AHLAT
The ruins of Ahlat, 44 km north of Tatvan on the western shore of Lake Van, once an important city of Turkish art and culture, are scattered today among more recent constructions. In the 12th century this city was the capital of the Turkish state that ruled the Van Basin. Several mausoleums, notably the Ulu Kümbet, the Bayindir Kümbet, the Hasan Pasa Kümbet and the Cifte Kümbets offer a comprehensive overview of Seljuk funerary architecture and decoration. In the Seljuk cemetry are beautifully inscribed monumental tombstones from the 12th century. The Turkish Art Museum houses a collection of ceramics, ancient coins and jewellery. Modem Ahlat provides lake side tourist accommodations beach facilities and restaurants.
As you drive around the lake you come to Adilcevaz, where the Ulu Mosque, built of the region's dark volcanic stone, stands on the lake shore. Ten kilometers west of Adilcevaz is Kef Castle, and the nearby Urartian temple of Haldi dates from the 9th century B.C. Artifacts from this site can been seen in the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara. The Adilcevaz High School garden displays some of the column bases.
Van,
the ancient Urartian capital of Tuspa, tempts visitors 
to
its location on the eastern shore of the lake. This remote but important
city is set in a verdant oasis at the foot of a rocky peak. An imposing
9th century B.C. citadel overlooks the new and the old parts of town. Steps
carved in the rock lead to the Urartian fortress; halfway up, inscriptions
in cuneiform pay homage to Xerxes. Within the fortress are several Urartian
royal rock tombs. In the old city, the Ulu Mosque, Hüsrev Pasa Mosque,
Kaya qelebi Mosque and the Ikiz Kümbets reflect Seljuk and Ottoman
architectural styles. Van's interesting Archaeological Museum is in the
new city, inland from the uninhabited old district. Still very much part
of a traditional lifestyle, the women of Van produce beautiful kilims woven
in blue, red and white patterns. The exotic Van cat, a protected animal,
has thick white fur and one blue and one green eye. At Van iskelesi (Van
Harbor), friendly tea gardens and restaurants invite you for a break. Edremit,
a holiday resort centers 14 km to the southwest, has good beaches, swimming
and camping. In the same direction is Gevas, where you can visit a Seljuk
cemetery with many decorated headstones. and the lovely Halime Hatun Mausoleum.
Lake
Van, the largest lake in Turkey and at an altitude of 1,720 meters, is
ringed by 
beautiful
mountains: Mount Süphan (4,058 meters) on the northwest side and the
ihtiyar Sahap Mountains to the south. You can circle the lake, visiting
several ancient Urartian sites as well as others that represent the legacy
of the various peoples who have inhabited the area. Some of the islands
in Lake Van have monasteries and churches built on them; no doubt the remote
location offered seclusion to the resident religious communities. 41km
southwest of Van, Akdamar Island (a half-hour sail from shore) is the most
important of these. On the island stands the 10th century Church of the
Holy Cross, now a museum, whose stone outer walls are richly carved with
Old Testament scenes and figures. After sightseeing, swimmers and picnickers
can enjoy themselves around the island's almond groves. If you have time,
visit Garpanak Island to enjoy its landscape and to wander around the 12th
century church, which has now been converted into a museum.
Cavustepe,
35km from Van on the Hakkari road, is an important Urartian citadel. Excavated
in 1970, 
today
you can see temples, a palace, a sacrificial altar and inscriptions. On
the pastoral, winding road to Hakkari, the Zernek Dam Lake offers itself
as a resting spot on the way to Hosap, 60km from Van, where a 17th century
fairytale castle rises above a small hill. Although the inside is badly
damaged, the exterior walls, crenellations and turrets are well-preserved.
Among the interesting geographical features around Lake Van, the Muradiye
Waterfalls, 88 km north of Van, with a peaceful tea garden and restaurants,
and Gahnispi-Beyaz Cesme Falls, 60km south of Van, are worth visiting.
The road to remote Hakkari, 203 km southeast of Van, takes you through
Cilo-Sat Mountains and the Zap Valley. A medieval fortress some of Turkey's
most magnificent scenery dominates the city, which is at an altitude of
1,700 meters.
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