Ihlara Valley
About Ihlara Valley
This remote valley was once a favorite retreat area for Byzantine monks, where numerous cave-churches dug out from the rock still survive to this day. Most of the interior walls of these cave-churches still display their painted murals. The valley starts off as a wide sholow valley, and narrows into steep gorge at Ihlara village where lusk greenery surrounds valley's main stream (Melendiz Suyu). The contrast bewteen this lush greenery and the dry lifeless sandstone on the canyon is quite stunning.
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Getting there:
This valley is located about 45 kilometers southeast of Aksaray. The best way to get there is by minibus (several depart from Aksaray's old otogar in the center of town until about 4:00 pm).
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First To Review:
Oct 2, 2007
Hiking along this valley and poping in and out of cave churches along the way was a very pleasant way to spend the day. I was with a group, so I couldn't head off in whatever direction I felt like, but I did get to climb up to one of the valley's ridges to appreciate the view.
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