Diyarbakir (Turkey) is a city located in the south-east of the country on the banks of the Tigris River, which has become the unofficial capital of Turkish Kurdistan. Its area is more than 15 thousand km2, and the population reaches almost 1.7 million people. Most of the local residents are Kurds, who speak their own language – Kurmanji.
The history of Diyarbakir dates back to the 2nd millennium BC, when the city was part of the ancient state of Mitanni. Subsequently, it entered the possession of the Kingdom of Urartu, which flourished on the territory of the Armenian Highlands from the 8th to the 5th centuries BC. e. With the arrival of the Romans on these lands, the area receives the name Amida and begins to actively strengthen itself with black basalt fences, which is why it will later be called the Black Fortress. But in the 7th century, the city was captured by Berk Arabs and given the name Diyar-Iberk, which literally means “land of the Berks”. At the beginning of the 16th century, Diyarbakir was part of the Ottoman Empire and served as the most important defensive point in the war with Persia.
Diyarbakir is a harsh and insecure city that has become the epicenter of separatist sentiment. Until 2002, it remained closed due to military conflicts between the Turkish army and Kurdish rebels. Today, the city is a mixture of ancient buildings and cheap box houses, diluted with minarets of numerous mosques. And the whole picture is outlined against the backdrop of picturesque hills and valleys.
Rare tourists have started visiting the area relatively recently: first of all, travelers are attracted by its rich historical heritage and authentic atmosphere. If you are also planning to go to the city of Diyarbakir, then we give detailed information about its notable facilities and infrastructure below.
Attractions
Among the attractions of Diyarbakir are religious sites, historical buildings and even a prison, which is considered one of the worst in the world. When visiting the city, it is definitely worth seeing:
Great Mosque of DiyarbakIr
This shrine is the oldest mosque in Diyarbakir in Turkey and one of the most important Islamic temples in all of Anatolia. Construction of the structure began in 1091 by order of the Seljuk ruler Malik Shah. The religious complex includes a madrasa and a religious school. The main feature of the Grand Mosque was its facades decorated with a colonnade. Rich in decorative details and elaborate carvings, the columns in the courtyard are distinguished from each other by their unique patterns. The mosque also acquired an unusual appearance due to the square-shaped minaret.
- Opening hours: the attraction can be visited in the morning and after lunch in the intervals between prayer.
- Admission fee: free of charge.
- Address: Cami Kebir Mahallesi, Pirinçler Sk. 10 A, 21300 Sur, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
Hasan Pasa Hani
The city of Diyarbakir in Turkey is also famous for its historic building that once served as a caravanserai for merchants. Today, there are several cafes and eateries where you can taste national dishes, and many miniature shops selling gold, carpets, souvenirs and oriental sweets. The architecture of Hassan Pasa Hani is also interesting: the internal facades of the two-story building are decorated with numerous arches connected to each other by columns. The walls of the structure are painted in a white and gray stripe, typical of many Middle Eastern caravanserais. Today, the place is especially famous for its delicious breakfasts, as well as a cheese shop.
- Opening hours: The property is open daily from 07: 00 to 21: 00.
- Admission fee: free of charge.
- Address: Dabanoglu Mahallesi, Marangoz Sk. No: 5, 21300 Sur, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
City Walls
The most impressive attraction of the area is its fortress walls, which stretch for 7 km along the city center and divide it into two parts, which can be clearly seen in the photo of Diyarbakir. The first fortifications were built during the reign of the Roman emperor Constantine. The material for the construction of the fences was basalt – a stone of ash-black color, which gave the structure a gloomy and intimidating appearance.
The thickness of the fortress walls reaches 5 m, and the height is 12 m. To this day, 82 watchtowers have been preserved, which you can climb and see the panorama of the city. In some parts of the building is decorated with bas-reliefs and symbols of different eras. Today, the city walls of Diyarbakir are among the oldest and most fortified in the world. Tourists can visit the attraction at any time absolutely free of charge.
St. Giragos Armenian Church
Often in the photo of Diyarbakir in Turkey, you can see an old dilapidated building of large dimensions, vaguely resembling a temple. This is the Armenian church, which today is considered the largest Christian shrine in the Middle East. The structure, built in 1376, is part of a large complex that also includes chapels, a school and priests ‘ homes. For a long time, the church did not operate and reopened its doors to parishioners only in 2011, when the first restoration work was completed. Restoration of the building continues to this day. A distinctive feature of the decoration of the temple was its geometric ornaments and stucco elements.
- Opening hours: there is no exact information about the hours of attendance of this church, but, as a rule, city parishes are open daily from 08: 00 to 17: 00.
- Admission fee: free of charge.
- Address: Fatihpaşa Mahallesi, Özdemir Sk. No: 5, 21200 Sur, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
Diyarbakir Prison
Diyarbakir prison is considered one of the worst in the world. It is located in an ancient fortress, which is surrounded by the aforementioned city walls. After the city became part of the Ottoman Empire, the Turks decided to transform the stronghold into a prison: its strong high walls guaranteed maximum protection from criminals. Previously, all prisoners were chained up by 2 or 10 people, while tightly chaining not only the legs, but also the heads of the guilty. In the 19th century, a large part of the prisoners were Bulgarians, and some of them even managed to escape from prison thanks to the help of Armenian Christians.
Today, the Diyarbakir prison in Turkey, whose photos speak for themselves, is included in the ratings of the most terrible prisons in the world. And this is primarily due to the cruel attitude of its employees towards prisoners. There are numerous cases of physical and psychological violence against prisoners. In addition, the conditions of stay and detention in this prison can hardly be called civilized. But the most egregious fact about the institution was the incarceration of children for life in its walls.
Accommodation
If you have a desire to see firsthand Diyarbakir prison in Turkey and other local attractions, then it’s time to learn about the accommodation options. Despite the small popularity of the city among travelers, it has a sufficient number of acceptable hotels, which can be booked at affordable prices. In Diyarbakir, 4 * hotels are very popular: some of them are located in the very center, while others are located a few kilometers from the historical district. On average, renting a double room in such hotels costs 200 TL per day. Some establishments include breakfast in the basic price.
The choice of three-star hotels in Diyarbakir in Turkey is very limited: you can stay together for a night in such an institution for 170-190 TL. As you can see, the price practically does not differ from the prices in 4 *hotels. There is also a five-star Radisson hotel in the city, where the cost of renting a double room is 350 TL. If you are looking for the most affordable options, then pay attention to establishments without stars, where it is quite possible to stay for 90-100 TL per day for two.
Public transport links
Despite the remoteness of Diyarbakir from the famous cities of Turkey, getting here is not difficult. And to do this, you can take a plane or bus.
How to get there by plane
Diyarbakır Yeni Hava Limanı Airport is 8 km from the city center. Direct international flights are not provided here, so you need to fly with a transfer in Istanbul or Ankara. Several flights to Diyarbakir are operated daily from the airports of these cities by Turkish Airlines and Pegasus Airlines. The cost of round-trip tickets from Istanbul varies between 250-290 TL, and the journey time is 1 hour and 40 minutes. A similar ticket from Ankara will cost 280-320 TL, and the flight will take 1 hour and 30 minutes. To get from the airport to the center, you need to take a taxi.
Important. Some airlines offer a free shuttle service from the airport to the city. Please check this information with the airline staff in advance.
How to get there by bus
You can get to Diyarbakir by bus from almost any major city in Turkey. If you are traveling from Istanbul, then you need to get to the Esenler Otogarı bus station in the European part of the metropolis. From there, several regular buses leave every day from 13:00 to 19:00 in a given direction. The cost of the trip is 140-150 TL, the journey takes from 20 to 22 hours.
If your starting point is Ankara, then you need to arrive at the Ankara (Aşti) Otogarı Bus Station, from where flights to Diyarbakir are operated every day from 14: 00 to 01: 30. The price of a one-way ticket varies between 90-120 TL, and the travel time is 12-14 hours. For more information about the bus schedule, please visit the website obilet.com.
These are the two best ways to get to Diyarbakir, Turkey.
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