Tunceli Travel Guide

   Tunceli is a city in the middle of Eastern Anatolia Region in Turkey. Until recent years, it is usually remembered with terrorism and lacrima due to conflict between Goverment and those who are against it. But, after peace talk has started off, the boot is on the other foot. Tunceli starts to be remembered with its unique habitat and those who love pure nature become to get there.

   It is not a well-developed city because of what happened in the past but its nature alone is a good reason to pay a visit to there. Before starting where to go there, i would like to give useful info to plan your visit. That is places to visit in Tunceli fall apart each one and be adviced to get there by your own car or rent a car there.

   Here are the places you can visit in Tunceli:


1. Munzur Valley National Park

   It is announced as National Park in 1971 and, is the largest and the most biodiverse park in Turkey. The park has been well protected. Munzur River passes though the park and gives a unique habitat.

   Munzur river flows though Munzur Mountain and that gives the river a high speed flow. This high speed flow enables tourists to do rafting, but be adviced that before deciding where to do rafting, you have a close look at the route you may go though due to big stones which may cause problem.

2. Cemevi

   It is near to the city center. It is a faith house of Turkish Alevi. If you are lucky, you may give a try to Lokma (dessert) because, the dessert is given due to Alevi belief in particular days of year.

Inside of Cemevi

View From Cemevi

3. Tunceli Bazaar

    Bazaar is under the town hall in city center. There are many enterances and lots of goods ranging from jewellery to clothes with competitive price.Those. who want to buy local products.can`t find what they look for in there and can go to another bazaar in Ataturk street which is 5 min. away by car. But, the bazaar in Ataturk street is open on Sundays.

4. Kisla Square

The view from Kisla Square

   It is a square in the middle of the city. There is a sculpture which represents Seyit Riza, who was one of leaders of the city, in the square. If you walk down the square, there are restaurants by Munzur river.

Restaurants by the River

5.Pertek 

   It is one of the disticts in Tunceli. It is in the middle of the way from Tunceli to Elazig and is far away from the city center. There are two ways to get there. First is by your own car and second is by bus service going between Tunceli and Elazig. There are historical places in Pertek. These are Celebi Ali mosque and Pertek Castle. The mosque was constructed in 16 century and the castle was constructed in 1071. The castle`s surrounding area was flooded and has been seen as an island.

View of the Castle from ferryboat from Elazig to Pertek

 
Enjoy your visit to Tunceli.....

Malatya Travel Guide

      Malatya is a city with its long history in the Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey. The first settlement to the city has reached 7000 B.C. Besides its history, Malatya become popular with its domestic products, apricot, muffin, gunkurusu.

     Its location is in the middle of tourist attractions in the Eastern Anatolia and close to well-kown touristic places, such as: Cappadocia, Nemrut Mountain, in Turkey.  Even Malatya is not well-known by tourists, more and more tourists come over the city to have good time or to learn Roman history.

     Here are the places you can visit in Malatya:

1. Ataturk House

   Ataturk is the founder of Modern Turkey. When he was alive, he paid a visit to Malatya. The house he stayed in this visit is called as Ataturk House and has been used as a Museum. When you get inside of the house, you can have a look at the guns he used, books he read and historical documents with a place designed for the memory of Ataturk.



2. Beskonaklar Ethnography Museum

   It is a museum to show stuffs, clothes and furnitures locals used during the history of Malatya. The museum has been prepared inside of an ancient Malatya house which was renovated in 2009. Enterance to the museum is free. Its location is near to Ataturk House.

A photo, inside of the house, shows tradational clothes on mannequins, furnitures and room

3. Malatya Museum

   A variety finds of different period (Neolithic, Calcolithic, Bronze) of the world can be found in the museum. All the finds were discovered in historical sites of Malatya. The finds include sculptures, knives, swords and many more. Enterance is free.

A photo taken inside of the museum

4. Kernek Waterfall Park

   This is a park on the side of a hill with lots of water features. It is a man-made waterfall running through a concrete canal and getting stronger at each upper cascade. On the top of the waterfall, there is an observation point in which you can look down on Malatya or take a sit in the restaurant on the top.   

   Its location is next to Malatya Museum.

View From Observation Point

5.  Medeniyet Tree (Vilayet Park)

   This is a tree on which portraits of 10 important and influential persons of the city have been seen. These persons are Abdulvahap Gazi, Hasan Basri, Emir Ömer, Battalgazi, Danişment Gazi, Sadreddin Konevi, Mevlana, Niyazi Mısri, Ismet Inonu ve Turgut Özal.

   Its location is in Vilayet Park which is in rear of office of the governor.


 


6. Ismet Inonu Sculpture and Bazaar

 

   Ismet Inonu was a general and second President of Turkey. He was also granted as Milli Sef (National Chief). He is a very influential leader in Turkish history, because, he served as a general in Turkish War of Independence and led Turkey to becoming one of the Modern countries in the world as a president. His sculpture was constructed in 1947 in front of office of the governor.

   Ismet Inonu sculpture and Bazaar are near to each one and  close to Medeniyet Tree.



    Ismet Inonu Bazaar is under the sculture and its enterances are around it. It is not a well-known place but lots of goods ranging from electronic items to clothes can be found in bazaar at competitive price.

7. Yeni Mosque (Haci Yusuf Tas Mosque)

   It is next to the sculpture. Its construction reaches to 19 century. But, due to earthquakes, it had been severely damaged, then, have renovated in 1913.

 8. Misir Bazaar


   It is a histocial bazaar in Malatya. Only domestic food products can be found in the bazaar. Its location is next to the mosque and in the bazaar, there is a turkish bath (Hamam).


  Near to bazaar, there is a street, called as umbrella street. It is nice to walk though the street.





9. Malatya Park

   It is a shopping center which is 15 min. away from the city center on foot. To get there, there is a minibus (one of the turkish transportation type, like bus) and visitors can find it in the city center. Coming back to shopping center, there are stores of many brands and various types of restaurant at the top floor.

   The best part of the visit to the shopping center is ice rink. On the weekends, there may be a long queue. If you don`t know how to skate on the ice, there are professionals ready to teach it over there.

10 Historical Sites

   There are many historical sites in Malatya. These are Arslantepe, Battalgazi, caravanserais and Nemrut Mountain. All of them are far away from the city center. Travel guide to Nemrut Mountain will be available in this blog soon....

Malatya`s Domestic Product Sculpture (Apricot) in City Center

Enjoy your visit to Malatya.....