Batman is a natural wonder with its rich historical texture, established in the basin of Batman Stream with fertile plains in this Mesopotamian land where the Tigris meanders flow in the Southeast Anatolian Region.
Its history dates back to the Neolithic age, BC. It was known by the names Batman, Subaru, Elekhan, Elah, Iluh, located in the region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, which is now called Mesopotamia, in 3000 BC. Batman, which was under the rule of Urartu, Scythian, Med, Persian, Roman and Byzantine and whose name is also mentioned in the writings of Herodotus, entered the Umayyad, Abbasid, Seljuk and Ottoman rule with the Islamic army dominating the region.
Places to visit
Batman is a city where you can't get enough of the valleys formed by the Tigris over thousands of years. So much so that Hasankeyf Ruins is an enormous landform created by nature and human being hand in hand. It is not known exactly when Hasankeyf, which was the scientific and cultural center of the region with its madrasahs, observatory, hospital and other educational institutions on the banks of the Tigris, was founded, but the geopolitical structure of the city shows that it was a very old settlement. Hasankeyf, which is 35 kilometers away from the city center, was declared a fully protected area in 1981 and was taken under protection. There are remarkable historical houses and mosques in the district, which is divided into two by the Tigris, where young children guide the tourists. Every time you close your eyes, you go back thousands of years, and you think that a city can only fit so well in its geography.
Hasankeyf Castle, also called Hisno Koyfa and built by the Byzantines in 363 as the center of the Syriac diocese, is considered the strongest castle built by the Byzantines in the east because it is very sheltered and difficult to capture. This stairway with 200 steps of the castle, which has two secret ways down to the Tigris to carry water, is still intact and worth seeing.
Hasankeyf Yol Pass Han in the Ancient City of Hasankeyf is a natural cave made of monolithic stone with a capacity of approximately 1000 people. There is a cellar to store water in the cave under Hasankeyf Castle and a secret way to go up to the castle. The air flow in the dim and exotic space has made the cave, which is cool in summer and warm in winter, suitable for the use of countless people of all religions, languages and races throughout history. This cave and this geography, which has always been the scene of intense human traffic throughout history, is an indicator of how history and culture merge with nature.
It is estimated that there are around 4000 Hasankeyf Caves, which have been used as a shelter and settlement since the date when humanity adapted to settled life. The most important feature of these caves is that they have many water systems inspired by the laws of physics. Hasankeyf should be visited even just to see these caves, which have been the center of many civilizations.
In addition to its natural beauties and rich culture, Batman is also a cultural heritage with its structures reflecting its deep-rooted history.
The Ayrancı Village of the Beşiri District is referred to as the Turabidin Region, which is considered sacred by the Syriac Christians. Mor Kiryakus Monastery is the most important of the nearly 80 churches and monasteries in this region. It was understood that the monastery, which has a superior artistic value, was a complex consisting of a place of worship, madrasah and hermitage. The monastery, which is a unique architectural example with its mysterious Turabidin region, must be seen. The Mor Aho Monastery, which is estimated to have been built during the early Syriac period, is located 2 kilometers north of the Üç Yol village of Hasankeyf. There are agricultural lands around the monastery, which was built on a plain overlooking the Tigris, and a garden full of fruit trees, which the locals call Attafiye Gardens.
The Malabadi Bridge, on the Batman Stream on the border of Diyarbakır, is a magnificent Artuqid work with its very elegant and harmonious geometry. It has the widest arch of stone arch bridges in the world. It is among the most important historical structures of Batman, where shelters for caravans and passengers were built on both sides of the bridge. The Memikan Bridge, which is thought to have been built after the Muslims dominated the region in the 6th century, is located at a strategic point that connects the silk road across the impassable Garzan Stream. From the first age to the first half of the middle ages, the bridge on a very strategic road that provided access to Northern Mesopotamia via Hasankeyf is a good option for a trip to Batman. The Ten Arched State Railways Bridge, built in 1944, is considered an architectural marvel of its time. The bridge over Batman Stream, which is 7 kilometers from the city center, has ten arches and makes it possible for trains to pass over it.
Hızır Bey Mosque, located in Kozluk district, was built by Hızır Bey in 1512. İbrahim Bey Mosque, also located in Kozluk, is an important building decorated with minaret, geometric motifs and inscription belts, which was repaired by İbrahim Bey of the Garzan tribe in 1705. The Great Mosque, built in the early 14th century, is located on the north bank of the Tigris River.
The group of structures located on the hill to the north of the city is worth seeing with its 15th century wood carvings and fine workmanship.
Zeynel Bey Cupola, built during the Akkoyunlu Principality, is the first example of the mausoleum tradition in Anatolia. So much so that this cylindrical structure, which is the only example of its kind, is also important with its tile decoration inscriptions and inscription.
Kandil Castle, which is a 4th century Byzantine structure 6 kilometers north of Kozluk, Rabat Castle, which was built in the same century and 18 kilometers from Kozluk, Bozikan Castle, which is one of the 4th century structures that belongs to the Byzantine period and provides control of the silk road, 416 Kozluk (Hezo) Castle, Pertükan and Beksi Castles, which was the religious center of the Persians in Turkey but controlled all transportation as a medieval silk road base in time, are also important castles you can see in Batman.
What to eat?
When it comes to Batman cuisine, you have to stop there, aside from the fact that there are many alternatives especially for meat lovers, the flavors are also incredible.
Rich meat dishes, pastries, soups unique to the region, tandoori bread called mohair kçıl and cooked in ovens made of mud and stone bread Hevran can't get enough of the taste of Hevran. Stuffed stuffed meatballs with fresh and dried sumac, stuffed bumbar and intestines, Şam pastries and the very common raw meatballs, as well as tandoori bread cooked in tandoori made of local mud, curtain rice, lentils and highland soups are among the main dishes of Batman cuisine.
How to go?
Located at the intersection of roads coming from the east, west and north, Batman has a regular transportation system with air, land and railways. It is possible to reach Hasankeyf, which is 35 kilometers from the city center, by vehicles from the bus station.
1543 Km from Istanbul
1106 Km from Ankara
1518 Km from Izmir
Getting to Batman by train is also very easy. Haydarpaşa-Kurtalan railway line passes through the city center of Batman.
Turkish Airlines scheduled flights make direct flights to Ankara and Istanbul from Batman airport every day, and connecting flights to other cities.
