KONYA/KONYA AİRPORT RENT A CAR
Large part of Konya is located in the Central Anatolia Region and some part is located in South of the Mediterranean Region. With its 38257 km2 area, it is the largest city in Turkey and 7th biggest city with its 2 million density of population. Konya is surrounded by Haymana plateau in the north, Cihanbeyli plateau and Salt Lake in the northeast, Beyşehir and Akşehir lakes in the west, Sultan Mountains in the South and Obruk plateau in the east.
Konya is a big and rich city with its; inns and caravanserais, mausoleums, mosques and madrassas, museums,lakes, hot springs, national parks and historic sites. Konya is also famous for Mevlana and Nasreddin Hodja who are İslamic people.
DISTRICTS
Konya has 32 districts in total and these are: Meram, Selçuklu, Ahırlı, Akören, Akşehir, Altınekin, Beyşehir, Bozkır, Cihanbeyli, Çumra, Derbent, Karatay, Derebucak, Doğanhisar, Emirgazi, Ereğli, Güneysınır, Hadım, Kulu, Sarayönü, Seydişehir, Çeltik, Taşkent, Tuzlukçu, Yalıhöyük and Yunak.
CENTRAL DISTRICTS
Selçuklu: Selçuklu is the biggest district of Konya with its population of 508,000 and it has 7 towns and 16 villages which are connected to Aşağıpınarbaşı town. There are 3000 years Sille and a lot of historical structures in the city. There are institution, mosque, a full-fledged hospital, many factories, shopping malls and an international airport.
Beyşehir: It is in the west part of the city center about 92 km away. It has a population of 70,397 and area of 1721 km2. Lake Beyşehir, Eşrefoğlu Mosque and Tomb, Stone Madrasa, double bath, bazaar,Kubadabat Pavilion and Brigde are the important historical and touristic places in the city.
Akşehir: It is in the west part of the city center about 132km away. It has a population of 94,611 and 33 villages. Akşehir lake and Adıyan River are in the borders of the city. City’s ecenomy is provided from 4 main products and these are; sugar beet, poppy, wheat, vegetables, fruit, potatoes, sour cherry and cucumber. Touristic places in Akşehir are; Nasreddin Hoca Mausoleum, the tomb of Sayyid Mahmoud Hayrani, Garp Cephesi Museum, Stone Mosque, Hidirlik resort location, the Church and Akşehir lake.
HISTORY
This province is one of the centers of trade and accomodation on the historical Silk Road. At the same time, it has a position of museum city as it is fully historical. History of Konya begins with the prehistoric era and the civilizations which take the city under their sovereignty are; Hittite, Phrygian, Lydian, Persians, Iskenderun, Bergama, Roman and Byzantine.
After the Malazgirt war in 1071, Seljuks took the control of the city and it was Seljuls capital city between 1097-1277. After the Seljuk sovereignty, the city was ruled by Karamanoğulları and Ottomans. Konya became a province of Turkish Republic in 1923 and it has kept its wealthy of history until today.
PLACES TO VISIT
Çatalhöyük : It is in the Konya’s Çumra district and with the excavations 13 solid structures were founded in mound. After the researches in this place it is shown that Çatalhöyük was founded 9000 years ago and the first settlement started here. It has been accepted as one of the first settlement in the world and it became a home to 376 generation for 1400 years.
The ancient city of Kilistra : Kilistra ancient city is in Gökyurt village at the southwest of the city center. It is a rock settlement which was made by carving of soft rocks in Hellenistic and Roman era in 7th century. There are; chapels and churches, houses, cisterns, fountains, winery, watchtowers, garrison and shelters in this Stone structure.
Sille Aya-Elana Church : It is 7 km far from the city center and connected to Selçuk District. It was built by Byzantine Emperor Constantine in 327 for his mother Helena. There are pictures of Jesus and Mary.
Konya Castle : There is nothing survives rather than its ruins. At the first stage of excavations 5 m of depth and 50x70 in size Stones were found.
The tomb of Mevlana and the Mevlevi Lodge Complex : There is Mevlana’s body in the tomb who is an Islamic and sufi person. Mevlana, with his lyrics, books and poems took his place in many textbooks and still remains his importance today. The complex which is located in the east of Selimiye mosque consists; Green Tomb, silver gate, mosque, Semahane, dervish cells, Matbah, Hurrum Paşa Tomb, Hasan Paşa Tomb, the tomb of Sinan Pasha, the tomb of Murad Pasha’s daughter, Mehmed Bey tomb. Both the tomb and the complex serve as a museum today.
Ak Monastery : It is a church which is formed as a wide rock cave. There are many cells with 6-7 chapel in this historic structure. In monastery rocks of the tombs of Mikael Hommenos and Mikaeles’ son Abraham were found and they are exhibited in Archaeology Museum in Konya.
Kubadabat Palace : Seljuk Sultan I.Alaaddin Keykubat built this palace which is located near the village of Beyşehir, Heyran in 1236. tiles and panels, Kız Kalesi, shipyard, baths, etc.. were found with the excavations.
Konya's local Meals : Okra Soup, Çebiç, Pastry, Bread with Meat, Fırın Kebab, Sacarası, Rumi pastry, Zerde, Papara, kaygana sweet and tandoor pastry are the main dishes in Konya.
Sportive activities ; Hunting: It is done on the mountainous regions of the cities Beyşehir, Seydişehir, Hadim, Taşkent, Ilgın. Bike Tours: cycling is developed in the city and there are international cycling competitions with the name Rumi Cycling Tour. Football: Konyaspor is playing in Super League of Turkey. In addition, international Kick-Box Cup competitions have been played in Konya.
TRANSPORTATION;
Highway : Mersin is 343 km, Adana 356 km, Afyon 223 km, Antalya 401 km, İstanbul 650 km, İzmir 550 km, Muğla 550 km, and Ankara is 250 km far from Konya city center.
Railway : Trains are available mutually between Gaziantep - Konya, Konya-Nigde, Konya-Eskisehir, Konya – Diyarbakir, Konya – Haydarpaşa everyday.
Airline : Airport is located int he borders of Seljuk district on an area of 141,000 m2 and it serves as both military and civilian. Airport has 2650 m2 indoor area and 272 car park capacity.