I asian single solution profiler t is the cardio away from Turkey. Konya, a district out of so many souls, leg squats smack in the middle of Anatolia’s wild plain, enclosed by discover, endless prairie. Turkey’s extremely culturally old-fashioned area, Konya appears in the beginning becoming an area regarding rigid headscarves and you may foreboding beards, of ostentatiously observed pieties and taboo drinks. However, uncovering Konya is not difficult – to possess here, at the heart of your own dated urban area, within his tomb out-of turquoise tiles, is actually Jelaluddin Rumi.
Rumi is amongst the world’s really read poets. While in the their lifestyle, and because their demise for the 1273, pilgrims attended to Konya. Now, Rumi’s tomb are Turkey’s 2nd really-visited tourist interest following the Topkapi Palace during the Istanbul. Rumi is actually a mystic, a Sufi saint which appreciated all of the religions, and whoever individual faith was love. His supporters do (and still do) eradicate on their own inside hypnotic trance and you will moving, often spinning such as tops all the time.
There’s a giant, unbelievable the newest municipal auditorium in which this tender spinning human dancing are did, and people quantity of lovely sleek-eyed mystics inside the carpet stores, cafes and you will medieval bazaars, all of the pleased to help you ask you to a personal zikhr
These types of whirling dervishes are now actually the newest icon of Turkey’s tourist techniques, and you may sip beverage in your Istanbul hotel reception watching specific bad bloke inside the a large beige thought cap spinning to have their recreation. Towards real deal, even if, already been heree so you’re able to Konya and also you come to Turkey’s spirit. For the Rumi’s conditions:
“Whoever you may be, already been Even if you may be A keen infidel, a pagan, otherwise good fireworshipper, become All of our brotherhood isn’t certainly one of anxiety However provides broken Their vows of repentance a hundred moments, become.”
Just about every 12 months due to the fact 1983, I have already been coming towards the a couple of million-or-very tourists just who see Konya per year. Most are Turkish, although many Iranians (whom claim Rumi because their very own, due to the fact he authored inside their vocabulary and you will was born in eastern Persia) and additionally make the pilgrimage.
Instead of and then make Konya a stop into the a shuttle concert tour, I recommend getting for most months, taking in an impression, food some of Turkey’s most readily useful mutton, watching its best Seljuk buildings and you can – maybe – shedding crazy about Rumi. You could potentially fly when you look at the affordably from Istanbul, from which there is a great scruffy, atmospheric instruct, otherwise arrive by road. Konya is during effortless arrive at of cavern dwellers and carpeting vendors off Cappadocia.
Rumi showed up right here because the an excellent boy, whenever Konya had come a location for two,000 years. It was depending from the Hittites, who had been been successful of the Phrygians, then the Lydians, Persians, Cappadocians, the newest kings out-of Pergamon plus the Romans, just who known as place Iconium. Saints Paul and you can Barnabus each other preached right here, however, by 1071 the newest Seljuks, a great Turcoman group, was in fact in control, in addition to their architectural heritage suffers.
The Karatay Medrese of 1251 are a masterpiece regarding ornate tiling and you may harmonious domes. It’s today the new Museum of Tiles and you will Ceramics, whose contents maintain the vibrancy and you will strike that they had when very first fired. Close by, the Ince Minarali Medrese grew to become the Art gallery off Brick and you can Wood Sculpture, and that’s much less deceased than just You will find caused it to be voice. These buildings whet urge for food to find the ornately tiled Sircali Medrese, and breathtaking Sahip Ata mosque: in lieu of a lot of the fresh Muslim globe, inside Poultry you are encouraged to check out mosques, any your spiritual needs.
From the junction of dated town as well as unsightly the latest neighbor is the Alaaddin mosque, brand new city’s vantage part, whoever beautiful ebony pulpit and you will sensitive prayer-specific niche come from 1155 (the fresh state-of-the-art is actually completed in 1221). The fresh new boulevard radiating from here will bring you to Rumi’s tomb, of which so much more later on. Rumi can Turks while the Mevlana (the latest Sainted One to), and today Konya is within thrall to Mevlanamania.
As i basic showed up, Mevlana’s supporters, the Mevlevi, had been a blocked organisation, accepted only for its “folkloric dance” and you may whirlings. Conferences occurred privately, dishonestly.
I mentioned food, too. Konya’s lamb-centric cuisine is excellent. Etli ekmek is actually an extended, thin roll-right up pizza pie pass on that have delicately spiced mince, and Konya kebab try a mutton shank, extremely slower roasted and you can served into the a cushion out of cash with a nice yellow onion. The best was at Konak (Restoran, Akcesme mah. Piriesat Cad. Zero 5, +90 332 352 85 47), whoever soups and you can home made yogurt was heaven-generated.
Hence, fantastically fed, in accordance with of many cups of nice tannic beverage in you, make your way to Rumi’s tomb. Your get in on the awestruck, the fresh curious together with fervent. A mystical twinkly white performs towards tombs of Rumi and you will his supporters. The brand new wall space is embroidered that have calligraphy, and ceilings try a good kaleidoscope of incredibly conducted arabesques. Rumi’s tomb is covered inside the vastly padded material out-of gold, and you may generally seems to shine white and you may serenity and you will mercy.
All are gone, to possess is love
A number of your own other pilgrims will read Korans, although some Rumi’s poetry. Really capture photo, while this is purely taboo. You will find those who cry gently, and those who laugh out loud; individuals who meditate for hours, and those who hurry by way of.
To play quietly and you can insinuating in itself in the understanding is the ney, an effective reed flute. It sounds for example breathy air, but is really the sound of flame, hence goes up and you will drops inside us. This is not certain sullen religious worrying, nevertheless voice out of wanting, out of communion, of your center. You really have it – it’s heart music, plus it most provides you with. Very been.
Turkish Airlines (020-7471 6666) flies so you can Konya through Istanbul out of Heathrow, Stansted, Birmingham and you may Manchester, regarding ?219 rtn inc taxation. Istanbul in order to Konya of the train will cost you from all over ?24 get back, or just around ?36 get back by the bus. Resort Balikcilar possess room or about ?70 (and also serves cool beers). Lodge Dergah (+90 332 351 76 61) bed room around ?20. Passes to see the newest spinning dervishes was without new traffic work environment, trailing Mevlana’s tomb. Mete Horzum in the SeleneTour (+90 532 564 9192, ) organizes personal spinning and you may zikhr away from ?30pp.