CANAKKALE
Welcome back friends to this new blog. How has the journey through Turkey so far? Enjoyable? Let me know in the comments. Now let's move further on in the country. If you are a geek, the next couple of blogs are for you. Especially, if you are a history fanatic, these blogs could interest you. Far from all the beautiful hot air balloon rides and pigeon homes and rock formations, we now move to the northwestern part of Turkey, to another port city called Canakkale (pronounced as sha-na-kale).
As I mentioned in my previous blog, Turkey is the gateway to Europe from Asia. A part of Turkey is in Europe. There are six ways one can pass to Europe from Asia via land. Three are in Istanbul across the Bosphorus strait (2 bridges and a railway line). The other three are in the Canakkale region across the Dardenelles strait. One of them is a bridge across the Sea of Marmara and two are via ferries. The ferries also operate at two points - one a Gelibolu and other at Eceabat.
(Map showing Canakkale and Dardanelles strait)
(Eceabat port)
(Ferry from Eceabat to Canakkale)
(Ferry carrying trucks)
(Ferry at Gelibolu)
(Bridge across Dardanelles strait)
(The beautiful sea of Marmara)
Gallipoli
Before I move to Canakkale city, I want to take you to another place enroute - Gallipoli. This is a small peninsula in Turkey with historical significance. This region was a battlefield during the first World War. The European powers mainly the British, French and Russia saw that the Dardanelles strait was weakly protected and hence sought to attack from this end to weaken the Ottoman empire. However, the due presence of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, who was the commander of the army here, made sure that the European powers could not get beyond this point. It was an astounding victory for the Turkish army. This battle further laid the foundation for an independent country called the Republic of Turkey in 1923, when Ataturk became the founder and president of modern Turkey thus ending the Ottoman rule.
This region is now a burial site for all the soldiers who participated in the war. There is a separate burial site for ANZAC - Australia and New Zealand army corporation. These were soldiers from Australia and New Zealand who fought for the British against the Ottoman army. It is said that there were so many soldiers who actually did not know who they were fighting for and why. It is is also believed that although the two armies were in war, there was always mutual help between the two sides. In this burial site, there is burial ground of three Indian soldiers too who were part of the war.
(ANZAC commemorative site)
(Indians burial site)
A letter was written by Ataturk to ANZAC soldiers who fought during the war. The words are heart-warming. I would like to add that letter here:
"THOSE HEROES THAT SHED THEIR BLOOD
AND LOST THEIR LIVES...
YOU ARE NOW LYING IN THE SOIL OF A FRIENDLY COUNTRY
THEREFORE REST IN PEACE
THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE JOHNNIES
AND THE MEHMETS TO US WHERE THEY LIE SIDE BY SIDES
HERE IN THIS COUNTRY OF OURS...
YOU, THE MOTHERS
WHO SENT THEIR SONS FROM FAR AWAY COUNTRIES
WIPE AWAY YOUR TEARS,
YOUR SONS ARE NOW LYING IN OUR BOSOM
AND ARE IN PEACE.
AFTER HAVING LOST THEIR LIVES ON THIS LAND
THEY HAVE BECOME OUR BONS AS WELL"
ATATÜRK, 1934
(A letter from Ataturk to ANZAC soldiers)
(Mesmerizing views along the route)
There is also another site to commemorate Ottoman soldiers too. A few minutes away from the ANZAC site, is this site where many Ottoman soldiers are laid down. There is not one, but multiple such sites can be seen along the way. Also, along the way, one can see the trenches used by both armies to traverse and hide when under attack.
(Burial ground for Ottoman soldiers)
(View from top - Dardanelles strait can be seen in the far back drop)
(Statue of Ataturk)
(Trenches used by soldiers)
Canakkale
Canakkale is a port city on the north-western side of Turkey. Formerly known as Dardanelia, the city is one of the major places for Gallipoli and Troy visits. The pottery here is very popular.
(The city of Canakkale)
(Sunset across the strait)
(Sunrise)
Troy
The major tourist attraction in Canakkale is the ancient city of Troy. There are three ancient cities in Turkey and Troy is one of them. The city dates back 3500 BCE. The city of Troy is not just at one level, but rather there are 9 levels. In the sense, each level is a city in itself and is built on top of the previous one. One can see numbers in Roman numerals, which suggests which city it is. The most well-developed city is the second city. The place became popular after Brad Pitt's movie with the same name Troy. The city is known for the Trojan war between Trojans and the Greeks. In honor of that movie, a replica of the Trojan horse is placed at the entrance of this ancient city. Troy was also the first place to host a beauty pageant contest. The surrounding mountain range - Mount Ida, was the place where the beauty contest was first held.
(Pots used in Troy)
(Ancient city of Troy)
(Cisterns and heater places)
(A palace wall)
(Amphitheatre)
(A second city palace wall)
(Layers marked with different cities)
(Cemetries)
(Mount Ida at the backdrop)
(Trojan horse)
Canakkale is around 300km from Istanbul. Many buses ply here and one can catch a ferry at Eceabat to reach Canakkale. There is also a small airport where flights from Istanbul and Ankara can be availed. Since, this is a major urban center, there is no dearth for accommodation options. A lot of hotels are available here. As I said, if you are a fan of history, Canakkale is a place I would recommend. Let me know what you think of this place in the comments. See you soon in the next blog.
If you haven't read my previous blogs, here are the link for you:
