TRAVEL INFO: MEVLANA MUSEUM, KONYA, TURKEY

MEVLANA MUSEUM

Mevlana Museum in Konya, Turkey—one of the most significant spiritual and cultural sites in the country. The museum is the former dervish lodge (tekke) of the Mevlevi Order, famously known as the Whirling Dervishes. It serves as the final resting place of the 13th-century Sufi mystic, poet, and philosopher Jalal al-Din Muhammad Rumi (often called Mevlana, meaning "Our Master").

The Green Dome, Built in 1274, it is the most recognisable symbol of Konya and sits directly above Rumi's tomb.

The photos of the interior show tombs covered in heavy velvet cloths embroidered with gold. The largest and most prominent one is Rumi's. The large turbans placed at the head of the tombs signify the spiritual rank of the deceased. Rumi is buried next to his father, Baha' ud-Din Walad, and surrounding them are the graves of his family and high-ranking dervishes.

The scenes with statues depict the daily life and rituals of the dervishes. The photo captured the Semahane (Ritual Hall) where the Sema ceremony—the spiritual whirling—takes place. The statues wearing the tall felt hats (sikke) represent the dervishes’ "mystical journey" toward divine love and truth.

The  photo with the large "KONYA" sign captures the city’s official slogan. Because of Rumi’s teachings on universal love and tolerance, Konya is widely regarded as a center of spiritual peace.

Interesting Facts:

• The Begging Bowl: One of the museum's most famous artifacts is a large bronze bowl (the Nisan Tasi) used to collect April rainwater, which was believed to be sacred.
• Atatürk’s Role: When dervish lodges were closed in 1925 during the modernization of Turkey, the site was preserved and converted into a museum by the order of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk because of its historical and cultural value.
• Şeb-i Arus: Every December 17th, thousands gather here to commemorate Rumi’s death, which he called his "Wedding Night" (Şeb-i Arus)—the moment he was finally united with the Divine.

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

Lembah Keramat, KL

1/1/2026: 8.11 p.m