Ancient Cities
Monuments
Palaces and Hans
Religious Monuments
Preserved Areas
Ornithology Areas
Promenade
Thermal Resorts
Caves
Sporting Activities

TOURISM

Konya , capital of the Anatolian Seljuk State, represents an important tourism potential increasing year by year with the scenic beauties of the region and its historic sites.

 

Since it has served as the capital of the Anatolian Seljuk State, there are many Islamic works of art and inns, caravansarays, mosques, madrasahs and cupolas built by the Seljuks. Konya owes its fame in the international arena to the Mawlana Museum in which tomb of Mawlana can be visited. 

 

Mawlana has built its philosophy on 'peace, tolerance and love' and Mawlana Museum is one of the most visited museums in Turkey due to the number of tourists from different countries of the world replying to the 'come' call of Mawlana.

 

Every year Mawlana Museum is visited by hundreds of thousands of national and foreign tourists and 'Reunion Ceremonies' performed between 10-17 December at Mawlana Week attracts great interest. Mawlana lovers from all over the world come to Konya for the 'Reunion Ceremonies'.

DISTRICTS:

 Konya (center), Ahırlı, Akören, Akşehir, Altınekin, Beyşehir, Bozkır, Cihanbeyli, Çeltik, Çumra, Derbent, Derebucak, Doğanhisar, Emirgazi, Ereğli, Güneysınır, Hadim, Halkapınar, Hüyük, Ilgın, Kadınhanı, Karapınar, Karatay, Kulu, Meram, Sarayönü, Selçuklu, Seydişehir, Taşkent, Tuzlukçu, Yazlıhöyük, Yunak.

SITES OF INTEREST:

Çamlıköy, Yakamanastır, Kale, Huğlu, Karaburun and Kızılören forest recreation areas, Meram vinyards, hot springs, İvriz stone relief, Beyşehir Castle, Akmanastır (monastry), Hagia Eleni Church, Sırçalı old theological school (medrese), Tacül Vezir old theological school (medrese) and Mausoleum, İnce Minareli Medrese, Ali Gav, Küçük Karatay, Karatay and İsmail Aka (Taş Medrese) old theological schools (medrese), Has Bey and Nasuh Bey Quran schools for children (darülhuffaz), Seydişehir school for teachers (muallimhane), İplikçi Mosque and school, Sadreddin Konevi Mosque and Mausoleum, Alaeddin Dursunoğlu, Selimiye, Kapı, Aziziye, Eşrefoğlu and Pir Hüseyin mosques, Sahip Ata, Karabaş Veli and Lala Mustafa Pasha mosque complexes, Akşehir and Ereğli Grand Mosques, Mevlana Mausoleum and Dervish Lodge, Nasreddin Hoca Mausoleum, the small mosques (mescit) - Taş Mescit, Sırçalı Mescit, Karatay, Tahir and Zühre, Altunkalem, Güdük Minare and Küçük Ayasofya mescits, Yusuf Ağa Library, Kubadabad Palace, Seyyid Mahmud Hayran and Şeyh Şahabeddin lodges, Kızılviran, Sultan, Zazadin, Horozlu, Kadın, İshaklı and Kuruçeşme inns, Rüstem Pasha inn (caravansary), Konya Archeology, Karatay Tile Works, Konya Stone and Wood Works, Konya Monument Graves, Atatürk's House and Culture, Konya Ethnography, Konya Mevlana, Koyunoğlu, Akşehir Stone Works, Akşehir, Atatürk and Ethnography, Ereğli Museums.

Tel: +90 332 353 40 20 - 21 – 22   Fax: +90 332 353 40 23

Konya Turkish Sufite Music Ensemble Directorate

Address: Mevlana Meydanı Eş'arizade Sok. No:21 Konya
 Tel: +90 332 350 42 29 - 30

State Fine Arts Gallery Directorate

Babıaksaray Mah. Mevlana Alanı No:21 Konya
Tel: +90 332 350 39 25   Fax: +90 332 353 40 23

Ancient Cities

Çatalhöyük: This ancient site, 50km south-east of Konya, is said to be the first settlement in the world with houses and sacred buildings dating back to 6800 BC. The remains were discovered by British archaeologists in 1958, and research shows 13 different strata with evidence of houses that had to be entered by holes in the roof as there were no streets. There is little left at the site, except the remains of mud brick houses, murals, plaster reliefs and pottery. Construction was from adobe, wood and reed, and most of the findings are now in the Konya Museum of Archaeology.
It is possible to get most of the way by minibus, then a taxi for the remaining 10 miles.

Clistra Antic City: The ancient city of Kilistra is 55km south-west of Konya, and was one of the first places that St Paul gave sermons. The area is famous for its archaeological carvings and buildings cut into the rock, the best examples of which are the Hadj Plank Chapel, Sumbul Church, Double Sirahane, and Great Water Cistern Chapel. The best way of getting to the area is by private transport, although there may be buses going part of the way from Konya.
 
Sille Aya - Elena Church: The tiny village of Sille, 8km northwest of Konya, has a long and interesting history. Helena, mother of Byzantine Emperor Constanine, stopped in Konya during her journey to Jerusalem for a Hajj pilgrimage in 327 AD, and after seeing the engraved temples here belonging to the first ages of Christianity, she too decided to construct a temple. The Sille Aya, or Elena Church, contains a rostrum and some fairly well preserved murals, which are unique works of art. It is thought that this church was in use until 1923. The village also has old stone bridges, other churches and the remains of frescoes. Sille is reached by bus number 64 from Konya.
 

Monuments

Eflatunpınar: This holy Hittite monument is 22km from Beysehir and around 80km west of Konya. The monument represents the gods holding up the sky, and providing the link between the heavens and earth. It has well preserved embossed designs, engraved onto 14 rectangular stone blocks.

Fasıllar Monument: It is one of the biggest rock monuments of the earth. The Fasıllar Monument represents the God between two lions in a mountain temple.
Eflatunpınar Hittite Monument: The Eflatunpınar Hittite Monument takes place within the borders of Beyşehir District of Konya. The Monument consists of embossed designs on rectangular rocks near a spring. These embossed designs, which are still keeping their characteristics, had been engraved on 14 rock blocks.
İvriz Embossed Designs: These monuments takes place in the İvriz Village of Halkapınar District. They had been made by Hittites.

Palaces and Hans

Kubad - Abad Palace: Lying southwest of Beysehir Lake, the palace was constructed between 1226 – 1236 and is the oldest example of the theological school of Turkish Palaces.

Zazadin Han: This was constructed in 1236 and lies 25km northwest of Konya, on the road to Aksaray.

Horozlu Han: This Han was made in two different sections; one for a summer resort and one as a winter house. It lies 44km west of Konya.
Obrukhan Han: Obruk is around 100km northeast of Konya, and the Han is built in typical Seljuk style.

Religious Monuments

Mevlana Medrese, Seljuk Pavilion, Sahip Ata Medrese, Sircali Medrese, Karatay Medrese, Ince Minaret and Medrese, Aziziye Mosque, Selimiye Mosque, Esrefoglu Mosque (Beysehir) are the most important medreses and mosques in Konya.

The mausoleums of Sultanlar, Emir Nureddin, Gomec Hatun, Hurrem Pasa, Murad Pasa Kizi, Sinan Pasa and Nasreddin Hoca are the most famous.

Alaettin Mosque: The ancient mosque dates back to 1219, and was constructed by the Seljuk Sultan of Rum. It lies on Alaettin Tepesi (hill) which has a few remains of a Seljuk palace, but it was the site of the original acropolis and most of its remains are now in the Ankara Museum.

The mosque itself has irregular and interesting architectural features, like columns of different sizes and a rambling design and decorations incorporated from different periods. Inside is a tomb chamber containing a dozen Seljuk sultans.

Openings hours: 08.30 – 18.00, non-Muslims should not enter during prayer times.
Religion Tourism

Preserved Areas

Konya - Beysehir Lake National Park

NATIONAL PARKS

Location: Beysehir Lake lies in the middle of Isparta (105km) and Konya (94km), in the province of Beysehir.
Transportation: The 238th State Highway connects Konya and Beysehir, and the lake is just to the west of that. There is also transport by road from Isparta.

Highlights: Beysehir lake is the third largest lake in Turkey, and as a result of chemical reaction it has formed many islands, which are the remains of cavernous geological structures. The water is alkaline, and within it are carp, trout, bass, turtles and snakes. The islands provide a home for thousands of water birds who nest there, including swans, cormorants, ducks and divers. Species of trees here include juniper, black pine, firs, cedar and oak.

In addition to the natural beauty of the area, it also has an interesting history as it was governed by Hittites, Friesian, Lydias, Persians and Byzantines. Finally, the Anatolian Seljuks conquered the area in 1076, and since then it has been under the reign of the Turks. The remains of Kubadabad Palace date back to the Seljuks, and are found on Kizkalesi Island, 3km from the shore near Yenisarbademli village.

Facilities: The park is open between May and October. Tents or caravans can stay in specially designated areas.

Konya - Fossil Juniper

Place: Konya
Characteristics: A 500 years old juniper tree that have a circumference length of 4.5 meters.
Foundation Date: 27.09.1994

Konya - Meke Lake

Place: Konya
Characteristics: The lake which had been formed in the hole caused by a volcanic explosion called Maar.
Foundation Date: 03.08.2000

Konya - Kocakoru Forest Natural Park

NATURE PARKS
Location: The Kocakoru Natural Park is near the village of Tarasci in the Seydisehir district of Konya.
Transportation: The park can be accessed from Konya, which is well connected to the rest of the country by bus.
Highlights: Tarasci and its environment have the characteristics of a steppe forest, which lies towards the foot of the Taurus mountains. The low humidity and rainfall in the region means that the ecosystem of the forest is fragile. Many forests around here are under threat from industrial use, which highlights the importance of the conservation attempts of this park to protect the region’s ecosystem. The variety of trees, which includes Anatolian black pine and Taurus fir, is important to the entire area.
There are three areas within the forest, known as Kucuk Oluk, Gudal and Hacihasan Olugu, which are all popular for picnicking and walking.

Konya - Akgöl Nature Reserve

Location: The lake lies in the Eregli district of Konya, in Central Anatolia.
Highlights: Akgol Lake and its surroundings are the home to a vast quantity and variety of water birds. Some are in danger of extinction, which means that this natural protection area, with an area of 6787 hectares, is of great national and international importance. Over 200 species of birds have been seen living in and around the Eregli reed beds, and amongst those are flamingos, titmouse, cormorant, many types of heron, swan, goose, duck, Egyptian vulture, snake eagle, reed hen harrier, crane, dove, eagle owl and great falcon. During the winter migration season, little marsh, peaked marsh, great white heron, white-fronted goose, hairy duck and crane are very common.

hole caused by a volcanic explosion called Maar.
Foundation Date: 03.08.2000

Akşehir and Eber Lake, Çavuşcu Lake, Uyuz Lake, Samsam Lake, Kozanlı Lake, Kulu Lake, Ereğli Reed Bed, Karapınar Plain, Beyşehir Lake, Suğla Lake, Hotamış Reed Bed, Bolluk Lake, Tersakan Lake and Tuz Lake Bird Areas takes place within the BORDERS OF Konya.

Akarçay Closed Basin
 

Karamık Reed Bed
City: Afyon
Provinces: Çay
Surface Area : 4500
Altitude : 1002 m
Protection: Yes
Bird Species: Breeding populations of little bittern küçük balaban (25 pairs) and ferruginous duck pasbaş patka (10 pairs).
Main Characteristics: sweet water swamp

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Akşehir and Lake Eber
City: Konya, Afyon
Provinces: Bolvadin, Çay, Sultandağı, Akşehir, Tuzlukçu
Surface Area : 53600
Altitude: Lake Akşehir 966 m, Lake Eber 967 m
Protection: Yes
Bird Species: Important breeding area for pygmy cormorant küçük karabatak (50 pairs) and dalmatian pelikan tepeli pelikan (a few pairs). Herons breed in reed islands in Lake Akşehir in mixed colonies, including squacco heron alaca balıkçıl (70 pairs), purple heron erguvani balıkçıl (50 pairs), glossy ibis çeltikçi (50 pairs) and spoonbill kaşıkçı (15 pairs). Ferruginous duck Pasbaş patka (10 pairs) and gull-billed tern gülen sumru (20 pairs) breed on sand islands between reeds, and greater sand plover büyük cılıbıt breed around the lake. You can see numerous white-fronted goose sakarca (max. 15.900) during winter. The area provides important shelter during migration for pelican pelikan (max. 2000) and glossy ibis çeltikçi (max. 1536).
Main Characteristics: sweet water lakes, swamp

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Sakarya Basin

Çavuşçu Lake
City: Konya
Provinces: Ilgın
Surface Area : 1200
Altitude : 1026 m
Protection: Yes
Bird Species: The population of Whiskered tern, Bıyıklı sumru (100 pairs) and huge number of wintering water birds (max. 32.586), including Red-crested pochard Macar ördeği (max.1000).
Main Characteristics: sweet water lake

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Uyuz Lake
City: Konya
Surface Area: 15
Altitude : 1185 m
Protection: Yes
Bird Species: ruddy duck dikkuyruk (10 pairs) population.
Main Characteristics: sweet water lake

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Konya Closed Basin
 

Samsam Lake
City: Konya
Provinces: Kulu
Surface Area: 830
Altitude: 980 m
Protection: Yes
Bird Species: It gains important bird areas status with kılıçgaga (max. 616).
Main Characteristics: light salty lake

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Kozanlı Gökgöl
City: Konya
Provinces: Kulu
Surface Area: 650
Altitude: 925 m
Protection: Yes
Bird Species: Dikkuyruk (10 pairs) and küçük kerkenez (10 pairs in Kozanlı town) reproduce.
Main Characteristics: sweet water lake, swamp

Kulu Lake
City: Konya
Provinces: Kulu
Surface Area: 860
Altitude: 950 m
Protection: Yes
Bird Species: It hosts yaz ördeği (3 pairs), Macar ördeği (20 pairs), paspaş patka (10 pairs), dikkuyruk (30 pairs), kılıçgaga (250 pairs), büyük cılıbıt, Akdeniz martısı (400 pairs) and gülen sumru. There are kara boyunlu batağan (max. 2055), angıt(max. 10.000), dikkuyruk (max. 319), uzunbacak (max. 4000), kılıçgaga (max. 1000) and akça cılıbıt (max. 300). Sometimes sakarca (max. 9718) can be seen.
Main Characteristics: light salty lake

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Ereğli Reed Bed
City: Konya, Karaman
Provinces: Ereğli, Karapınar, Ayrancı
Surface Area : 37000
Altitude: 998 m
Protection: partially
Bird Species: Küçük karabatak (600 pairs), ak pelikan (23 pairs), tepeli pelikan (düzensiz olarak reproduce), alaca balıkçıl (30 pairs), erguvani balıkçıl (50 pairs), çeltikçi (50 pairs), kaşıkçı (20 pairs), flamingo (300 pairs), boz ördek (20 pairs), yaz ördeği (5 pairs), Macar ördeği (500 pairs), paspaş patka (10 pairs), dikkuyruk (50 pairs), küçük kerkenez (20 pairs), kılıçgaga (75 pairs), bataklıkkırlangıcı(50 pairs), büyük cılıbıt, mahmuzlu kızkuşu (20 pairs) and küçük sumru (60 pairs) are reproducing with important numbers.
Main Characteristics: sweet water swamp, steppe

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Karapınar Plains
City: Konya
Provinces: Karapınar, Emirgazi
Surface Area : 15200
Altitude: 960 m
Protection: Yes
Bird Species: It gains important bird areas status due to büyük cılıbıt population and important numbers present during winter sakarca (max. 14.000) and angıt (max. 900).
Main Characteristics: light salty lake, salty swamp

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Eşmekaya Reed Bed
City: Aksaray
Provinces: Aksaray Merkez, Eskil
Surface Area : 11250
Altitude: 845 m
Protection: Yes
Bird Species: It gains important bird areas status with macar ördeği (30 pairs), çayır delicesi (15 pairs), küçük kerkenez (12 pairs) and mahmuzlu kızkuşu (10 pairs) population. There are important numbers of water birds during winter (max. 21.327), leading by sakarca (max. 19.400). Leylek (max. 9550) and bataklık kırlangıcı (max. 150) can be seen during migration.
Main Characteristics: sweet and salty lakes, swamp

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Beyşehir Lake
City: Konya, Isparta
Provinces: Beyşehir, Hüyük, Yenişarbademli, Şarkikaraağaç
Surface Area : 73000
Altitude : 1123 m
Protection: Yes
Bird Species: It gains important bird areas status with important number wintering water birds (max. 213.824), including macar ördeği (max.603), elmabaş patka (max. 47.883) and sakarmeke (max. 163.378).
Main Characteristics: sweet water lake

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Suğla Lake
City: Konya
Provinces: Seydişehir, Yalıhüyük
Surface Area : 16500
Altitude : 1095 m
Protection: N/A
Main Characteristics: sweet water lake

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Hotamış Reed Bed
City: Konya
Provinces: Çumra, Karapınar
Surface Area : 16500
Altitude: 999 m
Protection: partially
Bird Species: It gains important bird areas status with küçük karabatak (25 pairs), küçük balaban (30 pairs), alaca balıkçıl (50 pairs), çeltikçi (75 pairs), yaz ördeği (20 pairs), Macar ördeği (30 pairs), dikkuyruk (40 pairs), bataklık kırlangıcı (100 pairs), büyük cılıbıt and mahmuzlu kızkuşu (40 pairs) populations. Also there are pasbaş patka (max. 89), dikkuyruk (max. 354) and uzunbacak.
Main Characteristics: sweet water swamp, small salt lake

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Bolluk Lake
City: Konya
Provinces: Cihanbeyli
Surface Area : 1150
Altitude: 925 m
Protection: Yes
Bird Species: It gains important bird areas status with kaşıkçı (30 pairs), kılıçgaga (55 pairs), Akdeniz martısı (2250 pairs) and gülen sumru (400 pairs) populations.
Main Characteristics: salt lake, salt pans

Tersakan Lake
City: Konya
Provinces: Cihanbeyli
Surface Area : 6400
Altitude: 920 m
Protection: Yes
Bird Species: It gains important bird areas status with kılıçgaga population. During winter, there are important numbers of water birds (max. 20.841), leading sakarca (max. 14.700).
Main Characteristics: salt lake, salt pans

Salt Lake
City: Konya, Aksaray, Ankara
Provinces: Konya, Aksaray, Ankara
Surface Area : 260000
Altitude: 905 m
Protection: Yes
Bird Species: Biggest flamingo colony of our country lives here. During the aerial counting performed in 1992, it is determined that colony includes 14.000 pairs of flamingo. Küçük kerkenez is specie, which widely reproduces within villages surrounding lake. Kılıçgaga and büyük cılıbıt is also breeding. During winter sakarca (max. 12500) can be seen.
Main Characteristics: salt lake, steppe

Promenade

 

Meke Crater Lake: This crater lake came into existence following a double volcano eruption 8km from Karapinar, which has caused many interesting geological features. Other crater lakes in the area are Acigol Golu, Cirak Golu and Meyil Lake.

Yerköprü Waterfall: The waters from Yerkopru Waterfall, in the district of Hadim, have been proved to have a beneficial effect on certain dermatological illnesses.

Ilgın Thermal Resort
Location: Just outside Ilgin, 88km north-west of Konya.
Transportation: Konya is well connected to the rest of the country by road and air. The resort lies just off the main highway to Ilgin.
Water temperature: 42°C
pH value: 7.0
Physical and chemical properties: Hyperthermal, hypertonic and radioactive, bicarbonate, calcium, sodium, carbon dioxide.
Recommended: Applications Drinking, bathing and inhalation.
Helps to heal: Rheumatism, gall bladder and liver problems, poor metabolism.
Accommodation: Konya Ilgin Thermal Facilities - 570 beds.

Balatini, Korukini and Buyuk Duden Cave are the best known caves in the Konya area.

Caves of Konya

Location: Konya, Seydişehir District

The Tınaztepe Cave System is at the Keçili Village locality which is at 35 km. southwest of Seydişehir. The cave is at 5km west of Mortaş Aluminum bed. The Seydişehir-Manavgat highway passes close to the cave.

Properties: This cave system has developed inside the creates limestone and is formed by three layers one on other. The upper layer having 100 meters length is completely fossilized. The intermediate layer has 1015 meters of total length and is semi active. Water flows Inside this layer at precipitant seasons and it ends with a siphon. The lower layer is a branch developed on a big fault and is active displaying sinkhole cave characteristics. In precipitant seasons, the surface waters of a wide area flows here. These waters flow inside the Susuz Güvercinlik Cave which is at southeast and come out from the springs near Suğla Lake. The explored length of this active cave until now is 527 meters. But the total length of this cave had not been completely determined. The deep but narrow lakes and siphons inside this cave makes the explorations difficult.

Sporting Activities

 

Hunting: In hilly and thickly wooded areas like Beyşehir, Seydişehir, Hadim, Taşkent, and Ilgın hunting tourism is being made, especially by foreign tourists.
Cycling: Because of the geographical structure of the city and its surrounding plains, cycling is very popular in Konya. The Mevlana International Cycle Race is held here every year between 5 - 9 September.

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