Cappadocia

Located in the Anatolian part of Turkey, the Cappadocia region is famous for its showcase of the ancient civilizations from thousands of years ago that are seen in carved houses and churches within the earth pillars. These cave dwellings are constructed on the foot of the mountains by cutting through rocks and stones. These cave houses are fundamentally old houses that were carved by people who lived here ages ago and which served as living and work spaces as well as religious buildings such as monasteries and churches. It is said that about 30 million years ago there were three volcanic eruptions from the Erciyes, Hasan, and Melendiz Daðlari and the volcanic tufa that was accumulated led people from ancient times to build dwellings into them. These were very soft materials and thus building into them was easy. Moreover, they made for comfortable housing which was warm in winter, and cool in summer, and also served as a good hideout in wartimes. Today you can find several of these dwellings with murals from the Hittite Empire and the Neo-Hittite period. You can also witness some high standards of building techniques with several military tunnels as well as artistic features such as religious paintings on the walls.

The famous Pigeon Valley in Cappadocia is best known for its hiking trail that can start in either Uchisar Town or Goreme Town. The trail takes you through thick forests of trees, and several caves, and as you descend into the valley also gives you great views of the town and the Uchisar Castle. You can also spot a number of brilliant paintings on the walls of the caves that you pass that were created by the people who lived here during the Byzantine period. As is evident from its name, the Pigeon valley used to have a large number of pigeon holes built into the walls for the domestication of pigeons. They were not only used by the dwellers here for their meat and manure, but also for message delivery, and sacrifices. The trail is extremely picturesque with its ever changing landscape and cliffs and sudden stretches of dense greenery alongside others with bare treeless sections. Throughout the trail, you will be greeted with scattered cave dwellings as well as chimneys and earth pillars. At one end of the valley, you will find some cafes where you can relax and enjoy a refreshing bite before heading on.

The Göreme open air Museum is situated in the ancient, historical district called Göreme, in Nevsehir province of the Cappadocia region of central Turkey. These are rock-cut monasteries with beautiful frescoed walls and ceilings built by the Cappadocians in the early 10th century. The entire location of Cappadocia is a geographical wonder owing to the volcanic eruption of Mount Erciyes, several million years ago in the history of earth. Small peaks were formed from the volcanic lava which were later weathered to form chimney like structures abounding the province. These later came to be known as the "fairy chimneys" in Göreme. Although, historical evidence shows that the first human settlement in Göreme began in 1800 BC, the modern day rock-cut churches were being built since the tenth century by the local communities. These people saw the possibility of carving monasteries, houses and sheltered spaces in the soft rock peaks. Thus they sculpted several storeyed churches and monasteries, which is referred to as the Göreme Open Air Museum, and has been a part of the UNESCO World Heritage site since 1985. There are 11 communal halls attached to each church and the church benches are carved out of rocks too. These beautifully decorated, frescoed churches, houses and pigeon homes, carved out of the soft lava rock, attract many tourists to the heart of Turkey. Some of the famous churches here are - Karanlik Kilise, Tokali Kilise where the relics of ancient Byzantine art can be viewed. Although the weather, time and cave occupants had impacted the churches, yet they have stood the test of time. The frescoes are remnants of the art of the ninth century cave dwellers who sought refuge here to lead lives of austerity.

Cappadocia is the most sought after destination in Turkey to experience hot air balloon rides. Hot air balloon ride is one of the safest forms of flight and this low risk, thrilling activity in Cappadocia lasts for about an hour taking you on a bird’s journey. The ideal wind conditions and stunning landscapes of mountains, cliffs, and the city below promise a truly cherishable experience as you glide through the clouds in vibrantly coloured balloons. Even if you don’t fancy flying, watching these balloons propelled by fire with the setting sun in the background is something that one should never miss during their Turkey sojourn.Location: Müze Cd. No:46/1, Göreme, 50180 Göreme/Nevşehir Merkez/Nevşehir, TurkeyPrice: Ranges between $140 | 875 TL to $250 | 1562.5 TL per personTiming: 5.00 am - 8.00 pm Mon-SunBest Time to Visit: Year round but the months from April to November have the most favourable weather conditions.

This actually is a deep gorge that looks picturesque with the Melendiz River flowing through it. Nature Walks through any of the four entrances of the valley are the most popular activity at the valley and as you walk beside the rumbling Melendiz River, you can enjoy spotting butterflies, frogs, dragon flies, and even turtles. There are more than a hundred ancient cave churches in this canyon which you visit during the nature walk. About 16 of them are still intact with beautiful paintings inside them making Ihlara Valley one of the most interesting places to visit in Cappadocia.Location: Guzelyurt, Aksaray, TurkeyBest Time to Visit: During the months from April to June and then, September and October when the skies are usually clear.

Uchisar is situated at the highest point in Cappadocia and is one of the most picturesque places to see in Cappadocia. The multi-leveled Uchisar Castle is the primary attraction here and looks rustic with rooms carved out of rocks and connected by stairs and passages. There are many churches, cave pigeon houses, and fairy chimneys that give the visitors an insight into the lives of people who lived here decades ago. An easy trek of about 100 steps takes one to the top of the castle and the panoramic views from the top are spellbinding. One can spot the bright red Tirkish flag billowing in the air atop the castle. Outdoor activity enthusiasts can try walking through the Pigeon Valley ir hiking from Goreme to Uchisar through Pigeon Valley.Location of Uchisar Castle: Tekelli, 50240 Uçhisar/Nevşehir Merkez/Nevşehir, TurkeyPrice: 9.00 TL | $1.50Timing: 07.30 am - 6.30 pm Mon - SunBest Time to Visit: April to June and then, September and October when rain is rare.

The places to visit in Cappadocia fascinate every traveller and Derinkuyu Underground City is one such arrestingly interesting place. Derinkuyu Underground City is the deepest underground city in Cappadocia that goes 60 metres under the ground. This underground city has passages, tunnels, stepped pits, and corridors that link family rooms and communal spaces that are well planned with wells, chimneys for air circulation, niches for oil lamps, stores, water tanks, and stables where people and their cattle can stay protected for months from enemy attacks. Even more interesting is that there are even places to safely protect the dead corpses until they can be found a suitable place to bury later.Location: Derinkuyu district, Nevşehir Province, TurkeyPrice: 35 TL | $ 6.00Timing: 8.00 am - 7.00 pm in summer and 8.00 am - 5.00 pm in winterBest Time to Visit: April - June; September & October

Dating back to Hittites and Phrygians Period, in B.C 3000, Kaymakli Underground City is the widest excavated city in Cappadocia and is one of the amazing places to see in cappadocia. Today, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Sitethat is carefully protected. Just as other underground cities in the region, the Kaymakli Underground City also features sitting places, stables, cellars, ground stones, churches, wineries, communal kitchens, and storage rooms. It is believed that at least 3500 people stayed here in the olden days. The underground city consists of 8 floors below ground, of which only 4 of them are open to the public today.Location: Kaymakli, Central Anatolia Region, TurkeyPrice: 6.72$ | 42 TLBest Time to Visit: April - June; September & October