Soul of old Istanbul: Konya echoes of the past

IF you have the chance to visit Turkiye, the city of Konya is a must-visit.

The city is rich in historical, cultural and spiritual folds, a unique combination of an ancient location.

Located in the South of Ankara, Central Anatolia, Konya can be reached by taking a 120-minute Turkish Airlines domestic flight via Istanbul.

The oldest city in Turkiye with a population of over two million inhabitants, Konya is synonymous as the centre of Seljuk administration between 1071 and 1308.

For a first-time visitor, the old city is welcoming and in between all the touristic attractions, it's sometimes easy to forget that the iconic sufi, philosopher and poet Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi, is the reason why visitors flock the city.

Described as a “historic gem”, Konya “invites guests to step into the past” whether that’s by “exploring Seljuk ruins, enjoying scenic walks along the cobbled-stone city or browsing through lovely independent shops located at the square.

The main attraction for tourists to this city is the Mevlana Museum or Mevlana Muzesi located in the centre of Konya.

At the Mevlana Museum, visitors are able to visit Rumi's tomb and explores the museum’s complex which houses quarters that where Rumi’s students studied religion and their lodging.

The museum also houses a collection of Al-Quran copies including the smallest in the world from the Ottoman Empire era.

The interesting thing about the Mevlana Museum is the green dome that sparkles in the sunlight and its location next to the famous mosque Selimiye Mosque makes this one of the main destinations for visitors.

The museum also houses the tomb of Rumi's father, Bahauddin Walad and this place is often visited by tourists, especially from Iran.

Tourism activities around the area can also be felt in the old bazaar which is located not far from there. This old bazaar sells a variety of local handicrafts, local sweets and jewelleries.

Visitors also have the opportunity to visit some of Konya's art and culture museums that house a variety of local history information including Rumi.

Among the interesting destinations in Konya is the Karatay Museum (which was built to teach hadith and exegetics during the Seljuk Kingdom era) and is now used as a marble museum.

The old town of Sille

Once upon a time, the village of Sille, which is located 10km from the city centre of Konya, was synonymous as the centre of several civilizations in the ancient history of Turkiye.

Today, Sille has emerged as a major tourist destination for travellers from all over the world.

For the uninitiated, Sille was the centre of the existence for Christianity as early as 5,000 years ago, and one of the attractions in the village include the ancient landscape that is still maintained to this day.

The charming city of Sille is also known for several attractions including the Karatay Mosque, Hagia Selena Church, Devil's Bridge, Time Museum and hamam (Turkish baths) and many more.

With a population of 1,191, Sille was once the centre of Islamic and Christian civilizations and the people co-existed in peace and harmony.

In winter, Sille is quite impressive. With snow-capped mountains that form a scenic and tranquil landscape of the village.

Strolling through its cobbled streets, visitors can uncover layers of history, from ancient fortifications to the elegant timber-framed buildings of age-old era.

Turkish cuisine is quite unique!

Turkiye is also well known as a gastronomic tourism destination.

The main element in the formation of the country's culture was the foundation of various civilisations over thousands of years ago.

A visit to Turkiye is incomplete if you miss out on savouring some of the country's world renowned rich local cuisine.

The people of the country also care about the aspect of free food waste - nothing should be wasted!

For example, dry bread can be made into homemade crackers and the crust of breads can be enjoyed with jam.

Some of the specialties in Turkiye include saksuka (eggplant with tomato salsa), kadinbudu kofte (fried minced lamb and rice), yaprak sarma (grape leaves with steamed rice), Turkish coffee, fistikli baklava (baklava dessert with pistachios) and kebabs.

Turkiye also offers many options for vegetarian and vegan diets.

The writer also had the opportunity to enjoy dinner at several restaurants around Konya, having one of the signature local cuisines in traditional Turkish culinary.

They say when you travel, eat like the locals. In Turkiye the customary cay (Turkish tea) is a must-try and it is customarily drank before food is served.

Turkiye is reported to be one of the biggest per-person consumers of tea in the world.

As a pivotal part in Turkish culture, tea is used for everything from welcoming guests to catching up with family members, relatives and friends. It can also be consumed alone, during a perfect time of laid-back moment of relaxation and reflection.

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* The author's visit to Konya and Istanbul is a collaboration between Astro AWANI and Turkish Airlines.

** Turkish Airlines flies daily from Kuala Lumpur to Istanbul.