TURKEY
WHY GO?
To travel to Turkey is to answer an invitation to experience its rich history and culture. There are numerous sites across the country with remnants of ancient civilisations, and the culture is an amalgam of the wide cross-section of influences that have swept Turkey over millennia. Aside from architecture, these influences are also evident in the cuisine. Given the mesmerising landscape, there are also possibilities of adventure sport.
WHAT WILL I DO THERE?
Despite Ankara being the capital, is the most popular destination to arrive at in; Sultan Ahmet, Ayasofya Meydanı, 34122 Fatih; 9am – 5pm Tues – Sun; entry: ₹ 1,200). For an understanding of the other vital influences on the city, head to Sultanahmet Square. The square was formerly the Hippodrome of Constantinople, a sporting and social centre of the ancient city, capable of holding 1,00,000 spectators, and, today, still has some parts of the original structure intact. Within the same area, there’s the Basilica Cistern, part of the ancient underground water supply system (Alemdar, Yerebatan Caddesi. ⅓, 34110 Fatih; 9am – 5.30pm; entry: ₹ 240). and don’t miss Galata Tower and Galata Bridge, which offers beautiful views over the Bosphorus . As interesting as the architecture is, there’s more in Istanbul that you must absolutely not miss. Case in point: the Grand Bazaar – one of the largest covered markets in the world with over 4,000 shops and nearly 4,00,000 visitors on any given day (Beyazıt, Kalpakçılar Caddesi, 22, 34126 Fatih; 10am – 6pm). Yes, the goods on sale, from the fabrics to the soap, are cool, but the people are even more interesting. While you could easily spend a week in Istanbul, the city is well connected to other popular parts of Turkey. In particular, you must visit for the breath-taking landscapes, for the lovely Mediterranean coast, and for the ancient Roman and Greek cities.
