72 September 2015 www.womanthismonth.com LIFESTYLE | travel Sultanate Sojourn With a magnificent history, charming country folk and trend-setting urbanites, Turkey is the point where Eastern tradition meets Western modernity. Ankita Mamgain discovers the many faces of this unique destination. Seldom portrayed well in the movies, Turkey is a land of intrigue and mystery. What I little knew was how big, how diverse and how refined the culture, scenery and cuisine of this land actually are. The people, like its terrain, are beautiful, beaming under the temperate sunshine, and carry with them the rich legacy of a prosperous past. English is not the most widely spoken language, but with a little help from Google Translate, you can get by just fine – well on most occasions. From strange to spectacular, Turkey delivers on all grounds. FAIRIES AND FABLES The arid terrain and sudden drop in temperature welcome you to Capadoccia, a land plucked from a fantasy and placed in central Anatolia. Open your eyes to the magical allure of its breathtaking landscape of blushing curvaceous valleys, rippling waves of rocks, endless expanse of fairy chimneys, ancient caves and relics. Camp in a cave-hotel in Göreme as it is centrally located and is close to most tourist sites. Trek across the Rose Valley, visit the open air museum and explore the underground cities. You absolutely must take a hot-air balloon ride to get a bird’s-eye view of this marvellous stretch of volcanic remains formed aeons ago. About seven hours westward is the UNESCO heritage site of Pamukkale which literally translates to ‘Cotton Palace’. These thermal pools form a brilliant, white terrace, which hangs like the petrified cascade of a majestic waterfall. In between Capadoccia and Pamukkale lies Konya, a charming town known for its dervish temples. Located right on the ancient Silk Road, it is the spiritual centre for the country and is home to the shrine of Rumi, the great Sufi poet. It’s the perfect place to see the whirling dervishes in their mystical meditative trance. Cappadocia Whirling-dervishes in Konya
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