Overview:

: Kaymakli Underground City is an ancient, multilevel underground city located in the Central Anatolia Region of Turkey. Underground city of Kaymakli is one of the most impressive and best-preserved underground cities in Cappadocia. It is believed to have been in use around the 8th century BC until the Byzantine period. The Kaymakli Underground City consists of over five levels, of which only four are open for visitors. It has ventilation shafts, stables, storage rooms, cellars, churches, kitchens, wine and oil presses, granaries, and many more. All these dugouts were connected through narrow passages of 3 to 5 feet wide. It was a place where more than a thousand people lived. The people who lived there had all their basic needs fulfilled. Kaymakli Underground City is a great place to explore and learn about the lives of the Cappadocian people in ancient times. It is one of the most beautiful monuments in Turkey
Prominent Features:

1. Size: The Kaymakli underground city in Nevsehir, Turkey is one of the largest in the region. It covers an area of around 3,000 square meters and is composed of eight levels, although only four are open to visitors. 2. Age: The city is believed to have been built by the Hittites in the 8th century B.C. It was later expanded by Christians for use as a refuge and was even occupied by Ottoman Turks in the 17th century. 3. Design: The city contains numerous passages, corridors, storage chambers, churches, wineries, and other rooms. It was designed to serve as a refuge from attackers, with corridors with secret exits providing escape routes. 4. Security: It was also equipped with a number of advanced security features, including deep pits and large millstones that could be rolled in front of the entranceways, effectively sealing off the city. 5. Utilities: There was also a sophisticated system of ventilation and lighting, as well as several underground wells which provided an essential water supply. 6. Preservation: The city has been well-preserved and is a popular tourist attraction. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985, for its outstanding cultural and archaeological value. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Turkey.

History:

The Kaymaklı Underground City is an ancient city located in the Central Anatolian region of Turkey, in the town of Nevşehir, which was established in large part during the Byzantine period, and is one of the largest of its kind in the country. It is located in the hills, away from the villagers and other settlements. The Kaymakli Underground City dates back to around 8,500 BCE. The city was built beneath the castle of Gomeda and consists of 8 floors, reaching depths as far as 85 meters underground with large stone blocks used as the internal walls and ceilings. The city is believed to have been around before the Hittite period and was used for secluded settlement by people escaping the attacks of hostile neighbouring tribes or war times. The city is divided into three main areas; each includes living quarters, storerooms, burial chambers and churches. Eachis connected to one another via narrow corridors, secret passages and ventilation shafts. At the entrance there is a long Corridoor leading to a Cross Hall, which allows access to different levels, housing sections and storage areas. The Kaymakli Underground City also had a defense mechanism, consisting of numerous tunnels, which were very important during the difficult times. These tunnels provided safe access to the city for those living in it as well as providing the inhabitants with the ability to escape in case of attack. The Kaymakli Underground City has been through various phases of use and abandonment throughout the centuries. It last served a meaningful purpose during the late Ottoman period and emptied during World War II. The city was rediscovered in 1963 by the Turkish government and has since been preserved as a national archaeological site and tourist attraction. Today, the Underground City is open for guided tours which allow visitors to explore its numerous levels and chambers, discovering the secrets that have been preserved and secured over centuries. Visiting the Kaymakli Underground City gives one an insight into ancient history and its impact on today’s society. Visit one of the famous monuments of Turkey with your friends and family.

Interesting facts:

1. The Kaymakli Underground City is one of the most preserved underground cities in Cappadocia, Turkey, and one of the most exciting underground cities in the world. 2. The city extends to a depth of about 85 feet and contains rooms for sleeping, stables, storage rooms, kitchen and places of worship. 3. The earliest levels of the city were carved into the rock hundreds of feet below the surface in the 9th century B.C. by Christians to escape persecuting Romans. 4. It has eight floors which are connected by long tunnels and staircases. Each floor includes living areas, cellars, wine and oil presses, stables, churches, compartments, and prayer rooms. 5. It was also believed to have housed about 5000 people in its heyday. 6. Kaymakli can be accessed at two levels: The top level by a giant 120-ton massive stone outside, which can slide aside to let in people and supplies; and the lower level by a concealed tunnel. 7. The walls are decorated with frescoes detailing the everyday life and religious beliefs of the people who lived there centuries ago. 8. This marvelous underground city was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985. One of the historical monuments of Turkey, it tells the story of a bygone era