Hammam & Whirling Dervishes

Updated on 2014-01-22

Daily Program

Indulge yourself in an Istanbul experience that will be cherished for a lifetime! Turks have been celebrating the act of bathing as a precious cultural asset for several centuries. Your experience beginning with a tour of the city’s major hammams will add more exclusive flavor to your stay in Istanbul. Even though hammams do not allow visitors to enter the bathing sections unless you wish to bathe there, your host will take you to see the common areas of the facilities of Cemberlitas and Cagaloglu to point out and explain the shared architectural patterns and differences while familiarizing you with the history and intricacies of the tradition. Later in the morning, you will breathe in the vivacious atmosphere of one of the earliest shopping malls ever built in history, Grand Bazaar to visit Abdulla offering you the last chance to collect any Turkish Bath accessories such as all natural soaps or plush towels you may need before carrying on to Galatasaray Hammam. Galatasaray Hammam promises you absolute relaxation in the tranquility of its oriental atmosphere by surrendering yourself to the course of the tradition dating back to the Roman times. You will enjoy the entire ritual of Turkish bath from foaming to scrubbing, making it an unforgettable experience that will become one of the highlights of your trip. You will leave the mesmerizing setting of Galatasaray Hammam to attend the ceremony of Whirling Dervishes at Hodjapasha Culture Center, a no longer operational hammam that has been converted into a performance hall. Founded in the 13^th century, the order of Whirling Dervishes introduced cohesion and understanding of various faiths and exalted the idea of dissolving them within the pot of love of God. Whirling Dervishes, members of a 750-year-old Sufi sect, perform a series of religious dances, each with its own meditative movements. The sect’s founder, mystic and poet Mevlana Celaleddin-i Rumi was born in Belh, Afghanistan, in 1207 A.D. but fled the Mongol invasion with his family at the age of five, first to Yemen and Syria and finally to Konya, Turkey where they settled in 1220. A renowned scholar and teacher of theology, science, and language, Mevlana went on to study the ritual dance referred to as Sem’a from Sufi master Semseddin Tebrizi. He subsequently penned one of the great masterpieces of Islamic literature, the six-volume Mesnevi, a celebrated work of Sufi mysticism comprised of 25,700 couplets. His philosophy was one of love, tolerance, charity and a mystical union with Allah that is perpetuated by the followers of his sect today. To the haunting sounds of reeds and drums, Whirling Dervishes begin with slow and rhythmic movements that lead them into a trance as they begin to spin faster and faster and enter a state of religious ecstasy. Your guide will explain to you in depth the meaning of the unique display of centuries-old ceremony of the Whirling Dervishes with all the metaphors hidden in the act of whirling, the effect of which may become spellbinding.

Notes

Rate Includes:

- Transportation by A/C non-smoking deluxe minivan for touring mentioned in the itinerary.

- Services of the English-speaking professional private tour guide throughout the program.

- All entrance and parking fees for the sightseeing.

- Complimentary refreshments on vehicle throughout the journey.

- Hammam experience at Galatasaray Hammam

- Whirling Dervishes performance at Hodjapasa Cultere Center

 

Rate Excludes:

- Accommodation in Istanbul.

- Meals and beverages.

- Personal expenses.

- Gratuities for guide and driver.

 

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