Karaman

The province of Karaman is located to the south of the Central Anatolian Region and is between Konya - İçel - Antalya provinces. The province is a major commerce, culture and art center. Karaman province and its vicinity is known to be inhabited from the beginning of BC 8000 and the region charms and fascinates the visitors with the touristic beauties as underground cities, caves, religious centers and also with natural beauties as plateaus and other natural flora and fauna, rich hand crafted art works.

How to Get
Highway The bus station is located approximately 3 kilometers outside of the city center. Reaching to the bus station is possible via public buses, commercial and shared taxis.

Address of the Bus Station Karaman Municipality Bus Station - Konya highway vicinity,

Tel: (+90-338) 213 24 65

Railway The railway station is located at 1 km. distance to the city center.

Address of the Railway Station Valide Sultan Quarter 1st Station Avenue,

Tel: (+90-338) 213 33 60

Aktekke Mosque (Mader-i Mevlana Mosque) The mosque is located at the city center. It was constructed at the Karamanoğlu period entirely from shear stones and has a large central dome and a high minaret. At the left side of the mosque in a separated place, the coffin tombs of Mümine Hatun, mother of Hz. Mevlana and his grandsons are present.

Yunus Emre Mosque The mosque is located at the city center and was constructed in the Karamanoğlu period. The structure is central domed. Inside the mosque, the tomb of famous Turkish intellectual and thinker Mutasavvıf Yunus Emre is present.

Binbir (A thousand and one) Church (Maden Şehri - Değle): The church is located to the north of the Karaman Province at 50 km. distance and at the skirts of Karadağ mountain. As there are numerous ruins of churches at the vicinity of Karadağ, the churches at the region is named as Binbir (A thousand and one) churches.

Derbe The church is located inside the borders of Ekinözü village which is 23 km. away from the Karaman province. The historic sources indicate that the Derbe Church is among the first churches constructed in the world. This church was constructed in the year AD 41, 13 years before the construction of the Sister Mary Church in Ephesos. The Derbe Church is stated three times in the Holy Bible of the Christians. The Christians visiting Derbe Church had become Christian Pilgrims according to their religious beliefs.

Alahan The inn is located to 40 km south of the Karaman Province. The structure was constructed in the 12th century by Seljukians.

High Plateaus
The plateaus of the province is used for pasturage purposes for the live stock of the villagers, especially in spring season. Because of their water springs, clean air, natural beauty, the convenience for pasturage for live stock and being a transition region to the Mediterranean Region, especially the plateaus at the Ermenek Region are the preferred frequent visiting places for local and foreign tourists for the purposes of trekking, local food and beverage varieties, natural mineral water and promenade areas.

Bridges
Görmel Bridge: It is one of the most beautiful works that Karamanoğulları left. It is in Ermenek. The bridge, of 27 m. of height and 4.70 m. of width, is erected on two arcades and was constructed by Halil Bey, the son of Karamanoğlu Mahmut Bey.

Karaman Bridge: It is in Ayrancı district and one of the works of Karamanoğlu.

Selavat Bridge: It is on Göksu river, in Göçer village, Karaman and was constructed during the period of Karamanoğlu. Its height is approximately 12m and its width is 3m.

Ak Bridge: It is in Yeşildere town, on İbrala brook stream and belongs to the period of Karamanoğlu.

Castles
Karaman Castle: It is constructed by Seljuks, in 12th century and composed of ramparts one inside the other. Today, inner castle still exists and it is one of the most conspicious castles of our country.

Ermenek Castle: Castle was used as refuge, house and dungeon. Naturally, there are caves in the castle. It is the first castle of Karamanoğulları and it is in the middle of a big rock covering the north of Ermenek.

Mennan Castle: It is in Ermenek and it means refuge. The castle is constructed on a perpendicular mountain with slippery rocks. When Osmanlı Gedik Ahmet Paşa got the castle from Karamanoğulları with a tricky way, Pir Ahmet Bey committed a suicide in that castle.

İlisıra Castle: It is in İmirme, Yollarbaşı town in Karaman and it belongs to the ancient Byzance period. The castle is composed of the ruins and is also known as LYSTRA CASTLE. There was a church around it belonging to Byzance.

Divle Castle: It is in Divle (Üç Harman) village, in Ayrancı district, Karaman. The castle is like an apartment and has many floors. The settlement is inside the caves and actively used during the periods of Seljuks, Karamanoğulları and Ottomans.

Gaferiyet Kalesi: It is in Kazımkarabekir district. In the past, Gaferiyat was surrounded with a castle, but when the people began to use the stones of the castle to build their own houses, this situation gave harm to the castle. Today, it has only one entrance.

Hışlayık Cave

Location: Karaman, Ayrancı District

Properties: After a 26 meter steep descend from a shaft, the underground river is reached. After a certain period of surface flow, the river disappears after a siphon. The cave continues after passing a lot of siphons.

Karaman Museum The local archeological and ethnographic findings are exhibited at the museum.

Address: İmaret Quarter, Turgut Özal Avenue, Telephone: (+90-338) 213 15 36

Open hours to visit: 08.00 - 12.00 / 13.00 - 17.00.

The province is located at the south of Central Anatolian Region. The neighboring provinces are Konya on north, Mersin on south, Ereğli and Silifke on east and Antalya on the west. The altitude from the sea level is 1033 meters. The general characteristic of the Karaman province is plains. The small lakes and water channels constructed in the recent years had brought vigor to the agricultural activities. The cereals and industrial plantation is cultivated in the plains of Karaman province. The summer seasons at the province is hot and dry while the winter seasons are cold and precipitant. The average precipitation amount is 350 mm.

History
The certain foundation date of Karaman province is not known. As a result of the archeological excavations, the oldest settlement findings about the Karaman province and its vicinity is determined to be after the year of BC 8000. The province had become a military and commerce center during the period of the Hittite civilization and had entered the reign of Frig and Lydia civilization. The province had been the capital of the Karamanoğlu State which was founded after the weakening of the Anatolian Seljuk State.