| Aksaray | |
|---|---|
| — District — | |
| Ağzıkara Han caravanserai portal near Aksaray | |
| Location of Aksaray within Turkey. | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Turkey |
| Region | Central Anatolia |
| Province | Aksaray |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Sebati Buyuran |
| • Mayor | Nevzat Palta (AKP) |
| Area | |
| • District | 4,589 km2 (1,771.8 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 980 m (3,215 ft) |
| Population (2009) | |
| • Urban | 171,423 |
| Time zone | EET (UTC+2) |
| • Summer (DST) | EEST (UTC+3) |
| Postal code | 68xxx |
| Area code(s) | 0382 |
| Licence plate | 68 |
| Website | www.aksaray.gov.tr |
Aksaray (pronounced [ˈaksaɾaj]) is a city in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey and the capital district of Aksaray Province. According to 2009 census, population of the province is 376 907 of which 171,423 live in the city of Aksaray.[1][2] The district covers an area of 4,589 km2 (1,772 sq mi),[3] and the average elevation is 980 m (3,215 ft), with the highest point being Mt. Hasan at 3,253 m (10,673 ft).
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Aksaray region was an important stopover along the Silk Road that crossed through Anatolia for centuries and the city of Aksaray has a long history.
The town of Garsaura was named Archelaïs (Greek: Ἀρχελαΐς) by Archelaus of Cappadocia, the last Cappadocian king. In Byzantine times, the town was known as Koloneia (Κολώνεια) and was a bishopric and a important military centre, holding an imperial aplekton.
The region came under the control of the Seljuk Turks after the Battle of Manzikert in 1071. The Anatolian Seljuk Sultanate they founded left important landmarks in and around Aksaray. The Arab traveller Ibn Battuta who was in the region in the 14th century was impressed by the class of Muslim traders that had emerged in Aksaray and noted the urban center as a beautiful city, surrounded by waterways and gardens, with a water supply coming right to the houses of the city.
Historically, this was never an important city, living on the income generated by its location, situated at the crossroads of two transverse roads: Tarsus-Ankara and Konya-Sivas.
Aksaray was incorporated into the Ottoman Empire in 1470 by the İshak Pasha, and many inhabitants of the city were relocated in İstanbul, recently captured by the Ottomans, where they were settled in a quarter of the city that came to be named Aksaray.
Today Aksaray is a quiet mid-size city. In recent past, many inhabitants migrated to Britain, Germany and other European countries for job opportunities.
Ihlara Valley and the other tourist attractions of Cappadocia are close, but as yet, Aksaray has not been very successful in attracting visitors to the city self. A new attraction in Aksaray city is Hünkarland, a large theme park with artificial waterfalls and which has immediately become a popular venue for Aksaray wedding parties.
This is a rich agricultural region producing grains, meat and dairy and many kinds of fruit and vegetables. Therefore the cuisine of the town is of high standard. Well-known dishes include many pastries and other kinds of wheat-based dishes such as:
Other dishes include soups made with okra or yoghurt and a thick floury chicken stew called Arabaşı.
Aksaray has a semi-arid climate consisting of cold winters and long, hot and dry summers. Spring has the most rainfall.
| Climate data for Aksaray | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 19.4 (66.9) |
21.6 (70.9) |
29.0 (84.2) |
31.8 (89.2) |
33.8 (92.8) |
35.8 (96.4) |
40.0 (104.0) |
38.8 (101.8) |
36.5 (97.7) |
32.8 (91.0) |
25.8 (78.4) |
21.1 (70.0) |
40 (104.0) |
| Average high °C (°F) | 5.2 (41.4) |
7.3 (45.1) |
12.5 (54.5) |
17.9 (64.2) |
22.7 (72.9) |
27.0 (80.6) |
30.6 (87.1) |
30.5 (86.9) |
26.6 (79.9) |
20.7 (69.3) |
13.3 (55.9) |
7.1 (44.8) |
18.45 (65.21) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −3.6 (25.5) |
−2.5 (27.5) |
0.9 (33.6) |
5.5 (41.9) |
9.5 (49.1) |
13.0 (55.4) |
16.1 (61.0) |
15.8 (60.4) |
11.1 (52.0) |
6.7 (44.1) |
1.6 (34.9) |
−1.6 (29.1) |
6.04 (42.88) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −19.3 (−2.7) |
−29 (−20.2) |
−19 (−2.2) |
−7.5 (18.5) |
−0.2 (31.6) |
2.9 (37.2) |
6.8 (44.2) |
5.9 (42.6) |
1.6 (34.9) |
−5.2 (22.6) |
−14 (6.8) |
−20.3 (−4.5) |
−29 (−20.2) |
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 36.5 (1.437) |
31.4 (1.236) |
36.2 (1.425) |
50.9 (2.004) |
41.2 (1.622) |
23.7 (0.933) |
7.9 (0.311) |
5.2 (0.205) |
10.3 (0.406) |
26.7 (1.051) |
32.8 (1.291) |
43.3 (1.705) |
346.1 (13.626) |
| Avg. rainy days | 9.9 | 10.2 | 10.2 | 11.4 | 10.4 | 5.9 | 2.5 | 2.0 | 3.3 | 6.5 | 7.6 | 10.6 | 90.5 |
| Sunshine hours | 99.2 | 123.2 | 182.9 | 207 | 285.2 | 339 | 378.2 | 365.8 | 300 | 220.1 | 153 | 102.3 | 2,755.9 |
| Source: Devlet Meteoroloji İşleri Genel Müdürlüğü [4] | |||||||||||||
There are three monumental caravanserais in the neighbourhood of Aksaray. The best known is Sultan Han, located in the village Sultanhan about 40 km (25 mi) west of Aksaray. This fortified structure was built in 1229 (dated by inscription), during the reign of the Seljuk sultan Kayqubad I, by the Syrian architect Mohammed Bin Havlan El Dimaski (the work Dimasci indicating Damascus) along the trade route from Konya to Aksaray, leading to Persia (the Uzun Yolu). After it was partially destroyed by a fire, it was restored and extended in 1278 by the governor Seraceddin Ahmed Kerimeddin bin El Hasan during the reign of the sultan Kaykhusraw III. This monumental caravanserai then became the largest in Turkey. It is one of the best examples of Anatolian Seljuk architecture.
One enters the Sultanhanı in the east through a monumental 13 m high marble gate (pishtaq) projecting from the fifty-meters wide front wall. The gate is enclosed by a pointed arch decorated with muqarnas corbels and a plaiting with elegant geometric patterns. The open courtyard (44 x 58 m) was used in the summer, while the covered ones (iwans) on both side were used during the winter. In the middle of the open courtyard stands a square stoned kiosk-mosque (kösk mesçidi), the oldest example in Turkey. The mosque on the second floor sits on a construction of four carved barrel-vaulted arches. The arcades on both sides of the inner courtyard served as stables and has accommodations above.
At the other side of the courtyard is another arched entrance. It is equally decorated with a muqarnas niche, joggled voussoirs and interlocking geometric designs. The central aisle of the covered hall is covered with a barrel vault with transverse ribs. A short tower, capped by a dome, stands over the center of the vault. This dome has an oculus, providing light and air to the hall.
Aksaray is twinned with:
Possible sister cities
Proposed sister cities
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