Uzbek Dervish Lodge, Religious lodge and cemetery in Üsküdar, Turkey.
The Uzbek Dervish Lodge is a complex of interconnected buildings in Üsküdar designed according to Ottoman principles, combining spaces for worship and burial. Courtyards, prayer rooms, and tombs form an integrated setting where spiritual life and remembrance of the dead coexist.
The lodge was founded in the 1750s as a shelter for Central Asians making pilgrimage to Mecca. After renovation in 1844, it took on its present structure.
The lodge still functions as a center for Nakşibendi practices, where followers gather throughout the year for prayers and spiritual meetings. You can sense the living connection between the building and the people who use it.
The site sits on a hillside in the Sultantepe neighborhood and can be reached by local transport from central Istanbul. Plan your visit during designated hours, as access may be restricted at other times.
During the Turkish War of Independence, the lodge served as a hidden passage point where weapons and volunteers moved from Istanbul toward Anatolia. Few visitors realize this secret role in the country's modern history.
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