Kars

From Turkey Travel Guide

Kars

Kars by Jean & Nathalie

Coordinates 40°37′N 43°6′E

area

9587 km² (3,702/sq mi.)

population

13361

calling code

(+90) 474

website

http://www.kars.gov.tr/

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Kars.jpg Kars http://www.flickr.com/photos/jries/246866198/ Jean & Nathalie

Location of Kars within Turkey.

Kars is a city in the Eastern Anatolia Region of Turkey, also called as the "Caucasus Gate" of Eastern Anatolia. As being the capital of Kars Province, it was founded at the eastern side of the Kars Stream, which merges with the Arpaçay. There are two parts in the city as the Old Kars and the New Kars.

[edit] History

Kars has an interesting and a long history as well as the different theories about the origin of its name. The earliest findings in the region go back to the Bronze Age. Also the discovery of stone houses, portable cooking units, ornamented pots, bronze axes, hand mills and wooden kitchen tools dating back to 4000 BC, prooves that there was a rich culture living in the area. Between 1000 BC and 100–200 AD, major migrations took place in the region and that’s how the Hurrians settled down around Ani and Kars, and developed agriculture. After the Hurrians, Kars was ruled by the Urartian Kingdom. The Urartians dominated the region with hard principles and tax obligations. In the third century BC, the Araks Kingdom ( including Georgians, Armenians and Persians) occupied Kars and the city was under the Araks control for a long time until the attack of the Parthians. Later the region was rules by the Tigran Kingdom followed by the Romans, Sassanians, Arabs and Georgians taking over the control. Most of the inhabitants were Christians until the arrival of the Seljuks. When the Byzantines’ harsh laws and principles became unbearable, the inhabitants asked for the Arabs help and that’s how Islam was introduced to this region. In 685 the Arabs ended Byzantine sovereignty but later the region was taken over by the Bagratid Kingdom. During the sovereignty of the Abbasids, Ani became the administrative center of the principality, and Kars was the autonomous principality with the name of Vanand ( after the Armenian family of Vanandi ) as a part of the Bagradit Kingdom. In 1045, the Byzantine Emperor Constantine IX attacked the Bagradit Kingdom and took over the control. That’s when the high walls were constructed around Kars and Ani and the inhabitanst experienced huge poverty as well as the pressures by the Byzantines rulers. Seljuk Turks captured Ani in 1064 and Kars in 1065. But later in 1206, Georgians took the control of region and controlled it until the late 1230’s. Turkish rulers were in charge of the region until 1534 when the Ottomans captured Kars. As a part of the Ottoman Empire, Kars was appointed as a sanjak (a special managed section between the city and boroughs of the Ottoman Empire) in the Province of Erzurum. In 1807, the Russians started to attack the city and Kars was surrendered by the Russian general Count Ivan Paskevich in 1828. Even though its control went back to the Ottomans later, there was a new border between the Russia and the Ottoman Empire which was much closer to Kars. During the Crimean War (1853-1856), Russians attacked Kars again and no matter how hard the people of Kars defended their city, the Russains captured it. Canadian General Williams, who was the British military observer as a part of the Ottoman army , had written this battle in his memoirs later. Russians’ control didn’t last long and they had leave after the Paris meetings of 1865.

During the World War I, Kars was an important location for the Ottomans because of the Battle of Sarıkamış. By the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, Russia left Kars, Ardahan and Batum to the Ottomans on March 3, 1918. But the Armenians didn’t leave the control of Kars and their fought resulted with success of the Armenian Republic making Kars as the capital of Vanand province in May 1919. After the Turkish- Armenian War, Kars was captured by the Turks once again in October 30th, 1920. By the Treaty of Kars which is signed between Turkey and the Soviet Union, on October 23rd , 1921, Adjara became controlled by Soviet forces as well as the regions of Kars, Iğdır, and Ardahan taken by Turks. However Soviets were not satisfied and they asked for Ani back to the Armenians control which was refused by the government in Ankara.

After World War II, the Soviet Union wanted to have the control of the territory, but Turkey didn’t want to give up on the region. However, it was the beginning of the Cold War and Turkey was not in a position to fight a superpower like Russia by then. In April 1993, Turkey closed its Kars border with Armenia as protesting the capture of Kelbajar district of Azerbaijan by the Armenians and it remains closed still.

[edit] Navigation

Located in the Eastern Anatolia, Kars has borders with Armenia on the east, Ardahan on the north, Erzurum on the west, Iğdır on the south-east and Ağrı on the south. Kars province is about 1.3 percent of the surface area of Turkey. This area's volcanic structure created high plateaus and lowlands.

[edit] Weather

Kars has a characteristic continental climate with short summers which are warm and humid as well as cold and snowy winters.

During the summer time, some nights can get very cold, too. It's been recorded that the highest temperature went up to 34.8C and the lowest one down to -39.6C.

[edit] Getting there

[edit] By plane

Kars Airport is 7 km away from the city center. There are direct flights to Kars from Istanbul (1 hour 50 minutes) and Ankara (1 hour 15 minutes) every day and also from Izmir regularly. The flight schedules can change in winter and summer seasons.

Phone number of the Airport: +90(474) 223 0674

[edit] By train

Turkish Railways (TCDD) [1] is serving Kars with several train lines. The Eastern Express runs from Istanbul every day at 8am and reaches Kars after a 38 hours of journey. The route goes through Istanbul-Kocaeli-Bilecik-Eskisehir-Ankara- Kirikkale-Kayseri-Sivas-Erzincan-Erzurum and Kars. There's also the Erzurum Express from Ankara which runs to Kars everyday. This is also a long journey of 26 hours but pleasent and interesting experience. The railway station is only 1km from the city center and transportation can be done by taxis or shared taxis.

[edit] By car

The highway routes from the Black Sea are like;

• Giresun – Tirebolu –Torul – Erzincan – Erzurum – Kars

• Trabzon – Erzurum – Kars

• Hopa – Artvin – Kars

And also from the Central Anatolia the route goes through;

• Ankara – Yozgat – Sivas – Erzincan – Erzurum – Kars.

[edit] By bus

Several bus companies (from most of the cities in Turkey) are offering services to Kars. Bus station is approximately 3 km from the city center. Most of the bus companies have shuttle bus services to the city center.

Bus station's phone numbers are +90(474) 223 33 33, 223 29 55, 212 77 77.

[edit] By boat

No sea connection.

[edit] Getting around

[edit] By car

Driving is possible as well as taking a taxi. However, please note that there are not so many taxis because it's pretty small city with no traffic.

[edit] By public transport

There's an old bus station located in Kaleiçi Mahallesi where you can find a bus or mini-bus to go around Kars and its boroughs. City buses and mini-buses go back and forth to Sarıkamış. There are also the fast train and the eastern express going through Sarikamis at 7am and 9am everyday. There is no public transport to Ani and it can only be visited by car or taxi.

[edit] By foot

Walking might be the best option to see the city since it's pretty small.

[edit] By bike

[edit] See

Kars Museum is one of the richest museums of Eastern Anatolia Region. The museum has two different sections. The first section is the archeological findings hall where ceramic and bronze works, ring stones, various coins, embroidered wooden doors, niches, bells discovered at the excavations executed in the Kars region are exhibited. The second section is the ethnographic works hall where the objects used by the folk of Kars during the history are exhibited. Also in the courtyard of the museum, there are ram statues and tombstones are displayed. It is open everyday except Mondays and located at İstasyon Mahallesi, Cumhuriyet Caddesi, No: 485 in the city center.

Because of Kars' interesting and long history, there are ancient places which are a must see in the region. Ani Ruins are at 48 km distance to the Kars Province. The ancient city is founded at the banks of the Arpaçay River which runs through the border of Turkey and Armenia. The foundation date is estimated to be in BC 350-300 years.

The ruins of city walls, Medieval churches and Seljukian architecture creations of the Ani ruins are great art works.

Seljuk Palace is located at the northwest end of the Ani ancient city. The external entrance gate has rich mosaic geometrical patterns while the internal structure of the building is formed by a complex combination of various chambers, galleries, storage chambers and fountains.

Kars Castle (Central Castle/Inner Castle) was constructed in the 10th Century but was completely destroyed by the forces of Timur in 1386 and reconstructed in 1579.

Beylerbeyi Palace is a two floors historical building, constructed by the order of Lala Mustafa Paşa in 1579.

Evliya Camii(Saint Mosque) and the Menuçehr Camii are the most important mosques of the province. Evliya Camii collapsed in 1579 but it was restored and reconstructed in 17th century with earthen ceiling. Menucehr Mosque is built by Ebu Süca Manucehr from Sedatoğulları Government in 1072 and located in Ani Ancient City.

Keçel Church is located in Ani Ruins and was constructed by the son of Abugremrizents Daklavini, the grandchild of Gregor between the years 1034-1036.

Şirli Church is also located at Ani Ruins and it was constructed by Tigran upon the request of the minorities of Şeddatlı Government in 1215.

Abughamrent Gregor Church, Güvercinli Church, Arak' Eltos Church, Havariler Church and Kemserakanlı Church are all located in Ani ruins with interesting architectures.

Meryemana Cathedral is one of the rare stuctures that has been presevered well. The construction of the cathedral had been started during Sembatat II. at Ani city center in 1010 and was completed during Gagik I. period. After Alpaslan conquered the province of Ani in 1064, the building was used as a mosque for sometime and unfortunately damaged by the earthquake in 1319. Later it was restored by the Architect Tiridot.

Taşköprü (Stone Bridge) was constructed during the restoration period of the entire city in 1579 by the order of Sultan III. Murat. It had collapsed in time but later was reconstructed on the old pedestals in 1719.

İlbeyoğlu Bath, Muradiye Bath and Mazlumağa Bath are other historical baths that are worth to see.

Also in the Eastern Anatolia Region and 55km south-west of Kars, there's the Sarikamis Ski Resort which is on the Camurlu mountain at an altitude of 2634m, and is renowned for its good quality of snow. There are two government guest-houses, and other private accommodation and it's 50km away from the airport.

[edit] Do

You can;

Eat yellow fish at the banks of Çıldır Lake,

Taste the famous honey and cheese of Kars,

Buy the carpets of Kars which are weaved from natural painted cotton, hair, silk and wool threads having interesting local patterns,

Watch Caucasian Folk Dances,

Skii in Sarıkamış.

[edit] Eat

Beside the famous sheep cheese and honey, the province of Kars has a rich variety of local cuisine. Like the other cities in Turkey, kebab is also famous in Kars. However, the meat in Kars is tastier and more nutritious than most parts of Turkey which you should definetely try.

You can even have meat during breakfast. Kavurma is a meat dish which is served as the first meal of the day. Other popular dishes of Kars are; boiled or roasted goose with bulgur rice, saç (meat cooked on a wok-like pan over a wooden fire), pörtletme ( a dish made by boiling fatty lamb on the bone in water until it is soft and then frying it in its own fat), katlet (fried meatballs served with potatoes), umaç halvah, elma dolması (stuffed apple), hörre (flour) soup, evelik (a meal cooked from a plant called evelik), hengel (meat pastry), haşıl (cooked from wheat), bozbaş, piti (a soup cooked with meat), pilaf cooked with sultani grape .

Kristal Restaurant [2] is located on Halit Paşa Caddesi and specialized in doner, kebab and stews.

Fasıl Ocakbaşı Restaurant is located on the top floor of Belediye Sineması and a traditional grill restaurant specialized on kebab varieties.

KA-MER Mutfak & Cafe is in a very nice historical building, run by Women's Center called KA-MER. If you like home-cooking, this restaurant is a great choice with local dishes. It's located in Yusufpaşa Mahallesi, Halit Paşa Caddesi, 97.

Havuz Başı Cafe Restaurant is located at Ismail Aytemiz Park and serves dished with goose and fish.

Ocakbaşı Restaurant [3] is located on Atatürk Caddesi and serves kebab dishes.

   * ' Ani' Restaurant is a good local restaurant, located under Kar's Otel.

[edit] Drink

Turkish tea is popular in traditional cafes of Kars.

[edit] Sleep

[edit] Budget

Gungoren Hotel is a 2* hotel, located in Halit Pasa Caddesi, Millet Sokak in the center of Kars. It has 40 rooms, a bar, hamam and sauna.

Hotel Kent has 24 rooms and located in Orta Kapi Mahallesi, Hapan Mevkii in Kars.

[edit] Mid-Range

Kars Sim-Er Hotel http://www.simerhotel.com/ is a four star hotel located in the center of Kars. It has 146 rooms including 4 suites and one handicapped room featuring direct dial telephone, music, central heating, mini-bar, satellite T.V. private bathroom with bathtub and hairdryer. Kars Sim-Er is 58 km away from Sarikamis ski center, 40 km from the ruins of Ani and 5 km from the Kars airport.

[edit] Upscale

Toprak Hotel [4] is situated on an area of approximately 15.000 square meters surrounded by Pine forests at Sarıkamış Cıbıltepe Ski Center at a height of 2100 meters on Erzurum-Kars Highway. It's a 5* hotel with 118 Standard Rooms (12 Connected rooms), 1 Room for Handicapped Individuals, 11 Corner Rooms, 6 Junior Suite Rooms, 5 Suite Rooms, and 4 King's Rooms.

Kar’s Otel [5] Kar's is at center downtown and only 10 minutes ride from the airport. The building of the hotel is a stone Russian structure which has been renovated into a Luxury Boutique Hotel.

[edit] Work

A valid work permit, given by Turkey's Ministry of Labor and Social Security, is a must.

[edit] Learn

Kafkas University [6]is a public university founded in 1992 and currently considered to be one of the most significant and developing universities in the eastern Anatolian region of Turkey. The campus is located in Kars and the university has 6 faculties (Veterinary, Medicine, Science and letters, Education, Forestry, Economics and Administrative Sciences) with a total of 40 undergraduate programs, including 9 vocational schools (2 health schools and a school of physical education and sport), and 3 graduate schools (Social Sciences, Health Sciences and, Basic and Applied Sciences).

[edit] Keep connected

[edit] Internet

TTNET [7] provides fast and secure broadband internet access in Kars.

There are several internet cafes around the city, where you can find internet service for reasonable prices. They don't have permissions to serve alcohols but you can find soft drinks. A connection speed of 2048 kb\s is available.

Relax Internet Cafe has 15 computers as well as a wireless connection. It is located at Faikbey Caddesi, 62 in Kars.

Number One Cafe has 30 computers and located in a historical building on Faikbey Caddesi, 117.

Sosyete Cafe is offering internet service and a billard saloon. There are 20 computers as well as wireless connection. It's located in Orta Kapi Mahallesi, Gazi Ahmet Muhtar Pasa Caddesi, 45 in Kars.

[edit] Phone

Phone code for Kars is +90 (474)

[edit] Post

The central post office, PTT is located at Ortakapı Mahallesi, Ordu Caddesi, No#101 in Kars.

[edit] Safety

To reach Kars City Police Department [8] you have to dial +90-474-212 47 00.

[edit] Stay Healthy

Kars Devlet Hastanesi (State Hospital) [9] can be reached via phone numbers +90(474) 212 56 68, +90(474) 212 56 69, +90(474) 212 56 70, +90(474) 212 56 71, +90(474) 212 56 72.

[edit] External links