Turkey

COUNTRY  PROFILE

Turkey is the country that occupies a unique geographic position in the global map. It lies partly in Asia and partly in Europe.
The capital is Ankara, and its largest city and seaport is Istanbul which is also an important gateway to interconnect Asia and Europe.

The land area and the population of Turkey is greater than that of any individual European country. This country has nearly all its territory in Asia, except a major parts of its intercontinental city –“Istanbul”. 

This country now & then always acted as both a bridge and a barrier between the two continents of Asia and Europe. Turkey is surrounded by its neighbors such as the Black Sea, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Iraq, Syria, the Mediterranean Sea, the Aegean Sea, Greece and Bulgaria.

Turkey is a richly historical land with some of the best cuisine you will ever taste, scenery from beaches to mountains and the
great city of Istanbul. Also, in the past, it was the stopover along the great trail of the historical “Silk Road”.

This beautiful country has more than its fair share of world-famous ruins and monuments. Its diverse landscapes, provide a lyrical setting for its many great ruins of the touristic attractions. Turkey’s landscape will leave a lasting impression to its visitors, such as the superb vistas of the vertiginous Mediterranean coastline in Asian Anatolia (Antalya), the majestic vistas from the “Lake Egirdir” in Egirdir town, the Wavy Valleys and Fairy Chimney Rock formations in Cappadocia region, the Alpine pastures in the region of Kaçkar Mountains and the 18 km long golden beaches of “Patara”, and the Peninsulas on the Southwest coast, they all offer the most rewarding memorable moments to all travelers in Turkey. 

QUICK  FACTS ON  TURKEY   :-

CAPITAL                            :: Ankara
NUMBER OF STATES       :: 14
LARGEST CITY                 :: Istanbul
NATIONAL LANGUAGE   :: Turkish
RELIGION                          :: Islam
AREA                                 :: 783,356 km2 (302,455 sq mi)
POPULATION                    :: 82,003,882 ( 2018 )
CURRENCY                       :: Turkish lira

MAJOR  CITIES

[1]  ANKARA
Ankara, is the cosmopolitan capital of Turkey and this sits in the country’s central Anatolia region. The population of Ankara is around 4.5 million. This is the administrative center of Turkey and a huge university town. As the national capital, Ankara is home to a large population of foreign diplomats and embassy staff, so
here the city offers goods and services that might be more difficult to find in other Turkish cities. 

It is the place where a new era for the Turkish people started. It is a symbol for independence, development and Western values. Overlooking the city is Anit-kabir, the enormous hilltop mausoleum of Kemal Atatürk who was the first president of modern Turkey. 

Turkey’s economic success is reflected in Ankara, with a booming restaurant scene around Kavaklıdere and the ripped-jean politik of Kızılay’s sidewalk cafes, frequented by hip students, old-timers and businessmen alike. And while the vibrant street life is enough of a reason to visit, Ankara also boasts two extraordinary monuments central to the Turkish story – the beautifully conceived “Museum of Anatolian Civilizations” and the “Anıt-Kabir”, a colossal tribute to Kemal Atatürk, modern Turkey’s founder- who declared Ankara the capital in 1923.

[2]  ISTANBUL
Istanbul is Turkey’s most populous city as well as the cultural and financial hub of the country. The old walled city of Istanbul stands on a triangular peninsula between Europe and Asia by bridging Asia and Europe both physically and culturally. This city located on both sides of the Bosphorus, the narrow strait between the Black Sea and the Marmara Sea, sometimes acted as a bridge and sometimes as a barrier- for more than 2,500 years from now.

Istanbul’s population is estimated to be around 19 million people, making it also one of the largest cities in Europe and the world. This magical meeting place of East and West has more top-drawer attractions than it has minarets. Istanbul city’s cuisine is as diverse as its heritage, and delicious to boot. Locals take their eating and drinking seriously – the restaurants here are the best in the country.

[3] CAPPADOCIA
The ancient region of Cappadocia is located in central Anatolia between the cities of Nevsehir, Nigde and Kayseri. Colloquial Cappadocia is also known as “Khepatukha” – meaning ” the Country of the People of the Chief God Hepat “. This is a geological oddity of honeycombed hills and towering boulders of otherworldly beauty. The Cappadocian Region with its Valley, Canyon, Hills and Unusual Rock formation created as a result of the eroding rains and winds of thousands of years of the level, lava-covered plain located between the volcanic mountains “Erciyes”, “Melendiz” and “Hasan” as well as its troglodyte dwellings carved out of the rock and cities dug out into underground, presents an otherworldly appearance.

People have long utilized the region’s soft stone, seeking shelter underground and leaving the countryside scattered with fascinating cavern architecture, while simply bedding down in one of Cappadocia’s cave hotels is an experience in 21st-century cave living. 

The other most popular touristic cities  in Turkey are [4] Pamukkale , [5] Kusadasi , [6] Canakkale & [7] Konya etc.

Turkey is a year-round destination. The best time to visit Turkey depends on the places you wish to visit and the activities you want to indulge in. The below category of the seasons will give you an idea for travelling in Turkey as per your desire.

HIGH SEASON ::  [ Spring : March, April, May, till early-June & Autumn : mid-September through October]

Spring is prime because the weather is moderate throughout the country, the days are long, the sun is warm & with pleasant temperature and the skies are almost clear with picturesque surroundings. The weather is pleasantly warm and therefore is the ideal time to enjoy the spring festivals, hang out with the locals, learn to cook traditional food and have a better understanding of their culture. This is the ideal times to visit Istanbul and the inland regions in Turkey. The vibrant atmosphere and friendly people would unquestionably overwhelm your senses. 
Autumn is the second best with mostly mild weather, but the days are shorter than the nights. Both Spring & Autumn are the high season for Istanbul and Cappadocia. But, It’s the off-season for Aegean and Mediterranean beach resorts.

SHOULDER  SEASON ::  ( Mid-June, July, August, till mid-September)

For some travelers, the best time to visit Turkey is in Summer starting from mid-June when you can enjoy a beach vacation with smaller tourist crowds. Summer in Turkey is usually rainless and cool inland in the evenings. July and August might be too hot and too crowded. Seaside resorts are crowded and prices are at their peak, but the cities are less so – Istanbul is a bargain, with smaller crowds and shorter lines for admission to sights.
Summer is typically hot and dry with temperatures being particularly high making it great for island hoppers and beach lovers. Cappadocia is cheaper and more comfortable as well. Also, this time usually is about Ramadan celebrations, so you can learn more about Muslim traditions.

LOW SEASON  ( Winter : November through March )

Winter months are very harsh in Turkey and hence only draw people who can brave the chilly weather. November through March remains cold with – No heat, fewer tourists, lesser crowds means you have a better chance of sightseeing, drinking lots of pomegranate juice and unwinding in the Hamam (a Turkish bath). The south coast is, however, warmer and is comparatively peaceful than the summer months.
The winter days are chilly and rainy (sometimes), with occasional cold but sunny days, everywhere except the southeast, which remains temperate, but lower prices and fewer tourists are compensations. This season is also good for watching whirling
dervishes at the Mevlana Festival and attending the camel wrestling events with famous camel sausages on sale.