Karaman

Once a district of Konya, Karaman is in the south of central Anatolia, Turkey, at the northern foot of the Taurus mounts. The ancient Laranda, Karaman was renamed after the chieftain of a Turkic tribe who conquered the city c.1250 and set up the independent Muslim state of Karamania, which at one time comprised most of Asia Minor. A successor state of the Seljuk empire, Karamania existed until its final subjugation by the Ottoman Turks in the late 15th century. Karaman has retained ruins of the Karamanid castle and of two fine mosques. Its area is 9.237 square km and its population is around 250thousand. Karaman became a province of Turkey in 1989.
Karaman is formed by Karaman (center), Ayranci, Ermenek and Kazimkarabekir districts. Some sites of Interest and history are; Gokce forest recreation area, Maraspoli Cave, Kraman, Ermenek (Firan) and Mennan castles, Binbirkilise, Hatuniye, Emir Musa, Ibrahim Bey old theological schools (Madrasah ) for alms and Tol Madrasah , Gaferyad (Ermenek, Kazimkarabekir) and Yollarbasi (Ilisra) village Grand Mosques, Haci Beyler, Aktekke (Valide Sultan), Arapzade, Pasha, Dikbasan (Fasih), Akcasehir, Sipas and Mimar Emir Rustem Pasha mosques, Yunus Emre Mosque and Lodge, small mosque of Seyh Celebi and Akca Mescit, Karamanoglu alms house and mausoleum, Bicakci Bridge and Ala Bridge, Fountain With Seven Sprouts, Karaman Museum, Canhasan - Center - Alcatikoyu, Karadag Thousand Churches - Center - Madensehir, Uckuyu Village.

This province is also famous with its special breed of sheep and delicious yogurt.

Some significant dates for the city are:
Culture and Art Week, Karaman, May 5-12th
Commemoration Ceremonies for General Kazim Karabekir, at Kazim Karabekir district, January 26th
Commemoration Ceremonies for Mader’i Mevlana, Karaman, December 10th
Celebrations of Language Day, Karaman, May 13th
Celebrations of Day of the Province, Karaman, June 21st

On March 29, 2006, Total Solar Eclipse has been seen in Karaman as well at 13:59pm local time.

Author: Arif Cagrici