Sanliurfa was the single major city in Turkey where I spent the most time during my journey to Turkey. It is a city located in the southeastern of Turkey with a primary population Kurdish, Turkmen and Arab. Sanliurfa is one of the nearest Turkish cities nearing the border of Syria. The way of life and dress code mimicked those of the Arabic countries. It was as if you were time-travelling to one of the Arabic countries.
All began as you checked-in for your flight to Sanliurfa. Glancing through the holding area, passengers were dominated by Gen-X with a few women with children. They were dressed in huge Muslim dresses, known as jubah.
Off to Sanliurfa.
On board the flight, I overheard a conversation by a couple of men seated few seats from me and what appeared to be an English lady travelling alone. They were convincing the lady that Islam is the way of life and uttered the word “jihad” a couple of times which aroused my level of alertness. As a Muslim myself, I could not help but fear for my life. You never know how extreme one could be, right? Especially the flight I was on was flying to the nearest city to the border of Syria, though at that point of time, ISIS was unheard of. A stewardess interfered by calming the men down and they seemed to settle down just right. As the flight announced the plane would land shortly, my heart rejoiced. [Post-travel note: It was this very event that sent me shivering when within two days from the incident, my home-country national carrier, MH370, went missing with thousand of theories remain unanswered.]
I reached Gap International Airport, Sanliurfa at 11.15am. I took the Havas bus to the city of Sanliurfa that made a final stop at the petrol station at the centre intersection. That would be your point of disembarkation if you are heading to guest houses near the old town of Sanliurfa. My first impression on Sanliurfa was barren soil, bullet riddled buildings and nearly ruined mud houses. Everything about Sanliurfa was hundred paces slower and conservative from modern Istanbul. Not knowing where to go, I asked for directions and I noticed only few people could speak English. When a young soldier who spoke decent English approached me, I sought his help and he agreed to walk me to the Urfa Bus Station. Albeit its conservativeness, one must buy Urfa Kart (prepaid bus card) to use the service of the Urfa Bus.
Havas Bus – 10TL / Urfa Kart – 5TL
Edessa Hotel, Sanliurfa
Balikligol, I told the bus driver. Everyone was made aware of where I was heading so they could inform me where to disembark. I had one problem that was to find the cheap guest house by the name of Aslan Guesthouse. After walking for nearly 45 minutes through the maze of Kurdish ancient houses, I settled with Edessa Hotel for a price of 60TL. Edessa Hotel is the closest to the entrance of Balikligol. A decent medium budget hotel is your best option is your main objective is to visit Balikligol and pay homage to the Abraham’s cave.
In ancient times, Sanliurfa was known as Edessa by the Greek.
Below are the view from my room:-
Enough of arrival in Sanliurfa, next up is the tour around Sanliurfa.
Sanliurfa is dubbed as the city of prophets because:-
- Prophet Ibrahim : It was believed that Prophet Ibrahim was born in Mevlid Cave and where Prophet Ibrahim was thrown into fire by King Nemrut.
- Prophet Ayub : Allah had taken all of the children and goods and then gave him an illness where worms covered his body to make prove his loyalty. The cave in which the prophet suffered his illness and the well where he washed himself with the blessed water is in the Eyyub Peygamber district in Urfa. His tomb is located in Eyyub Nebi Village about 20km outside Urfa. Also on the skirts of the Viranşehir district is mausoleum of Prophet Job, his wife Rahme’s tomb and the location where Prophet Eliseus died.
- Prophet Ilyasa’ : His tomb is located in Eyyubi Nebi village in Sanliurfa, 1km away from where Prophet Ayub’s tomb.
- Prophet Syuaib : It is believed that Prophet Syuaib lived in ancient city of Suayb, located 85km from eastern Urfa.
- Prophet Moses : Prophet Moses’ well and a sign of his staff is located in the ancient city of Soğmatar, currently the area of Soğmatar is known as Yağmurlu Village.
- Prophet Lut : Prophet Lot, the son of Harran, brother of Prophet Ibrahim, immigrated with his uncle Ibrahim to the Sodom, where he was assigned as a prophet. He was born in Urfa and spent his childhood with Prophet Ibrahim. Prophet Lut lived with Prophet Ibrahim in the Harran region.
- Prophet Yaakub : It is thought that he lived in a building called Deyr Yakup (The Throne of Nemrud) in the eastern of Urfa, about 10 kilometers outside the city.
3 Comments
Nice sharing, sis! Perhaps it will encourage me to visit Sanliurfa soon.
Thank you for reading. Are you based in Istanbul?
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