Sirnak City Guide
The city of Şırnak, in the Southeastern Anatolia Region of Turkey, is located on the border with Syria and Iraq. While the area of Şırnak goes back a long way historically, the history of the city center -on the other hand- which was built on the slopes of the Namaz Mountain is relatively more recent. When Şırnak became a province in 1990, this center also became more prominent. The name of the city, which is famous for the prophet Noah and the flood, is said to have derived from “the City of Noah” in relation to the legend as well.
Tourist Attractions
According to the Islamic faith, the grave of the prophet Noah is believed to be located in Cizre; with the fact that Şırnak was called “Şehri Nuh (the City of Noah)” at one time and the fact that the ramparts of Cizre are shaped like a ship shown as proof of that. In the basement of Nuh Peygamber (Prophet Noah) Mosque, there is a five meter long sarcophagus that is said to belong to Prophet Noah. At the altar of the prayer site, which one comes up against after going down to the basement through narrow stairs, there is a motif in red and blue that was engraved on white stone.
According to the narrative; Noah, who was born 1742 years after the death of Adam, lived for approximately 950 years. He was 50 when he became a prophet and 500 when he built an ark as commanded by God when he could not get his people to listen to him. He got on board the ark with his wife and three sons by the names of Shem, Japheth, and Ham; his three daughters-in-law and a pair of every animal. An incessant rain that lasted forty days and forty nights flooded the Earth. The Earth was underwater for a total of 150 days. When the waters withdrew, Noah's Ark took ground on Mount Cudi.
Mount Cudi is located 18 kilometers southeast of Şırnak. It is impossible to go up Mount Judi, which is a significant place for both domestic and international tourism, with a vehicle. It is possible to go up on foot from a few locations. The most convenient route is the one that starts from the Griçolya site of the village of Kösreli (Hesana) in Silopi. The climb takes about 45 minutes. The 500 square meter plain below the summit is called Sefine (Ship) and is believed to be where Noah's Ark is located.
This spot is covered by a stone wall of one or two meters. In various sources, it is stated that this place is a place of worship that was built by the order of Noah and then after the expansion of Christianity, a church by the name of Deyrüc Cudi was built here.
Moving westward from Sefine, two cisterns made of stone and natural wells are seen. In the place called Çılmire, southeast of Sefine; various reliefs, stone sculptures, and an inscription that belongs to the Assyrian king Sennacherib (Sanherib) can be seen. The large cave located in close proximity to the summit also attracts the attention of travelers -domestic and international alike-with various animal reliefs.
Şırnak In One Day
You can tour the city center in the afternoon and go a little bit outside of the city in the early hours of the day. Mount Cudi ancient city and caves; Nuh Peygamber (Prophet Noah) Mosque and the Ulu Mosque in Cizre are among places worth seeing. Events you should not miss if you happen to come to Şırnak at the right time are the Nowruz Festival which takes place on March 21st, Culture-Spring Festival which takes place in the beginning of June, Lamb Shearing Festival which takes place in July in the district of Beytüşşebap, and Our İdil Festival in the first week of October.
City Tours and Transportation
You can tour the central regions in Şırnak by walking or renting a car. Additionally, it is possible to travel between districts and villages using minibuses and buses.
Nearby Locatıons
Silopi Nuh Nebi (Prophet Noah) Mosque and Madrasah is approximately 2 km away from the district center. It can be seen in the village of Birlik. The structure, which is located in the cemetery area that is southwest of the village, lies on an east-west direction. The mosque and madrasah are located south and north, respectively, of the courtyard in the middle.
Finik Fortress and Ruins in the village of Damlarca in the district of Güçlükonak can be visited. The fortress is located 12 km from the Cizre-Şırnak junction, north of the Tigris River and on the upper side of the highway. The rampart ruins in the outer fortress lie on a north-south direction. This region, Finik, is situated at a spot that overlooks the Tigris River and Valley. On both hillsides, there are various ruins and caves.
Another monument you should see is the Faki Tayran Mosque. The mosque, which is also located within the borders of the village of Damlarca in the district of Güçlükonak, is known as Faki Teyran Madrasah among locals as well.
Culture & Entertainment
Cizre Fortress can be seen in the city center on the banks of the Tigris River. The fortress is made up of two fortifications; the inner and the outer. The fortress, the construction process of which can be traced from the Roman and Byzantine periods, took its present form during the rule of the Seljuks and the Beys of Cizre.
In the district center of Cizre, another structure you can see is the Cizre Ulu Mosque (Grand Mosque of Cizre) in the Dağkapı Neighborhood. In the 8 tablets that are located in the mosque, the year of construction of which is not known for certain, it is stated that the mosque was built during the times of the Atabegs of Mosul (1155-1160 Gregorian Calendar) and was repaired in the years of 1203 and 1284. Cizre Ulu Mosque, which is still open for worship, is one of the most authentic structures of the region.
The Red Madrasah, in the Dağkapı Neighborhood, is another monument you can visit. This madrasah, designed in a proper rectangle shape, was built over the remains of the ramparts to the west. In the middle of the southern facade of the madrasah, there is the pentagonal tomb of Sheikh Ahmed El-Cezeri.
Abdaliye Madrasah and Mem-u Zin Tomb can be visited in the cemetery located in the Dağkapı Neighborhood, south of Cizre. The madrasah was built by Amir Seyfettin Bohti in year A.D. 1437. The Tomb of Mem-u Zin, the entrance of which is through the courtyard, was built for the characters of a love story. Within the graves in the tomb lie the lovers Mem (Memo) and Zin (Zinet) and Bekir (Beko) who wanted to break them up.
You can visit the museum that was opened in the name of İsmail Ebul-iz El Cezeri, an inventor from Cizre. El Cezeri, who is said to be the first scientist to have worked in cybernetics and robotics, is also known for his book where he illustrated and wrote about the machines he made. Findings from the area are also displayed in this museum that was opened in the name of the 12th century inventor.
Parks, Games, Events, and Natural Areas
Almost all of the city of Şırnak is made up of tall masses of the Southeastern Taurus Mountains. However, the most significant ridge of the area is Mount Cudi. Among other important mountains are Küpeli Mountain, Kelmehmet Mountain, Gabar Mountain, Namaz Mountain, and Altın (Gold) Mountains. Another determinant of the geography is the Tigris Basin. First and foremost the Tigris River, and Kısılsu, Habur, and Hezil Streams are the important rivers.
The Tigris Basin, which falls within the city borders in the locality of Koçtepe, comes together with the Khabur Basin and heads towards Syrian lands. In this geography with fertile lands on all sides; valleys that sometimes deepen also widen and become even. Kızılsu Valley starts from the southern slopes of Yassı Mountain. The valley then crosses the Kasrik Mountain Pass in the south and afterwards unites with the Tigris Valley.
You can see the wild nuts called bıttım that grow on the hillsides of the city; and oleanders and olives in places where the Mediterranean climate dominates and also on the riverbanks. The mountainous areas that fall within the forest belt form a suitable area for wild animals. Foxes, rabbits, sandpipers, partridges, ducks, geese, cranes, and quails can be counted among wild animals that are seen most often.
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