Actress Heena Khan is currently on holiday in Turkey. Hina’s social media is filled with pictures and videos of beautiful places in Turkey. From Cappadocia to Istanbul, Heena’s Instagram page features everything from amazing architectural buildings to hot air balloon skies.
Heena has shared many pictures from in front of the famous Hagia Sophia since ancient times. Along with the shared picture, Heena has written what a magical experience this journey is.
Hagia Sophia is an ancient shrine located in Istanbul, Turkey. Between AD 532 and 537, Justinian, the ruler of the Byzantine Empire, built a Christian church here. After Ottoman rule in 1453, it was converted into a mosque and then a museum in 1935. This building was also included in the list of wonders of the world released in 1931. On July 11, 2020, the Erdogan-led government declared it a mosque again and opened it for worship.
There are also pictures from Arnavutko, a village close to Istanbul. It is famous for its wooden Ottoman mansions, houses decorated in Art Nouveau style and seafood restaurants. It is located between Ortakı and Bebek on the European coast of the Bosphorus Strait.
Heena also posted a beautiful picture from the front of Dolmabahce Palace, also known as Dolmabahe Sarai. Hailed as the most expensive mansion in the world, this palace is a symbol of the majesty of Ottoman architecture. Located on the European shore of the Bosphorus, Dolmabahi Palace has 285 cabins, 44 galleries, 68 toilets, 6 Turkish baths, and a vast garden with sculptures, fountains, ponds, and a botanical nursery.
Hina posted scenes from the ancient city of Cappadocia, which is located 300 km away from Istanbul. Cappadocia is one of the most famous places in Turkey.
The main attraction here are the mountains where the lava from the volcanoes erupted centuries ago has solidified. Hotel rooms, restaurants and shopping malls have been built to accommodate tourists by excavating these mountains. Historians have found evidence of the existence of various cultures here in ancient times. Cappadocia is a major tourist destination in Turkey.
Hot air ballooning is a major adventure activity in Cappadocia. In Cappadocia, where the sun rises as early as 4:30 in the morning, the sight of hundreds of hot air balloons soaring into the saffron sky is breathtaking. Gereem is the most famous for this. There are also trekking facilities in Ihlara Valley, Monastery Valley (Guseliurt), Argup and Gerim.
Argup, Gerim, Guseliurt and Uchisar are home to historic mansions and cave houses that provide accommodation for tourists. The rocks near Gerim have been eroded over the years into formations like minarets and pillars which is a fascinating sight. These rocks which look like chimneys at first glance are called ‘Fairy Chimneys’.
Apart from these, Uchisar Fort, Three Sisters Rock Panorama Point, Red Valley, Rose Valley, Ihlara Valley, Pigeon Valley etc. are popular tourist destinations in Cappadocia. There are countless activities like hiking, mountain biking, horse riding, historical tours and cultural tours.
English Summary: Istanbul to Cappadocia: Hina Khan’s vacation diaries in Turkey