Ahlat Seljuk Cemetery – Ahlat, Turkey - Atlas Obscura

AO Edited

Ahlat Seljuk Cemetery

Ahlat, Turkey

Hundreds of medieval Islamic gravestones decorate the mountainous landscape in the largest cemetery in Turkey. 

3
17

Ahlat Selçuklu Mezarlığı is, as the locals will proudly tell you, the largest Islamic cemetery in Turkey and the fourth-largest in the world. Sandwiched between Lake Van to the south, Mount Suphan to the east, and Mount Nemrut towering to the west, the setting is stunning. But the decorated gravestones are the real attraction. Carved from red basalt with the tallest standing around four meters tall, they have a small protrusion at the top unknown in Western gravestones. The rust-colored stone is the perfect material for the carved ornate figurations, homages to the deceased, and verses from the Quran. 

An ancient settlement with roots dating back at least 4,000 years, Ahlat has seen many shifts in power, oscillating between Persian, Roman, Byzantine, Armenian, Arab, and Ottoman rulers. When the Great Seljuk Empire came to power in this region of Anatolia in the 11th century, they put their stamp on local architecture.

There are also two tombs within walking distance and several others in the town of Ahlat, small structures built between the 13th and 16th centuries, each with its own intriguing architecture. Emir Bayındır Tomb, dating from 1481 and visible from the cemetery, is architecturally the most interesting and the symbol of the township.  There are many other Seljuk cemeteries ringing Lake Van, but the one in Ahlat is by far the most picturesque. 

Know Before You Go

Ahlat Selçuklu Mezarlığı is about a 30-minute drive from Tatvan and the nearest airport is in Batman, about a two-and-a-half-hour drive. Access is directly off the main road and entrance is free, with a small kiosk and restrooms at the parking lot.

Community Contributors
Added by

November 7, 2024

Make an Edit Add Photos
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

From Around the Web