Introducing Konya
Turkey’s equivalent of the ‘Bible Belt’, conservative Konya treads a delicate path between its historical significance as the home town of the whirling dervish orders and a bastion of Seljuk culture on the one hand, and its modern importance as an economic boom town on the other.
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Luckily the city derives considerable charm from this juxtaposition of old and new. Ancient mosques and the mazey market district, awash with Eastern smells, eager shopkeepers and Muslim pilgrims, rub up against contemporary Konya around Alaaddin Tepesi, where hip-looking university students talk religion and politics freely in the tea gardens.
Many travellers don’t even consider stopping in Konya, but if you are passing through this region, say from the coast to Cappadocia, bear in mind that the wonderful shrine of the Mevlâna here is one of Turkey’s finest and most characteristic sights. The city’s collection of imposing Seljuk buildings should also keep building buffs happy, and at the very least you can get a good dinner here.
Last updated: Feb 17, 2009
Tips & articles
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The whirling dervishes of Konya's Mevlâna Festival
1 December 2009
Konya turns on a show every December with the Mevlâna Festival, to honour Rumi, Islam’s greatest mystic poet.Location: Sports stadium,...
Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
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RE: Bus Selcuk to Konya
by go_2 14 September 2011
I arrived in Selcuk last night (Tuesday) and bought my overnight ticket to Konya for Friday at the otogar. It's with Kontur, leaves Selcuk…
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RE: Bus Selcuk to Konya
by sarikanarya 14 September 2011
Yes there night buses.Here you go- http://eticket.hasturizm.net/Kara2.aspx?IslemTipi=0&YolcuSayi=2&Kalkis=Selçuk&Varis=KONYA&Tarih=19…
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Bus Selcuk to Konya
by CatieNo 14 September 2011
My sister and I are touring Turkey but have found it hard to get information about bus availability. We're happy to get a ticket on the…
