Nemrut Dağı Milli Parkı

It's a blessing to visit this energetic site. This is an amazing corner of our world. First of all, I deliberately wanted to share photos of the facilities and the walkways up to the top of Mount Nemrut where both the terraces are. Most who are researching how to get there and what to expect may not be getting the latest and greatest information. I was just there on 5/5/2018. The visitor center is located about 7 km below the pinnacle. It is sparkly clean with a gift shop, cafeteria and modern bathroom facilities with all one would expect in a bathroom ( t. paper, soap, paper towels and all) I wanted to share only bc there seems to be a misconception about that. The cafeteria has a spectacular terrace overlooking the "Grand Canyon " of Turkey. It was relatively empty the day we were there because guests were rushing back to their hotels for the "all inclusive" breakfasts. However nothing beats the breakfast on this terrace. They serve fresh Turkish tea, coffee, Turkish coffee and have an assortment of breakfast options. For example for about 2 USD you can enjoy a warm panini made with Kassari cheese and optional tomatoes. Tea and bottled water were both priced at 2tl - less than 50 cents ! Anywhere else in the world you would pay premium for refreshments at a site like this. Not here. So after your hike down, pop into the gift shop, and plan to have breakfast here. If you have a tour guide. Have them call the day before and book a full Turkish breakfast spread- they can do that if you call in advance. So let's get to the real meaning of Nemrut and why you'd want to put this site on your bucket list. 1. Though it's listed as 2180 meters, Google maps showed 1900 m at the terrace. You cannot climb up the Pyramid shaped "tumulus" it's really not that high of a climb. So there really is minimal risk of altitude sickness. I witnessed folks in their 80s reach the top on their own merit. You may bring a walking stick with you for extra support but it's not necessary. 2. The hike is manageable when the weather is cooperative. There are two paths leading up to the summit- one leading to the East (sunrise) terrace and the other to the West( sunset). First of all, there are no scary steep cliffs to the side of the pathway, so there really is no danger of falling off a steep cliff at any point on both trails. whewww! The East trail is a bit longer, but is at less of an incline than the West trail making it a better option to climb up. There are strategically placed benches along the way, so you can take it easy and adjust your breath as you ascend Mount Nemrut. The trail is no longer a dusty rocky oath. They actually built a wide staircase - the material seemed to be a nonslip coral -ish type of stone. It was easy and gradual to get up to the final 709-800 m of the ascend. That part was rocky- however they installed thick wood (formerly used for railroad s) making it easy while stepping up the final steps leading to the terrace. Once you get there it's breathtaking and so worth the pilgrimage to get there.

One of the most mystical places I have ever been to! Words can’t help. Located in one of the highest peaks of the Eastern Taurus Mountains, Mount Nemrut is the Hierothesion built by late Hellenistic King Antiochos I of Commagene as a monument to himself. The view, sunrise and sculptures are amazing. I highly suggest that going there for sunrise -less crowded and more special moment with the place-but make sure you have hoodies or cardigan even if you go in the summer because it’s windy and cold in early morning. Very easy drive from Karadut (last village before np) no need to hire a van or a driver! -rip-off! Drive on your own! At some point you leave your vehicle and continue with shuttle. Stone covered walking path is available but I can’t really say it’s super easy for the ones with walking disability.

The weather is very cold and the way up there is difficult. Quit impossible to breath. Go slowly. Avoid after the sunset, you might miss the natural light to go back down

amazing heritage from the kingdom of commagene 21 centuries ago. better visit the monuments in the late afternoon to really appreciate the stunning view from the top of the mountain. and prepare to climb approximately 600 meters.

Extrodinary place full of history, huge statues and beautiful landscape and views in the sunset

Should be One of your Top places to visit In Turkey... Sunset was wonderful , but take a coat as it gets cold quickly even in mid September when it's 32C in the local town.

Komagene empire, if that's what you want to call it, was a short-lived Greco Persian kingdom nestled between two empires, Roman and Persian, and a few other lesser states like Assyria and Armenia. Hence, they had to be peaceful and not belligerent because they could not afford to be. Now it looks like a barren land, dry and treeless, and probably not very much different back then. Therefore, not a very much developed or prosperous kingdom. The splendor and the flamboyance of the Nemrut statues can then only be attributed to the similar inclinations and characteristics of Antiochus the first much like today's pauper kings and rulers living in flashy tasteless palaces. Must see it. oh...one more thing. Katya and I watched both the sunset and the sunrise and traveled on both sides of the tumulus and they were equally awfully ashamedly littered with plastic bottles and other unmentionable garbage. the bins were full and overflowing, the litter rolling down the hillside. The attendant said he worked for the forestry service and the site actually belonged to the culture ministry and their responsibility. Passing the buck to the next person and the lack of coordination between the ministries is the root cause of how we screw up this unique experience at an Unesco heritage site.

No photos can do justice to the haunting reality of this bare, windy, isolated mountaintop with its strange, gravel-covered, 50m-high burial cone and the presence of those pitilessly staring statues with their partly mutilated, partly weathered features. The spellbinding peak of Nemrut Dağı rises to a height of 2106m in the Anti-Taurus Range between Malatya to the north and Kahta to the south. It's set within the 138-sq-km Nemrut Dağı Milli Parkı, which also encompasses other monuments from the ancient Commagene kingdom. Antiochus who ruled from about 70 to 38 BC ordered the building of Nemrut's fabulous temples and funerary mound. This megalomaniacal monarch had two platforms cut in the mountaintop, filled them with colossal statues of himself and the gods (his relatives – or so he thought), and ordered an artificial mountain peak of crushed rock 50m high to be piled between them. Antiochus' own tomb and those of three female relatives are reputed to lie beneath those tonnes of rock.