It is the only metropolis in the world which is situated on two continents.** Also known by the names of ‘Vasileousa Polis’ (Queen of Cities), ‘The City on Seven Hills’, ‘The New Rome’, Byzantium and Constantinopole among other exotic and obscure names, Istanbul, with its history dating back to 3000 BC, stands on the Bosphorus Strait, resplendent in its glorious past and dazzling present.
My wife had an opportunity to visit Istanbul recently on a business trip (to be honest, upon returning I half expected her to bequeath her job and start a ‘kela-silk’ business like Gurubhai…!) Anyway, extravagant dreams are hardly ever realised, and I was left with the splendid photographs of her trip and a subdued desire to co-head a ‘Shakti-Mills’ like grand project….sigh!
Well, from the accounts of wifey, I did get the unfailing impression that Istanbul is a tourists’ delight. A convergence of multiculturalism, this city impresses with its sublime architectural grandeur with the monuments still resonating with the rich heritage from the Byzantium era and the Ottoman empires.
Airfares – are in the range of 16.5K (Turkish Airlines) to 19K (Lufthansa) approx. (one way – ex New Delhi). Travel agents may give you better deals. 4-5 days stay is enough to enrich your memories for the lifetime. The best times of year to visit Istanbul are from April to June and September to October, roughly the months of spring and autumn respectively. During these months, temperatures are in the mild range of 16-25°C, plus the crowds aren’t as big a nuisance as in the summer months. The wintry months from November to February have the highest rainfall, and understandably enough, best avoided.
Places to visit – Sultanahmet (the oldest district with its distilled history of thouands of years), Beyoglu/Taksim (the cultural, art and entertainment centre of Istanbul), Bosphorus (or The Strait of Istanbul – one of the most beautiful water passages in the world), Golden Horn (Istanbul’s magnificent natural port), Ortaköy (the serene summer residence of the Turkish Sultans on the Bosphorus Strait), Besiktas, Heybeliyada island, Old Istanbul etc. among others. History buffs and those with an additional whisker of cultural romanticism will get a kick from walking down those ancient bylanes which have borne testimony to rule of the Caliphs and Sultans of Constantinopole and Ottoman empires.
Monuments / museums to see - The Blue Mosque (also known as the Sultanahmet mosque – this magnificent monument featured in the film Guru too), Hagia Sophia church, Basilica Cistern, Sulaymaniye mosque, Hippodrome, Dolmabahçe Palace, Topkapi Palace, Mevlevi Monastry, Anadolu and Istanbul Ramparts, Beziyat and Taksim squares and numerous other beautiful palaces, towers, streets and mansions. Istanbul has a whole array of museums - The Istanbul Archaeological, Ataturk, Florence Nightingale, Aviation, Caricature and the Military Museum (apart from two dozen other with interesting names)
Where to shop – The Grand Bazaar and The Spice Market. Istanbul is a shopaholic’s dream. But - never shy from haggling, the unusually polite but nagging Turkish traders can be extremely deceptive, and successful hagglers come out victorious with fabulous discounts. Carpets, kilims, clothes, jewellery, handicraft, ceramics, perfumes, the assortment of products available is mind boggling. But this high pressure bargaining, with touts chasing you madly, may get on the nerves. So be careful.
Places to stay and eat – If you really plan to visit Istanbul, let your travel agent arrange the details for you. You may also do a bit of googling and get a very good idea from the lonely planet guide to Istanbul. However, the review may be incomplete without a passing mention of their staple brew – Apple tea. The adventurous may try the Turkish novelty – ‘Sigara borek’ or the ‘Cigarette Pie’!
General tips – Istanbul appears to be a pretty safe place; the worst crimes you may endure being pick-pocketing and getting run over. Wife and two of her female colleagues ventured out on their own to Spice Bazaar one afternoon amidst a drizzle that soon turned into snowfall shutting down all traffic. They were stranded, and nearly marooned, when a helpful shop owner arranged a taxi (in return of course for a purchase of a hundred euros worth of curios and trivia from his shop) and had them dropped to their hotel for three times the normal fare. That incident, and other trivial happenings led to my wife’s profound observation that the Turkish can be generally described by 5 Ps – Plump, Pink, Puffy, Polite and……Pesky! So, the lesson is - taxis can be a PITA with some drivers refusing to go by the meter, particularly in the odd hours. Others, particularly the more affable ones, who plaster you with tamamm abi – tammam ablaa (Ok Bro – Ok Sis!) may fleece you brutally.
Finally – Turkish beaches are unpredictable, and are not manned (or womanned!) by handsome or beautiful lifeguards. In fact, there are no lifeguards at all. But the pleasures of leisurely ablutions are available at a premium at Turkish baths or Hammams, replete with able bodied masseurs, who knead you to pulp until you become squeaky clean and doze off with pleasure. So don’t miss this if you ever land up in Istanbul.
Hope you enjoyed the photos. If you have an overseas vacation in mind, give a thought to this paradise by the Bosphorus.
Thanks for reading the review. Comments are welcome.