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Old Civilizations’ Traces In Meram
Q- In recent period, faith tourism is raising. Konya is
also one of the crucial centers. What kind of change
is experienced in the number of tourists who come to
Meram with faith aim?
A- As I mentioned before our Meram district has
a quite rich texture in the aspect of faith tourism.
Kilistra which was mentioned in Bible is in our
district. Also St. Paulus mentioned in Bible known
he stopped by here during his travels. The region
was opened to settlement in Hellenistic and Roma
era. The first Christians tried to protect by carving
volcanic rocks in order to protect from pagan
pressures. Of course, the historical texture of Me-
ram is not limited with this. In Meram, it is possible
to come across traces of Hittites, Phrygians and
Lydian which were the antique civilizations ruled in
Konya. Many works left from the Seljuk and Kara-
manoğulları period shed light to our future. Existing
important visiting places belonging to Mawlavi
culture in our district causes being offered of Hz.
Mawlana’s full of affection and tolerance mes-
sage, his universal message which invites human
beings to oneness pot accompanying the lights to
hearts. Across the world a single tomb which was
built for a cooker in our district. The tomb of Ateş-
baz-ı Veli who is known and honored by serving
to the three generations beginning from Sultan’ül
Ulema Bahaeddin Veled, the father of Hz. Mawla-
na, Hz. Mawlana and Sultan Veled is in the border
of our district. Tavus Ana known as “Tavus Baba”
has also been in Meram as the important visi-
ting place. I highlighted by saying this if you pay
attention the tomb of Tavus Ana is the primarily
place which is visited by everybody who come to
Meram either from home or abroad.