Most Picturesque Place on Earth
Cappadocia originated from the Persian word ‘Katpaktukya’ means ‘the land of beautiful horses’ as it was earlier known for its horses. It resides between Nevsehir, Nigde and Kayseri in Turkey. Cappadocia is one of the most unheard magical and picturesque places that attract thousands of visitors around the world.
Around three to four million years ago, numerous volcanic eruptions led to the discovery of Cappadocia tourism. This natural phenomenon caused Cappadocia to be covered with thick ash. Which then got solidified into the tuff, a soft rock formation. The soft tuff rocks were then easily carved by the inhabitants into underground shelters. The harder elements that were left behind got beautifully carved by the wind and led to the formation of mushroom-like pillars also known as fairy chimneys. The fairy chimneys stretch as far as 130 feet into the sky.
With a population of just 2000 people is a small town known as Göreme in Cappadocia. It consists of over 200 underground cities and villages. Göreme, the name given by Christians means ‘you cannot see here’, as people hid in the area during the Arab invasion. In 1985, the Göreme National Park and the rock sites of Cappadocia were recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site for its unusual topographic characteristics.
Cappadocia is also famous for its ancient religious history.
According to the Christian bible, Christians were present here almost 2000 years ago. The caves of Cappadocia were used as churches and monasteries by them. Until only in 1920 they were forced to leave and move to Greece. There are approximately 600 churches that have been carved from the soft rock. It is said that there might be a possibility of many more churches although they haven’t been discovered yet.
While visiting Cappadocia, the hot air balloon rides should feature on your things-to-do list. It is considered as one of the most famous and cheapest hot air ballooning destinations in the world. The majestic hot air balloon ride takes you on a fascinating ride to witness the extraordinary charm of this place. The hot air balloon takes you on an enchanting and dreamy ride over Cappadocia. The ride will make you witness the rays of the sun over the fairy chimneys, valleys and orchards of the not to be missed Cappadocia.
The region of Cappadocia is a large grape producer. There is a long history of wine-making history here. There are several wine-tasting shops where visitors can sample the goods. Wines have played an important role in Turkey and Cappadocia has been one of the first wine-producing areas. In recent years wines from the region have won international awards.
This place is surely going to leave your jaw wide open with amusement because of its indescribable and fairytale-like beauty. No amount of pictures do justice to the spectacular landscape.
Visit Cappadocia anytime between April to May or September to October for perfect weather conditions for sightseeing and outdoor activities. As morning at that time are warm and evenings make it the perfect time for you to hike or cycle your way through the region.
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