Konya Things to Do

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The rituals of the Rumi's followers (Whirling Dervishes) are among the enduring as well as the most exquisite ceremonies of spirituality. The ritual Whirling of the Dervishes is an act of love and a "drama of faith". It possesses a highly structured form within which the gentle turns become increasingly dynamic as the individual dervishes strive to achieve a state of trans. The music that accompanies the whirling from beginning to end ranges from somber to rhapsodical; its effect is intended to be mesmerizing. Chanting of poetry, rhythmic rotation, and incessant music create a synthesis which, according to the faithful, induces a feeling of soaring, of ecstasy, of mystical flight.

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Passing by the lagoon with many ducks and swans at huge cultural park, I ended up in I guess the biggest mosque and most recent one in the city. It is still under construction though almost complete.

The contruction of the mosque, which holds one of the significant scholar’s name Hacý Veyiszada, was begun in 1988.

Haci Veyiszade complex, located in the city centre, includes publication, guesthouse, mufti’s office, its capacity is about 10,000 people. The mosque has the highest minarets of the region with 2 minarets constructed with 3 balconies 78 metres in high.

Although it doesn't hold long history like most mosques in the city, it still is worth seeing for its excellent architectural design.

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You entered the Mevlana Museum complex at the graveyard. Several tombs line up the entrance with those stone headresses on top of every epitaph of tombs.

When you reach the courtyard, on the left side, eastern part of the courtyard are mausoleums belonging to 3 prominent figures -- Sinan Pasha, Fatma Hatun and Hasan Pasha, all facing the Samahane (Ritual Prayer Hall) and the small mosque section, just next and the main mausoleum that holds the graves of Mevlana and his family members.

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When you enter the courtyard of the Mevlana Museum start checking out first the 17 small cells around the west and north sides, built in 1584 by Sultan Murat III to house the dervishes.

Each of the cells have its own small dome and chimney, the first two of the 13 cells to the left of the gate used as Postnisin and Mesnevi-han cells are kept in their original form and presented to the public.

The last two cells at the end are allocated to the very valuable book collections donated by Abdülbaki Golpinarli and Dr. Mehmed Onder, and they are used as a library.

The partition walls of the remaining 9 cells were removed providing two interconnected large corridors. In one of these corridors old rugs of historical value from regions famous for their rugs are displayed while the other has old rugs from districts of Konya. Display windows built in the window and door sills of these cells display artefacts of Mevlevi ethnography which were transferred to the museum from the Lodge, and the extremely valuable Bursa fabrics from the museum collection.

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Starting from the back of the Mevlana Museum, is a local neighborhood where you can see some old houses, some of them looks historical, some abandoned, others just really old stone/wooden houses. Nice clean streets, children playing, and local scenes.

But be vary wary though as the city though metropolitan, it still is a relatively conservative place compared to other cities in Turkey. You are not supposed to take photographs of people randomly -- either they smile at you or frown, at worst, you'll get shouted at by the local kids.

So be careful, best to ask permission first if you can take their pictures.

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A kilometer away from the Mevlana Museum is the Mevlana Cultural Center along the Aslanli Kisla Street. Every now and then, they're having an exhibition there.

There was this exhibition selling various stuff on booths from several nations, mostly books, national costumes, and cultural things. I also saw a book signing, print art displays, and several other things. Many people visited the exhibition, mostly locals.

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The Mevlana Cultural Center is a huge modern center walking ditance - about a kilometer - from the Mevlana Museum. Considered to be the grandest modern whirling dervish hall in the world.

December each year, the Seb-i Aruz ceremony in honor of the death of the great poet and founder of the Mevlevi dervish order - Mevlana - is commemorated with whirling dervish ceremony in its huge hall. The conical shaped roof can be seen from a distance and that sight draw me to walk to this place. There was an exhibition going on during my visit. Multi-national booths surrounds the lower and upper level selling different stuff from different countries. A gallery of paintings, posters, books and news headlines are also on display on the lower level , plus some food court on the underground level.

Outside the center is a huge circular open-air ampitheater.

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One of the most charming cemetery I have seen - do I really have to say that about a cemetery. But really the Ucler Cemetery (pronounced UCHLER, I think it means "Third"?) is a vast cemetery park starting from the Mevlana Museum upto the Mevlana Cultural Park. The Hilton Garden Inn hotel is beside this cemetery.

It's like a garden park cemetery with lots of plants, trees, flowers and paved walkways, and some benches.

It's not the creepy kind of cemetery...unless of course if you're walking alone...in the dark of the night maybe.