Mevlana Museum – A Must Visit Museum in Konya, Turkey

Mevlana Museum situated in Konya (Pilgrimage destination for Sufis), Turkey was previously a Rose Garden of Seljuks Palace. It is also known by Dervish Lodge. ‘Ala’ al-Din Kayqubad (Seljuq Sultan of Rûm) gifted his rose garden to Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi (13th-century Persian poet) called by both Rumi and Mevlana. Rumi’s father Bahaeddin Veled who died on 12 Jan 1231, was buried in this rose garden. After the death of Mevlana in 1273, he was also buried in this same garden. Mevlana’s Son wants to build a mausoleum over Mevlana’s buried place. The mausoleum called Green mausoleum was constructed by the Badr al-Din Tabrizi (Iranian architect) was finished in 1274. The domed cylindrical drum rests on four pillars. This cone-shaped dome is covered with turquoise faience (fine tin-glazed pottery).

On April 6, 1926, this mausoleum or Dervish lodge is turned into a museum. Mevlana Museum is opened to the public in 1927. The Mevlana Museum Main Gate (Devisan Kapısı) takes you into the courtyard. On the right side of the courtyard, you can see the Dervish kitchen and Hurrem Pasha mausoleum built during the rule of Süleyman the Magnificent  (Sultan of the Ottoman Empire), and on the left side is 17 dervish cells covered with small domes built during Murad III. The Ritual Hall and the nearest small mosque are used to conduct dance, sema, and music programs. In this mosque, you can also find a box that is decorated with a material of pearl that can contain the Holy Beard of Muhammad. Nowadays, this museum contains a display of ancient instruments, Dervish clothes, traditional ornaments, letters, books, Mosque lamps, and four crystals of the Mevlana family and friends.

Today, Mevlana Museum was visited by millions of tourists from all over the world. In the summer season (June to September) whirling dervish performance will be held in the Rose Garden on Thursday Night. Don’t miss watching the sema dance performed by Sufi dervishes.

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Address: Aziziye Mah, Mevlana Cd. No:1, 42030 Karatay/Konya, Turkey

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