Officially known as the Republic of Turkey and falls in both a European continent and an Asian continent. It’s neighbour to Bulgaria, Greece, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Georgia, Syria, and Iraq. The modern Turkish republic, founded in 1923 after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. It is a nationalist, secular, parliamentary democracy. Islam is the most practised religion in the country, with a population of 82 million. But, In the Turkish constitution, it’s declared that the government has no official religion.
Experience of an incredible diversity of breath-taking natural beauty, historical and archaeological sites, beliefs and ideas, a tradition of hospitality along with great food, This makes Turkey one of the top tourist destinations in the world.
Some of the must-visit natural sites will speak a lot about Turkey… Pamukkale Calcium Pools, Pretty Cappadocia in the Anatolian Region, Oludeniz in the Fethiye Region, Beautiful Butterfly Valley, Patara: Rustic Charm, Waterfalls in Antalya, Lake Van, Mount Nemrut, Dalyan Delta and Iztuzu Beach, Waterfalls and Green Hills in Ayder Plateau, Uzungol for The Long Lake. Camlihemsin in Rize.
Turkey is the perfect place for History & Architecture enthusiast. The very best historically essential sites are Topkapı Palace, Hagia Sophia and Ephesus. Other popular spots include Troy, Cappadocia Underground Cities and The Basilica Cistern. And there are many other Sites also, which can’t be ignored if you have some extra time and budget.
For leisure cum adventure lovers, hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia will be a truly breath-taking and extraordinary experience. Tukey is blessed with many superb beaches with ample of water-sports activities. Turkey is a haven for Seafood lovers and also need to mention that Gaziantep Cuisine was just included in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.
In 2010, culture was officially considered as the Fourth Pillar of Sustainable Development by UNESCO. Suppose you want to explore Turkey Culture – the ideas, customs, and social behaviour of a particular people or society. In that case, it differs from region to region within the country.
Over the last century, Turkish culture has undergone profound changes. The Culture of Turkey combines a diverse and varied set of elements that have been derived from the various cultures of West and Central Asian regions, as well as Middle Eastern and Caucasian traditions. There are many shades of grey when we talk about Turkey. You will find the traditional Muslim cultures in Anatolia, but the cosmopolitan modernity in Istanbul and the more expansive West. Still, Islam is the largest religion in Turkey according to the state, with 99% of the population
Their languages, architecture, Artforms, Music, food, and customs differ from others despite following the same religion. Turkey Culture is often showcased as an amalgamation of several cultures, as it has a history that is several millennia old.
Turkey has one of the richest and vivid histories and heritage. You can see Early architecture of Ottoman period (1299–1326) and Bursa period (1326–1437). The Classical Architecture (1437–1703), Westernise Architecture of Tulip period (1703–1757), Baroque period (1757–1808) & Empire period (1808–1876), Late Ottoman Architecture (1876–1922) & Architecture during the Republican era. You can explore these architectural styles along with the Ancient architecture and Ancient urbanism of the Greek & the classical Roman civilisations.
WOW subject when we talk about Turkey.
With a history as long as many ancient civilizations, Sri Lanka is positioned within the crossroad of the East and the West. As is known for its multicultural society, the country celebrates many festivals, ceremonies and events. Usually, around mid-April every year, the whole country is enveloped with a festive atmosphere to mark the Lunar New Year.
One of the best and the well-known festival in Sri Lanka is,
Kandy Esala Poya Perahera (Buddhist) -Another huge Poya celebration is the Esala Poya Perahera in Kandy. Esala Poya is the day that celebrates the arrival of the Buddha Tooth Relic to the famous Temple of the Tooth. Perahera means procession in Sinhalese. Peraheras take place every Poya holiday on small scale in Colombo and other places around the island, but none compare to the week-long celebrations in Kandy during Esala Poya. With a Perahera procession every day for a week, the experience is unbeatable. Dancers, musicians, dressed elephants, rituals and more, every day until the last night which is the biggest Perahera of all. The best way to make sure and get a seat at one of the Peraheras in Kandy next year is to book through an agency like Lakpura.
Cuisines are a specific set of cooking traditions and practices. They are often associated with regional culture. The great variety of mouth-watering Turkey cuisines are typically the legacy of Ottoman cuisine. These cuisines are the blend and improvement of Central Asian, Middle Eastern and Balkan cuisines. Therefore, it is impossible to write here, as it will be a very long list.
The cuisine of Turkey varies from one place to another. The cooking style of Istanbul, Bursa, Izmir, and rest of the Asia Minor region inherits many elements of Ottoman court cuisine. You shall find extensive use of Fish in the Black Sea Region. The southeast region is famous for its variety f kebabs, mezes and dough-based desserts. In the western parts of Turkey, as the olive trees grow abundantly, olive oil is the primary type of oil used for cooking. The cuisines rich with vegetables, herbs, and fish are from the Aegean, Marmara and Mediterranean regions.
It is appreciable that Turkish people still rely primarily on the rich and extensive dishes of Turkish culture. Some traditional Turkish foods, especially Kofte, Doner, Kokoreç, Kumpir, Midye Tava, Borek & Gözleme, are often served as fast food in Turkey and many parts of the world. Please note… The Turkish Cuisines are not about garnishing or decoration; it is all about taste. The Turkish cook is not proud of how good he cooks. He is just happy as long as the people who taste his food are delighted. He is not interested in getting fancy awards and being treated like a star.
Turkey is “the” destination for Shopaholics with its rich avenues filled with historical bazaars and souks interspersed with new-age markets. There are many alluring open-air markets, chic boutiques and covered Turkish bazaars. Mainly, shopping in Istanbul is an absolute delight. Whether your passion is all about local Handicrafts or international brands, Turkey offers a vast collection of shops trading these. Wander along the streets to see antiques, designer boutiques and local crafts or come across street sellers those wander from corner to corner. You can buy Carpet, Rugs, Tea Glasses, Nargile Pipes, the Nazar Boncuk charm, jewellery, antiques, embroideries, hand-painted ceramics and spices, most of them are treasured souvenirs.
