Medieval Muslim cemetery of Ahlat

The cemetery contains over 8,200 gravestones made from volcanic tuff stone, covering an area of 210,000 square meters near Lake Van.

The cemetery dates from the 12th to 16th centuries, serving as a burial ground during the reigns of Seljuks, Shah-Armens, Ayyubids, Mongols, and Safavids.

Each gravestone displays intricate geometric patterns, Kufic script inscriptions, and floral designs that demonstrate medieval Turkish-Islamic craftsmanship.

Visitors access the cemetery through the Bitlis-Van road, with the Ahlat Museum and Mount Nemrut crater lake located in close proximity.

The site represents the largest Turkish-Islamic cemetery from medieval times, containing 178 underground burial chambers known as akit.

Location: Ahlat

GPS coordinates: 38.74209,42.45803

Latest update: March 3, 2025 05:33