KARAMAN

The capital of Turkish Language, a center of agriculture and industry

The province of Karaman (1990 pop. 76,682) is located to the south of the Central Anatolian Region and is between Konya - İçel - Antalya provinces. The province is a major commerce, culture and art center. Karaman province and its vicinity is known to be inhabited from the beginning of BC 8000 and the region charms and fascinates the visitors with the touristic beauties as underground cities, caves, religious centers and also with natural beauties as plateaus and other natural flora and fauna, rich hand crafted art works.

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Karaman, once the capital of the Karamanid Emirate, was the first Turkish state to use Turkish instead of Persian as its official language. Karamanoğlu Mehmet Bey was the third ruler of the beylik of Karamanoğlu. He was renowned for declaring Turkish the official language of the state and all its institutions. In his firman dated 13 May 1277, he ordered : "Starting from today, in dervish convent, in council, in the palace, in Majlis and in squares, no language other than Turkish is allowed."

Karaman of today, with its wide boulevards, businesses, parks, memorials, apartments and industrial complexes, is a city that has opened its doors to modern times. The historical and cultural treasures share the same streets and avenues with these new realities, work, technology and a faster paced life.

The altitude from the sea level is 1033 meters. The general characteristic of the Karaman province is plains. The small lakes and water channels constructed in the recent years had brought vigor to the agricultural activities. The cereals and industrial plantation is cultivated in the plains of Karaman province. Karaman has became the most important apple growing city of our country. The summer seasons at the province is hot and dry while the winter seasons are cold and precipitant. The average precipitation amount is 350 mm.

FOOD CITY

CHOCOLATE AND BISCUITS PRODUCER CITY

The wooden engraving craftsmanship, carpentry and furniture making are very common. Also embroidery and pinking crafts are very common among the women of the region. Therefore, carpets (Taşkale, Şirvan, Koraş carpets) and hand crafts are favorite souvenirs of the region.

It's impossible to know who will come to Karaman, and with what dreams. But we can be sure that they will leave as different people. In their minds, their luggate and their memories will be a new Karaman, because they will not only have experienced the mountains and plains, the past and present, rumor and truth, industry and agriculture, nomads and settled people; they will have acquired their own knowledge of Karaman's 10 thousand year history. Because Karaman opens the "Gates of Time" to all who wish to enter.