Saruhan Kervansaray — Attraction in Avanos

We had a fantastic night at the Sarihan Kervansaray Dervish temple. We have friends who have seen the whirling dervishers at other places but nothing like the atmosphere of Saruhan Kervansaray just outside Goreme.

The whirling dervishers sufi ceremony is a form of worship that involves spinning in a circular motion to remember Allah. It is a tradition of the Mevlevi order, which was founded by the 13th century Sufi poet, Islamic scholar and mystic Mevlânâ Celaleddin Rumi. The Mevlevi are also known as the whirling dervishes, or semazen in Turkish.

The whirling dervishers sufi ceremony consists of seven parts, each with its own meaning. In the first part, praise is given to the Prophet Muhammad and the other prophets who came before him. For the dervishes, praising the prophets means praising Allah, because Allah created them. The camel hair hat (sikke) on the head of the whirling dervish represents the tombstone of the ego; the white skirt (tenure) represents the shroud of the ego. When the dervish sheds his black cloak, he is spiritually reborn to the truth. At the beginning of the ceremony, by holding his arms crosswise, the dervish appears to represent a number one and testifies to Allah's unity. While whirling, his right hand is directed to the sky and he is ready to receive Allah's beneficence. His left hand is turned toward the earth and he conveys Allah's spiritual gift to those who are witnessing the Sema.

The whirling dervishers sufi ceremony is celebrated in a festival that takes place every year in December in Konya, a city in Anatolia. This festival brings together more than a million people from all over the world to celebrate Mevlânâ's work, life and ultimately his death - which means his union with Allah. His death day is called wedding night.

After the ceremony they then let people film, a...

This experience was one of the highlights of my entire trip. The music, venue and the show were just fantastic. I highly recommend coming for an evening performance towards the end of your trip.

I want to share the format of the show so people can stop using their phones.

You arrive 10-30 mins early to walk around the venue which is like a mini museum. The main ceremony starts at time and lasts around 45 mins. They request the audience to not use their phones at the start. Once the actual ceremony is over, they do a quick 2 min version to let everyone take photos and videos!!! So please stop using your phone in the main ceremony.

The venue can seat 200-300 guests. We had one girl record the whole show while trying to hide her phone. An old guy who kept taking pictures with the camera sound set to on. Someone's "Hello moto" ring tone went off once. And finally the all mighty Siri started speaking. Just 4 people who took away from a divine experience for the rest of the people.

One request to the organizers - please strongly emphasize that people turn off their phones for 45 mins, and that they will be allowed to film in the...

I had an unforgettable experience at Saruhan Kervansaray! The spiritual whirling dervish dance was absolutely mesmerizing, embodying a beautiful connection to tradition and spirituality. The atmosphere was incredibly serene, allowing us to fully appreciate the depth of the performance.

The architecture of the kervansaray is equally impressive, with its exquisite details and historical significance creating a stunning backdrop for the ceremony. It truly feels like stepping back in time.

Upon arrival, we received a local welcome drink and a brochure that explained the importance and relevance of the ceremony step by step, which enriched our understanding and made the experience even more profound.

If you’re looking for a unique spiritual experience, I highly recommend visiting Saruhan Kervansaray. It's a perfect blend of culture, history, and...