Bursa

In addition to its many historic sites and mosques, Bursa is one of Turkey’s most vibrant cities, with a vibrant nightlife and a plethora of restaurants and bars.

The home of Turkey’s Iskender kebap, one of the country’s most popular kebab dishes, makes it a must-stop for foodies on the road.

The sprawling city of Bursa, which lies at the foot of Uluda’s massive mountain, is a haven for those who prefer to stay active. With Turkey’s largest ski resort and the Bursa Teleferik cable car running year-round up the slopes for those seeking some mountain vistas, Uluda is a popular winter sports destination.

The Bursa Teleferik, which ascends Uluda’s mountains in Turkey, is the world’s longest cable car (Grand Mountain).

At 1,810 meters above sea level, the last station is reached after a 22-minute ride up the mountain’s 8.2 kilometers.

For skiers and snowboarders, the cable car serves as a mode of transportation to Uluda’s ski resort amenities, but the cable car is a year-round tourist destination for its breathtaking vistas.

On the way, the landscape swoops across densely forested lower slopes, with magnificent views of the rocky mountain top and the sprawl of Bursa city below from the opposite side.

Families may take a vacation from Bursa’s historic sites and cool off in the mountain air at the top station, which gives a relief from the sweltering heat of the city.

Bursa’s core city area contains full with superbly maintained buildings from the city’s most opulent era, making it a popular stop on the Silk Road.

One of Istanbul’s largest bazaars, the Central Bazaar is a sprawling network of covered market alleys, caravanserais, and warehouses. As a result, many of the warehouses and caravanserais (called hans) have been converted into stores, with their quiet leafy central courtyards being repurposed as outdoor cafes.

The Koza Han, a 1490 structure, is one of the most well-known in the area. Stores selling silk products are now located in the arched cells on the second and third floors of this caravanserai, which also features a huge shaded courtyard.

Visit the hill villages on the outskirts of Bursa for a sense of days gone by.

Cumalkzk, the most well-known of these hamlets, is only 14 kilometers east of the city center. The cobblestone alleys here are surrounded by old houses, some of which have been well-preserved, while others have fallen into a condition of decay. An Ottoman-style masonry and adobe wall with wood beam details is used throughout. In certain cases, the houses date back to the early Ottoman period.

They were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of their significance in Bursa’s history.

Cumalkzk’s tourist attractions are few and far between. As a result, a visit to this area is all about exploring the alleys and soaking up the old-world country vibe while wondering that a place like this exists so close to one of Turkey’s busiest towns..

In the summer months, inhabitants from Bursa go to the village’s cafés and restaurants, which have been converted from residences. On the streets and alleyways of the village, residents are selling their handmade wares.

This compound houses the tombs of some of the Ottoman Empire’s earliest sultans and their families.

To those interested in Ottoman art, a trip to these tombs is a must. The elaborate and colorful tile work and writing on the tombs make for a memorable experience for visitors.

The site has 12 graves buried within it. Both Sultan Murat II’s and renowned Cem Sultan’s tombs (Mehmed the Conqueror’s sons), who died in exile in Italy after losing a succession war with their brother who became Beyazit II, are among the most significant historical sites in the city of Istanbul.

Uluda, Turkey’s busiest winter ski resort, is just a short drive from both Istanbul and Bursa.

From 1,767 meters to 2,322 meters above sea level, the resort area has 28 kilometers of slopes for all skill levels.

It’s a great place for intermediate skiers and snowboarders because of the wide range of terrain available. There are 24 different ski lifts on-site to make it easy to get from one slope to the next.

Hotels of all price ranges may be found in the main resort area, along with a wide variety of dining options. With a few rental businesses around, you can get all the equipment you need for a day on the slopes without breaking the bank.

Drive or take a picturesque ride on the Teleferik cable car in Bursa to get to the major ski resort region, which is 31 kilometers south of the city center. The typical ski season lasts from the end of December through the beginning of April.

There is a great deal to see in Bursa if you visit the Ulu Cami (Grand Mosque), which is right in the middle of the city’s primary market area.

The mosque was built in 1399, during the early days of the Ottoman Empire, and its architecture reflects the influence of Persian mosques.

It is well known for its roof, which is covered in 20 domes. Because the mosque was commissioned by Sultan Beyazit I, who pledged to build 20 mosques, but later felt that was a little too ambitious and instead erected 20 domes on this mosque, this distinctive stylistic feature was built.

With a beautiful minber (pulpit) and elegant calligraphy, the prayer hall is a peaceful place to pray.

Although the Mevlevi Suficity of Konya is the most well-known place to see dervishes perform, Visitors are welcome to attend the sema in Bursa’s Mevlevi cultural center (the religious ceremony of the whirling dervishes).

The difference between this sema with the one in Konya is that the Mevlevi Sufi community’s religious practice is the focus of this sema rather than a tourist attraction.

The Karabaş-i Veli Kültür Merkezi, the community’s dervish lodge (referred to as a tekke in Turkish), hosts it every evening.

Male guests sit on the ground level while female visitors watch from a balcony above them. When you enter the tekke, women are required to cover their heads with a headscarf.

In the summer, the ritual begins at 9.30pm and 8pm in the winter.

Sultan Mehmed I commissioned the construction of both the Green Mosque (Yeşil Cami) and the Green Tomb (Yeşil Türbe), which house the Sultan’s sarcophagus.

Mehmed I, the fifth Ottoman sultan, was an important person in early Ottoman history because he was able to consolidate control over a wide range of territories throughout his time in power.

Built in 1422, the Green Mosque is a prime example of the Ottoman architectural style that would eventually supplant Seljuk architecture. The walls of the interior are decorated with tiles.

The Green Tomb’s interior and façade are both decorated with intricate tilework.

Bursa’s primary business district is roughly 40 kilometers away from Ulubat Lake. Gölyaz, a little settlement on a peninsula protruding out into the lake, offers a sense of rural life in slow motion.

Locals from Bursa go here on weekends to wander the lakeshore, take in the serene ambience, and go on boat rides on the lake.

An abundance of dilapidated buildings can be found lining the streets of the small town. A famous and enormous plane tree dating back more than seven hundred years also stands in the village’s center, as do the shattered remains of the Roman settlement’s outer walls.

As migratory birds come through in spring, Ulubat Lake is a popular destination for birdwatchers.

The well-preserved citadel walls of Bursa’s core district surround the city’s oldest district, which sits on a hill above the urban activity below.

As you ascend, you’ll see the Grand Mosque and surrounding bazaar area, as well as Uluda’s hills rising in the distance, from the park on top.

Ozman and Orhan Gazi, the founders of the Ottoman Empire, are buried in the park’s historic clock tower. It is important to note that the present tomb structure is not the original, as it was destroyed in an earthquake in 1863 and subsequently rebuilt.

It’s possible to see several well-preserved Ottoman residences and mansions in the streets and alleyways encircling the park, as well as certain sections of the surviving ramparts.

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