UNESCO Adds Nineteen Attractions From Turkiye To Its World Heritage Sites List

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Nineteen historical attractions from Türkiye make it to UNESCO’s latest list of ‘World Heritage Sites’ that offer ‘outstanding universal value.’ With this, Türkiye now ranks as one of the top countries globally to offer Indian travelers a record number of cultural heritage sites. 

Nineteen historical attractions from the Republic of Türkiye figure on the latest list of UNESCO’s ‘World Heritage Sites’ that offer ‘outstanding universal value,’ in the list. With this, Türkiye becomes one of the top countries to globally offer Indian travellers a record number of cultural heritage sites.

A press release says that the recent inclusion of the Arslantepe Mound, an 8000-year-old archaeological mound, has helped Türkiye to establish itself as one of the most popular tourist destinations worldwide. Another exceptional heritage site from Türkiye to make it on the list is Göbeklitepe, a Neolithic archaeological site in the southeastern Anatolia region, which broke its previous visitor records even in the midst of the pandemic, hosting 5,67,453 visitors in 2021. This site is further expected to break the current record of visitors by the end of this year.

Referred to as the ‘cradle of civilisations,’ Türkiye’s rich cultural and historical diversity is astounding. From the Neolithic period, all the way to the Ottoman Empire, every corner of Türkiye has its famous historical remnants, quietly reciting tales of powerful civilizations that once spread their influence across these lands. These include the world’s first settlements spanning 12 millennia back in time, the grand temples and cities of antiquity, the hidden churches of early Christianity, and the great mosques and palaces of the Ottoman Empire that offer travellers in abundance to discover in Türkiye.

Travellers from India, especially culture enthusiasts, will enjoy and admire this creative genius of humanity in Türkiye and experience the historical journey through Anatolia which begins with Göbeklitepe. At the foot of the majestic Taurus Mountains, the collection of circles formed by T-shaped stone pillars with intricate carvings expresses the mystic power of a site of worship older than the history itself. In the heart of the country, one can also visit Çatalhöyük which is another famous Neolithic excavation site besides Göbeklitepe, where the world’s first urban settlement was unearthed to alter all the history books.

Of course, one should not forget the Ottoman Empire, as one’s journey in Türkiye is never complete without seeing its splendor. Bursa was the first capital of the empire and has its share of fascinating monuments, including the Ulu Mosque (Grand Mosque of Bursa), Silk Bazaar, Green Mosque, and the Tombs of Osman and Orhan, the founders of the Ottoman Empire.

Visitors can also explore one of the world’s richest open-air museums in the historical peninsula of Istanbul which is not only home to exquisite Ottoman monuments like the large museum – Topkapı Palace, the famous jewel of Istanbul- Sultan Ahmet Mosque (the Blue Mosque), and the Ottoman imperial mosque – Süleymaniye Mosque, but also to the Eastern Roman marvels like the Walls of Constantinople, Hagia Irene, Little Hagia Sophia, the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, and Zeyrek Mosque.