval period as Iconium in Latin, and Ἰκόνιον (Ikónion) in Greek. The name Konya is a cognate of icon, as an ancient Greek legend ascribed its name to the "eikon" (image), or the "gorgon's (Medusa's) head", with which Perseus vanquished the native population before founding the city.^[3]

Ancient history

Excavations have shown that the region was inhabited during the Late Copper Age, around 3000 BC.^[3] The city came under the influence of the Hittites around 1500 BC. These were overtaken by the Sea Peoples around 1200 BC. The Phrygians established their kingdom in central Anatolia in the 8th century BC. Xenophon describes Iconium, as the city was called, as the last city of Phrygia. The region was overwhelmed by Cimmerian invaders c. 690 BC. It was later part of the Persian Empire, until Darius III was defeated by Alexander the Great in 333 BC. Alexander's empire broke up shortly after his death and the town came under the rule of Seleucus I Nicator. During the Hellenistic period the town was ruled by the kings of Pergamon. As Attalus III, the last king of Pergamon, was about to die without an heir, he bequeathed his kingdom to Rome. Under the rule of emperor Claudius, the city's name was changed to Claudioconium, and during the rule of emperor Hadrianus to Colonia Aelia Hadriana.

Saint Paul and Barnabas preached in Iconium during the First Missionary Journey in about 47-48 AD (see Acts 14:1-5 and Acts 14:21), and Paul and Silas probably visited it again during the Second Missionary Journey in about 50 (see Acts 16:2).^[4] In Christian legend, it was also the birthplace of Saint Thecla. During the Byzantine Empire the town was destroyed several times by Arab invaders in the 7th-9th centuries.

Seljuk era

The city was conquered by the Seljuk Turks following the Battle of Manzikert in 1071, and from 1097 to 1243 it was the capital of the Anatolian Seljuk Sultanate, though very briefly occupied by the Crusaders Godfrey of Bouillon (August 1097) and Frederick Barbarossa (May 18, 1190). The name of the town was changed to Konya by Rukn al-Dīn Mas'ūd in 1134.

Konya reached the height of its wealth and influence as of the second half of the 12th century when Anatolian Seljuk sultans also subdued the Turkish Beyliks to their east, especially that of the Danishmends, thus establishing their rule over virtually all of eastern Anatolia, as well as acquiring several port towns along the Mediterranean (including Alanya) and the Black Sea (including Sinop) and even gaining a momentary foothold in Sudak, Crimea. This golden age lasted until the first decades of the 13th century.

Mevlana Museum

By the 1220s, the city was filled with refugees from the Khwarezmid Empire, fleeing the advance of the Mongol Empire. Sultan Alā al-Dīn Kayqubād bin Kaykā'ūs fortified the town and built a palace on top of the citadel. In 1228 he invited Bahaeddin Veled and his son Mevlana, the founder of the Mevlevi order, to settle in Konya.

In 1243, following the Seljuk defeat in the Battle of Köse Dag, Konya was captured by the Mongols as well. The city remained the capital of the Seljuk sultans, vassalized to the Ilkhanate until the end of the century.

Following the fall of the Anatolian Seljuk Sultanate, Konya was made an emirate in 1307 which lasted until 1322 when the city was captured by the Beylik of Karamanoğlu. In 1420, Karamanoğlu fell to the Ottoman Empire and, in 1453, Konya was made the provincial capital of the Ottoman Province of Karaman.

Ottoman era

Under the Ottoman Empire, in the vilayet system established after 1864, Konya was the seat of the Vilayet of Konya.

According to the 1895 census, Konya had a population of nearly forty-five thousand, of which 42,318 were Muslims, 1,566 were Christian Armenians and 899 were Christian Greeks. There were also 21 mosques and 5 Churches in the town.^[5] A still-standing Catholic church was built for the Italian railroad workers in the 1910s. By 1927, after the Greco-Turkish population exchange accord of 1923, the city's population became almost exclusively Muslim.

Universities

Selçuk University Library

Konya is home to Selçuk University, one of the largest universities in Turkey.

Notable residents and visitors

• Ibn Arabi, the Sufi, visited Konya in 1207 at the invitation of the Seljuk governor of that time and married the mother of his disciple Sadreddin Konevi.
• The tomb of Jalal al-Din Muhammad Rumi, the Persian Sufi poet commonly known as "Mevlâna" and who is the founder of the Sufi Mevlevi order (known for the Whirling Dervishes), is located in Konya where he spent the last fifty years of his life.
• Hazrat Shah Jalal was born in 1271 in Konya.
• Nasreddin died in Konya in the 13th century.
• Orkut Büyükkökten, a software engineer who developed the social networking service Orkut, was born in 1975 in Konya.^[6]

Notable structures

• Alaeddin Mosque
• Ince Minaret Medrese-- Museum
• Karatay Medrese -- Museum
• Mevlana Museum, formerly the tekke of Mevlana

Culture

Mevlana Cultural Center

Konya has the reputation of being one of the more religiously conservative metropolitan centers in Turkey. It was once known as the "citadel of Islam" and is still more devout than other cities.^[7] Konya was the final home of Rumi, whose followers established in 1273 the Mevlevi Sufi order of Islam in this city and became known as the whirling dervishes.

A Turkish folk song is named "Konyalım" (making reference to a loved one from Konya).^[8]

Konya produced Turkish carpets that were exported to Europe during the Renaissance.^[9][10] These expensive, richly-patterned textiles were draped over tables, beds, or chests to proclaim the wealth and status of their owners, and were often included in the contemporary oil paintings as symbols of the wealth of the painter's clients.^[11]

Image gallery

Selçuklu Tower at night	Selçuklu Tower and the Monument of the Fallen Soldiers in Konya	Selçuklu Tower at Kule Site in Konya	Kombassan Tower
Rixos Konya	Mevlana Museum	İnce Minareli Medrese	Alaeddin Mosque
City Council of Konya	Governorship of Konya	Governorship of Konya	Konya Train Station
Central Post Office	Central Post Office	Dedeman Konya	Real Shopping Mall
Alaeddin Hill Park	Alaeddin Hill Park	Picnic area in Meram	Meram Brook

International relations

Twin towns — Sister cities

Konya is twinned with:

• Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina^[12]
• Tetovo, Macedonia^[13]
• Multan, Pakistan^[14]

See also

• Anatolian Seljuk Sultanate
• Konya Province, Ottoman Empire
• Anatolian Tigers
• Konya Carpets and Rugs

References and notes

External links

• Encyclopædia Britannica: Konya
• Emporis: Database of highrises and other structures in Konya
• Detailed Pictures of Mevlana Museum
• Pictures of the city, including Mevlana Museum and several Seljuk buildings
• William M. Ramsay, Cities of St. Paul, 316-384

Konya in Konya Province (in the Central Anatolia region) of Turkey Urban districts Konya Rural districts Ahırlı - Akören - Akşehir - Altınekin - Beyşehir - Bozkır - Çeltik - Cihanbeyli - Çumra - Derbent - Derebucak - Doğanhisar - Emirgazi - Ereğli - Güneysınır - Hadim - Halkapınar - Hüyük - Ilgın - Kadınhanı - Karapınar - Karatay - Kulu - Meram - Sarayönü - Selçuklu - Seydişehir - Taşkent - Tuzlukçu - Yalıhüyük - Yunak Regions Provinces Aegean Afyonkarahisar - Aydın - Denizli - İzmir - Kütahya - Manisa - Muğla - Uşak Black Sea Amasya - Artvin - Bartın - Bayburt - Bolu - Çorum - Düzce - Giresun - Gümüşhane - Karabük - Kastamonu - Ordu - Rize - Samsun - Sinop - Tokat - Trabzon - Zonguldak Central Anatolia Aksaray - Ankara - Çankırı - Eskişehir - Karaman - Kayseri - Kırıkkale - Kırşehir - Konya - Nevşehir - Niğde - Sivas - Yozgat Eastern Anatolia Ağrı - Ardahan -Bingöl - Bitlis - Elâzığ - Erzincan - Erzurum - Hakkâri - Iğdır - Kars - Malatya - Muş - Siirt - Tunceli - Van Marmara Balıkesir - Bilecik - Bursa - Çanakkale - Edirne - Istanbul - Kırklareli - Kocaeli - Sakarya - Tekirdağ - Yalova Mediterranean Adana - Antalya- Burdur - Hatay - Isparta - Kahramanmaraş - Kilis - Mersin - Osmaniye Southeastern Anatolia Adıyaman - Batman - Diyarbakır - Gaziantep - Mardin - Şanlıurfa - Şırnak

Metropolitan centers in Turkey Adana  • Ankara  • Antalya  • Bursa  • Diyarbakır • Erzurum  • Eskişehir  • Gaziantep  • İstanbul  • İzmir  • Kayseri  • Kocaeli  • Konya  • Mersin  • Sakarya  • Samsun

From Wikitravel

Mevlana Museum - Mausoleum of Rumi

Konya is a city in Central Anatolia in Turkey, known as the city of whirling dervishes and for its outstanding Seljuk architecture.

Understand

Konya was once the capital of Sultanate of Rum, known in Turkish as Anadolu Selçukluları, a situation which resulted in much of the architectural heritage visible today. The poet and Sufi thinker Rumi [1] also settled in the city during this period.

Despite rapid growth in recent years, and the arrival of many students from out of town in the Selçuk University (Selçuk Üniversitesi), founded in 1975, Konya still retains the air of an Anatolian provincial town. Even though the influx of tourists from the west has increased considerably visitors are still left in peace, and do not have to suffer the hassles they get in Istanbul. On the downside perhaps is the fact that fewer people speak English (or any other foreign language), but the natural hospitality of the people of Konya usually makes up for that. Be careful with taxi drivers, who sometimes have no scruples about ripping off visitors to their city.

Get in

By plane

Turkish Airlines, Onur Air [2], and Pegasus Airlines [3] offer flights from Istanbul to Konya Airport (IATA: KYA, ICAO: LTAN), located about 18 km out of city. In the summer period it's also possible to fly from various European countries, such as Netherlands, Germany, Norway, Denmark.

Old train in front of train station

Trains constitute a cheaper, although slower, alternative to travelling by bus or car. The night train to Istanbul is comfortable and offers a dinner in the restaurant car with a spectacular sunset view. The Konya railway station is located in the suburb of Meram, some distance from the centre; it is easy enough to take a taxi from the station to the centre, but surprisingly some of the taxi drivers are not familiar with the locations of the main hotels.

Direct trains are available from

• Istanbul (12 hours, 60 YTL for 1. class sleeping car), Izmit, Eskişehir, Kutahya, Afyon (Meram Express, İçanadolu Mavi Treni)
• Adana, Karaman (İçanadolu Mavi Treni)

Currently many rail lines in Turkey are undergoing major maintenance work, resulting in (temporary) cancellations of many inter-city train services, so it's advisable to check Turkish State Railways' website [4].

By bus

Ther are a number of travel agencies on Mevalna Caddesi, Konya's main street, where you can buy bus tickets. The destinations they deal with are written outside.

Konya's bus station (otogar) has good connections to a wide range of destinations, including Istanbul (~10 hours), Izmir (~9 hours), Ankara (~4 hours), and Cappadocia (~3 hours).

When you are issued a bus ticket you will be told which gate at the station your bus will leave from; you need to be vigilant, however, as the buses sometimes park at another gate close by.

The bus station is several kilometres away from Konya's main sites of interest, most of which are located around Alaaddin Tepesi. A number of minibuses depart from outside the bus station, of which some stop in or near Alaaddin Tepesi: these take about 30 minutes and should cost less than 2 YTL. Alternatively, Konya's tram line terminates in a loop around Alaaddin Tepesi: this also takes about 30 minutes and costs 1 YTL per person.

By car

Konya is a 3-hour drive from Ankara and 10 hours (660km) from Istanbul. From Izmir you will get in 7 hours in Konya. Also it takes 3 and half hour from Antalya by car.

Get around

In the city of Konya you can travel with the dolmus minibuses, public urban buses (belediye otobüsü), tram or taxi.

City Hall

Dervish cemetary

• Mevlana Museum/Mausoleum of Rumi (Mevlana Müzesi), (this is a very prominent landmark in downtown, you can't miss it), [5]. 9:30AM-7PM. This must see tourist destination of Konya, is the tomb of the famous mystic/sufi/thinker Rumi (known shortly as Mevlana in Turkish, or with the full name Mawlana Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Balkhi-Rumi in English literature), as well as the neighboring museum that displays relics of his life and his time. The items on display in the museum range from old manuscripts, hand written copies of the Koran, musical instruments used at Rumi's time, as well as numerous art works dating from the Seljuk era. YTL 2.  edit

Also interesting for the curious traveller, esp. for those looking for interesting photographic opportunities or a short walk through an authentic neighborhood, is the parts of the city that surrounds the Mevlana Museum. Since this neighborhood hasn't quite kept up with recent times, it still maintains an authentic feel from older days with narrow streets and houses of old architecture, almost with historic significance.

Located 5-6 city blocks away from the museum, one can also find other historic buildings and mosques dating from the 12th and 13th century Seljuks Turks (the most significant one of these if the "İplikçi Camii").

• Iplikçi Mosque (İplikçi Camii). This old mosque dating from the 13th century was restored about 50 years ago and is still open for prayer service. It is a nice example of the Seljuk architecture to be seen in Konya, conveniently located b/w the city center and the Mevlana Museum. Free.  edit

• Ince Minare Museum (İnce Minare, literally 'thin minaret'), Alaaddin Meydanı, ☎ +90 332 351 32 04, [6]. Tu-Su 8:30AM-12:30PM/1:30PM-5:30PM. İnce Minare is the remains of a 13th century madrasah (school) built by the Anatolian Seljuks. Located close to the city center near the northern end of "Alaaddin Tepesi", this minaret and the surrounding small buildings today serve as a museum that displays various artefacts from the Seljuk and Ottoman eras. It is a popular tourist attraction, owing mostly to the noteworthy ornamental architecture which has been very well preserved over the centuries.  edit

• Alaaddin Hill (Alaaddin Tepesi). This is an artificial hill that was built by the Seljuk Sultan Aleaddin Keykubat. Today it stands right in the middle of the city, and serves mostly as a park. Even though the small hill or the park on it may not be very interesting in themselves, the two places to stop by and see are 1) the Alaaddin Mosque, and 2)the remmants of an old palace with partly earthen construction located on the north end of the hill - this old structure is protected from the elements with a concrete umbrella.  edit

• Meram. This is the district of Konya which lies somewhat away from the city center, with lighter construction and more greenery. The name "Meram" also refers to the popular picnic area located in the farther corner of the Meram district. Near this picnic area there are a few historic buildings to see, some of which are the "Tavus Baba Türbesi" and the "Ateşbazı Türbesi".  edit

Seljuk Palace remains

• Seljuk Palace remains, (on the Alaaddin Tepesi Hill). Just one piece of the Seljuk Alaadin palace. Built by Seljuk Sultan Kilicarslan II, restored by Seljuk sultan Alaadin Kekubad  edit

• Fuar.  edit

• Zafer.  edit

• Go shopping at Kulesite shopping center. You can also shop in the small streets of Konya where you can find a lot of clothes and presents for a low price.
• Go chill at Alaattin Tepesi.
• Have a coup of coffee at Meram (Aydincavus), with a sight from Konya from above.
• Go to Fuar (the funfair).
• Visit Kapu Mosque and Aziziye Mosque each with different styles of minarets (towers).

• Trinkets related to Rumi (and whirling dervishes).
• Traditional Mevlana-candy (white with a mint taste).

• Kulesite, Kule Cad. 8, Selçuklu, ☎ +90 332 234 32 72 (info@kulesite.com, fax: +90 332 234 32 78), [7]. Modern shopping mall.  edit

• Truva Outlet Center. An outlet center.  edit

• M1 Tepe, Dç. Dr. Halil Ürün Cad.. Modern shopping mall.  edit

Eat

Traditional local cuisine mainly depends on wheat/bread and mutton - the major agricultural products of Central Anatolian steppe on which Konya is situated.

Local delicacies include:

• Etliekmek — some sort of long pizza (with meat or cheese) which can possibly exceed 1 mt in length! Available at a lot of restaurants in Konya.

• Gülbahçesi Restaurant, (at the backside of Mevlana Museum), ☎ +90 332 353 07 68 (bilgi@gulbahcesikonyamutfagi.com), [8]. Traditional Turkish/Central Anatolian cuisine served in traditionally decorated rooms. A nice view of Mevlana Museum and its garden.  edit

• Adanali Köfteci Osman, (near the train station). "Adana"-style kebab, grilled meat. Not expensive.  edit

• Asya Restaurant. Traditional cuisine.  edit

• Kösk Mutfagi, Piri Esat Cad. (at the end of Mengüc Cad., approx. 500 mt from Mevlana Museum), ☎ +90 332 352 85 47 (info@koskkonyamutfagi.com), [9]. Traditional cuisine. Located in a renovated historical mansion. No alcohol served. Has a carpark in front. Not expensive.  edit

• Restaurant Mahmut Keten, Israsyon-Feritpasa Caddesi Mahmuruiye Mah. Keten Apt (right next to the train station), ☎ +90 0332 322 22 03. The place is not used to tourist, the menu is in turkish only and the staff not fluent in english. But they are extremely helpful and friendly. They have tasty salads and meats. Try their thinly cut lamb in butter sauce. No alcohol. YTL 10 for main.  edit

• Fast food — Burger King, McDonald's and some other American-style fast-food restaurants, as well as ever omnipresent döner, are also available around the city.

Central park at Alaaddin Tepesi

• The open-air café at Alaaddin Tepesi is good for a relief and some shade while watching the city during a summer day.

• Hotel Ulusan, (behind the central postoffice (PTT), near Mevlana Cad.), ☎ +90 332 351 50 04 (ulusanhotel@hotmail.com), [10]. A reliable budget option located in city center.  edit

• Hotel Balikcilar, (just across the street from Mevlana Museum), ☎ +90 332 350 94 70 (balikcilar@balikcilar.com, fax: +90 332 351 32 59), [11]. A 3 and a half star hotel. Nothing special about it except that it is literally across the street from the Mevlana Museum.  edit

• Konya Rixos Hotel (5*)
• Konya Ozkaymak Hotel (4*)
• Konya Dedeman Hotel (5*)
• Konya Sheraton Hotel will be opened soon (42 high skycraper in the centre of Konya).

• Çatalhöyük is a prehistoric archeological site located about an hour's drive away from Konya. Its importance lies in the fact of being one of the earliest and well preserved human settlement sites discovered.

• Tuz Gölü (literally Salt Lake), about an hour away on the road north to Ankara, is Turkey's second largest lake after Lake Van, although only about 2 (yes, two) meters deep at most. During summer months, it literally evaporates and leaves behind a flat and completely white landscape, just like a salt desert. It's also a good spot for birdwatching as it's an important stop-over for migratory birds on their route from Europe to Africa and vice versa during spring and autumn.

• If you intend to head south by hitchhiking, take public bus #26 (Karaman Yolu) from the stops in front of the Governor’s Office (Valilik/Vilayet) in the city centre, about 5-10 minutes walk away from Rumi tomb/Mevlana Museum. #26 takes you to the highway leading to south, to steppes out of city, almost until the middle of nowhere. Don’t get off the bus until it leaves the highway by turning left into a narrower road. (fare: YTL 1.10/person)