BENGALURU: This summer, Anjan Mahapatra wanted to explore somewhere outside Europe, a place that would fulfill his desire to explore cultures. It also needed a pleasant climate and beautiful scenery to take him away from the mundaneness of everyday life. Checking all these boxes, he finally zeroed in on Turkey. “We were researching which countries to visit. We wanted a European experience and a cultural aspect as well. Part Asian, part European, Turkey was the perfect combination of both. We thought we would experience the influence of the Arab world and get a glimpse of our European heritage,” says Mahapatra.
Like Mahapatra, many Bengaluru residents are considering Turkey as a travel destination this year. Travel consultant Kamini Kannan points out that Turkey has a pleasant climate. “The summers in Turkey are really hot, but even during the Indian summer months, it’s still spring. It’s been unusually hot in Bengaluru this time of year, so people were looking for vacations that aren’t too far away,” says Kannan, adding that the best months to visit Turkey are April, May and June. “Some of the coastal places offer a Greek or Italian feel, albeit on a lower budget,” she says.
Bengaluru resident Zohara Jamal stopped off in one such place during her stay: Alachati. “It’s a little coastal town, a hidden gem, like Turkey’s Santorini. It’s got it all: cobbled streets, old stone houses, and a cultural wine-making experience,” says Jamal. But beyond the tourist-filled Istanbul, Blue Mosque, and hot air ballooning in Cappadocia, she also recommends workshops. “I went to a perfume-making workshop with my kids, which was a great way to learn something new. We also attended a session on understanding ebru, a Turkish style of marble painting, so you can incorporate a lot of offbeat activities,” says Jamal. Prices for these workshops vary, but Jamal paid €50 (Rs 4,500) for the perfume workshop and €45 (about Rs 4,000) for the marble painting workshop. The workshop allowed you to take home a 30ml sample of your creation, which Jamal bought.
