Konya
Konya is without a doubt the spiritual capital of Turkey. People familiar with Islamic history know that the Persian poet, scholar, and Sufi mystic Maulana Rumi spent the rest of his life in Konya, which is where he was also laid to rest. While this post will explain why Rumi is a revered figure in the Muslim world, I also want to highlight some of the other things Konya has to offer and why this city is more than just Rumi’s resting place.
Konya (from the Greek Ἰκόνιον) is located in the western part of Central Anatolia. If I could describe the city in one word it would be…simple. It’s not a hustle and bustle city like Istanbul. It’s quieter and very peaceful. Konya has a very diverse history, having been ruled by a variety of kingdoms of empires. At this point, I might as well just say that every major city in Turkey has a diverse history. Like many of them, Konya has come under Persian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Seljuk rule. It was under the Seljuk rule that a lot of its famous buildings were built and the point when the city reached the height of its power and influence. Some of the famous buildings include the Alaeddin Mosque and the Karatay Madrasa. Both of these buildings are superb demonstrations of Seljuk architecture.
Something I’ve got to mention is that Konya is full of parks. I mean everywhere you go there’s some kind of park. When doing research for this post I found out that there was even a Japanese park. The best one though is on Alaeddin Hill (Alaeddin Tepesi), which has the aforementioned Alaeddin Mosque along with huge and beautiful rose gardens.
But probably the singular thing that Konya is most famous for is Rumi. Jalal ad-Din Mohammad Rumi was an Islamic scholar originally from modern-day Iran. After spending a lot of time with Shams Tabrizi, a Persian mystic, Rumi was transformed into someone with more awareness of the abstract world and with a more mystical vision. The one main theme in his beliefs was the importance of love. He believed that love was what connects us humans with God, and that things like music and poetry were ways we could express that love. Still today his poems, many of which are about love, longing, and loss, are widely read all over the world. A living example of Rumi’s teachings is the Mevlevi Order (aka the Whirling Dervishes). Shortly after Rumi’s death in 1273, his followers founded the Order with the objective of becoming closer to God, and by continuing Rumi’s legacy in the process . Followers of the Order often practise whirling as a form of “dhikr” (remembrance of God). You can actually attend whirling dervish events in Istanbul and Konya.
The main attraction in Konya is the Mevlana Museum, which is also the place where Rumi and his other disciples was laid to rest. When you enter, you will be greeted by this very eery yet beautiful Sufi ney music. Everyone’s supposed to be quiet. Next to Rumi’s grave is a room full of his original works, including the Masnavi, which is widely considered to be the greatest mystical poem ever.
And that about wraps it up for Konya. It’s a city worth visiting if you’re interested in Sufi teachings or if you’ve read any of Rumi’s works. It’s a pretty religious and conservative place, so just be aware of that if you visit. By the way if you do go, you’ve got to try out this thing called tirit. It’s a dish that consists of meat cooked with stale bread, broth, and tons of butter. Konya is by no means a “party city”, but it’s definitely unique in the sense that the moment you enter, you feel that you’ve entered a place that values spirituality and love, two things that define Rumi. Perhaps take some time to try and read some of his poems. They may even convince you to visit Konya.
Things to do -
Visit Mevlana Museum (ladies, they may ask you to wear a headscarf in order to enter)
Visit Alaeddin Mosque and park
Visit Karatay Madrasa
BONUS - Visit Kyoto Japanese Park
