Konya Hotels and Accommodation

Most famous for being the home of the ‘Whirling Dervishes’, Konya is one of the oldest continuously inhabited sites in Turkey. It was here, during the 13th century, that Moslem mystic, philosopher and poet, Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi, founded the sect of Whirling Dervishes, who sought to achieve ecstasy and unity with God through controlled trance-like spinning. The most famous building in the city, the Green Mausoleum of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi, is now a museum dedicated to Mevlana’s works and to the paraphernalia related to his sect. Should you visit Konya during December, the Dervish Festival, during which the ‘Sema’ dance is performed by men dressed in white robes, is an event not to be missed. Aside from the Green Mausoleum, the city offers a number of other museums with collections of everything from natural history exhibits to archaeological treasures. At the Koyunoglu Museum, visitors can see not only stuffed birds and animals, but also ancient carpets, coins and manuscripts. The Ethnological Museum meanwhile, houses displays of clothing, handicrafts and weapons, as well as a variety of belts and knitted pouches. The city’s many mosques are also well worth visiting.