Turkey

My visit to Turkey was organised by a friend. We were eight people in all.

We flew to Turkey from Mumbai. We arrived in Istanbul and stayed on the European side of the city. We stayed in newer part- I am not sure about the name. Across the Bosphorus lay the Asian side, visible yet belonging to another continent. As a tourist, I found this geographical fact quite remarkable. Few cities in the world can claim to stand on two continents at once. Watching the ferries move constantly between Europe and Asia added a special charm to our stay.

Turkey had fascinated me for many years. Situated between Europe and Asia, it occupies a unique place on the map and in history. When I finally visited, I discovered that Turkey was much more than the stories I had read. It was a land of striking landscapes, ancient civilizations, beautiful coastlines, bustling cities, and warm hospitality. As a tourist, I found myself moving through places where Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman, and modern influences seemed to exist side by side. This journey gave me an opportunity to experience a country that is both familiar and different, traditional and modern at the same time.

The Ottoman refers to the people, rulers, culture, and empire associated with the Ottoman Empire, one of the world's great empires. The empire was founded around 1299 by Osman I, from whom the name "Ottoman" is derived (Osman became "Ottoman" in European languages). Over the centuries, the Ottoman Empire expanded across parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Ancient Turkey → Greeks, Romans, Byzantines

Medieval to modern Turkey (1300–1922) → Ottomans

Modern Turkey (from 1923) → Republic founded by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. In my school days in our book I had read about Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

As a tourist in Turkey, when people speak of "Ottoman," they are usually referring to: Ottoman architecture — grand mosques, palaces, fountains, and bridges. Ottoman culture — traditions, art, calligraphy, music, clothing, and cuisine. Ottoman rulers (Sultans) who governed the empire. Ottoman history, especially from the 14th to the early 20th century.

The Ottoman Empire ruled vast territories for more than six centuries, from the early fourteenth century until 1922. Its legacy can be seen throughout Turkey in magnificent mosques, palaces, bridges, markets, and public buildings. Places such as Topkapı Palace, the Blue Mosque, and the Süleymaniye Mosque are reminders of the wealth, power, and artistic achievements of the Ottoman rulers. Even today, Ottoman influences can be seen in Turkish architecture, cuisine, decorative arts, and cultural traditions.

Our first destination in Turkey was Istanbul. We stayed on the European side of the city, across the Bosphorus from the Asian side. This was my first experience of a city that actually spans two continents. From the beginning, I was fascinated by the idea that a short journey across the water could take one from Europe to Asia. The Bosphorus was not merely a waterway but a living reminder of Istanbul's unique position between two worlds. We did most of our sightseeing in Istanbul on the asian side. 

Although we stayed on the European side of Istanbul, much of our sightseeing was on the Asian side. We enjoyed crossing the Bosphorus and seeing the city from the water. The Asian side felt less crowded with tourists and gave us a glimpse of everyday life in Istanbul. The ferry journeys, with the skyline of mosques and palaces spread across the strait, remain among my strongest memories of the city.

We could look across the Bosphorus and see some of Istanbul's most famous landmarks on the European side:

Topkapı Palace — the residence of the Ottoman sultans for centuries.

Hagia Sophia.

Blue Mosque.

The historic peninsula of old Istanbul spread out along the shore.

Topkapı Palace

Topkapı Palace Inside

Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia Inside

Blue Mosque

Blue Mosque Inside

For our sight seeing we went to most of the places , accept capital city Ankara.

We visited Troy, Trojan Horse, Izmir,Antalya, Ephesus, Cappadokia, and Sufi town - Konya,

Troy

Troy was repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt during its 4000 years of settlement. As a result, nine archaeological layers have been identified at the site, each corresponding to a city built on the ruins of the previous. Archaeologists refer to these layers using Roman numerals, Troy I being the earliest and Troy IX being the latest.

Troy was first settled around 3600 BCE and grew into a small fortified city around 3000 BCE (Troy I). Among the early layers, Troy II is notable for its wealth and imposing architecture. During the Late Bronze Age, Troy was called Wilusa and was a vassal of the Hittite Empire. The final layers (Troy VIII–IX) were Greek and Roman cities which served as tourist attractions and religious centers because of their link to mythic tradition.

The Trojan War was a legendary conflict in Greek mythology that took place around the thirteenth century or early twelfth century BC. The war was waged by the Achaeans (Greeks) against the city of Troy after Paris of Troy took Helen from her husband Menelaus, king of Sparta. The war is one of the most important events in Greek mythology, and it has been narrated through many works of Greek literature, most notably Homer's Iliad. The core of the Iliad (Books II – XXIII) describes a period of four days and two nights in the tenth year of the decade-long siege of Troy.

The ancient Greeks believed that Troy was located near the Dardanelles and that the Trojan War was a historical event of the twelfth or thirteenth century BC. By the mid-nineteenth century AD, both the war and the city were widely seen as non-historical, but in 1868, the German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann met Frank Calvert, who convinced Schliemann that Troy was at what is now Hisarlık in modern-day Turkey. On the basis of excavations conducted by Schliemann and others, this claim is now accepted by most scholars.

Izmir 

Izmir is Turkey's third-largest city and the cultural hub of the Aegean coast. Known in antiquity as Smyrna, it blends a modern metropolitan lifestyle with over 8,500 years of history, world-class archaeological sites, and a relaxed, sunny Mediterranean atmosphere.

Izmir is a city on Turkey’s Aegean coast. Known as Smyrna in antiquity, it was founded by the Greeks, taken over by the Romans and rebuilt by Alexander the Great before becoming part of the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century. Today, its expansive archaeological sites include the Roman Agora of Smyrna, now an open-air museum. The hilltop Kadifekale, or Velvet Castle, built during Alexander’s reign, overlooks the city.

Aegean Coast

Turkey's Aegean coast, located in western Turkey and connected to the Mediterranean Sea, is a world-renowned tourist destination. Here, the waters are crystal clear and azure, the beaches are as fine as powder, the coastline is winding and intricate, and there are numerous volcanic islands, such as Santorini. Its unique geological features, spectacular cliffs, volcanic rocks, and bay scenery create a picturesque landscape. The coast is one of the cradles of ancient Greek civilization, with numerous historical sites such as the ancient city of Ephesus, witnessing the glory of ancient civilization. On the coastal towns and islands, distinctive blue and white buildings are scattered in a charming way, contrasting beautifully with the azure sea and sky, creating a romantic atmosphere.

Visitors can enjoy the sun and sand at excellent seaside resorts, participate in water sports such as surfing and windsurfing, and savor Mediterranean cuisine.

From Alaçatı in Izmir to Bodrum, a drive along the Aegean coast offers views of white walls and blue windows, ancient Greek temples, Roman theaters, and other scenic wonders, making it a visa-free Aegean route.