Photo: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) · Source 12 places to visit in the Ceyhan district of Adana: Yılankale, Sirkeli Höyük and Kurtkulağı Caravanserai. Plan your trip to Ceyhan with local food, practical tips and transport information.
Ceyhan is a district of Adana province, 47 km from Adana. Covering 1,426 km², it is the most populous district of Adana apart from the central districts. The average elevation of the district above sea level is 33 metres.
Ceyhan’s known history goes back 9,000 years. The Ceyhan Plain has been home to the Hittite, Assyrian, Phoenician, Egyptian, Persian, Roman and Byzantine civilisations. After the Battle of Malazgirt in 1071, the Ceyhan Plain was taken by Süleyman Şah in 1083.
The main river, the Ceyhan River, flows past the edge of the district and is 509 km long. The climate is typical Mediterranean, with hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters.
Ceyhan was named Hamidiye with the permission of Abdulhamit II. Ceyhan was made a district on 19 July 1926. Ceyhan remained under the rule of the Ramazanoğulları between 1353 and 1515. Bulgur is the constant basic ingredient of Ceyhan cuisine. Hittite emperor Muwatalli II crossed into Syria through Ceyhan during the Battle of Kadesh.
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Photo: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) · Source A medieval castle on a rocky hill overlooking the Ceyhan River. It protected the plain's roads during the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia period. Its name is linked to the legend of Şahmeran, a snake-woman, and the view over the plain from the hill is magnificent.
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Photo: Zeynel Cebeci (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Source Built in 1659, the caravanserai forms a stopover complex together with a mosque and a hammam. The restored building shows the Ottoman accommodation arrangements on the Baghdad road.
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Photo: Dosseman (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Source An Armenian-period castle built on a rocky hill rising from the middle of the plain. Access is not easy, but it is one of the impressive links in the chain of castles in Çukurova.
View on mapA castle on a hill overlooking the Ceyhan Plain, known locally as Şahmeran Castle. It is said to have 8 towers, and Evliya Çelebi, who passed it in 1671, mentioned snakes there.
View on mapA 12th-century castle 17 km from Ceyhan. It is built on a hill overlooking the surroundings and is said to have 8 towers.
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Photo: Mirko Novak, Universität Tübingen (Copyrighted free use) · Source On the höyük on the bank of the Ceyhan River is a rock relief believed to belong to the Hittite king Muvatalli. Ongoing excavations are revealing the Hittite and Iron Age layers of the settlement.
View on mapA höyük 5 km from Ceyhan, believed to date from the Hittites. A relief of the Hittite king Muvattali is said to be found on the höyük.
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Photo: Dosseman (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Source One of the historic mosques in the district centre, this building is an example of Ceyhan's Ottoman-era religious architecture.
View on mapIn Kurtkulağı neighbourhood, a 2-domed structure which, according to one source, was built by Haydar Ağa in 1601.
View on mapThe mosque in Ceyhan centre was built by Abdulkadir Ağa in 1868. It was badly damaged in the earthquake of 26 June 1998 and was restored to its original form by the Regional Directorate of Foundations.
View on mapA small single-domed tomb from the 18th century, 25 km from Ceyhan in Durhasandede neighbourhood. Local residents and visitors from neighbouring provinces come to see it.
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Photo: Katpatuka (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Source The river that gives the district its name flows through the town and waters the plain. The riverside parks are suitable for evening walks.
View on mapWhile you are in Ceyhan, you can also see the highlights of Adana province. These places are in other districts.
Ceyhan Zeytinyağı was registered as a protected geographical indication on 19 December 2022 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 1291). Product group: solid and liquid fats and oils, including butter. Registered by: Ceyhan Municipality.
A kebab made from minced lamb wrapped around a flat skewer and grilled over charcoal. It is also the pride of Ceyhan's restaurants.
A fermented drink made from purple carrots and turnips, the essential accompaniment to kebab.
A Çukurova dish in which içli köfte and small bulgur balls come together in a sour chickpea soup.
A cooling summer dessert in which starch pudding is served with ice and rose syrup.
A soup listed in the sources among Ceyhan's main regional dishes; no recipe is given.
The traditional oil wrestling matches held every year are among Ceyhan's oldest cultural events. They attract great interest with the participation of wrestlers from neighbouring provinces.
Festivals held during the cotton-picking season are an important part of Ceyhan's farming culture. This tradition, which began in the past with the arrival of seasonal workers, has shaped the social life of the region.
The Şahmeran legend, associated with Yılankale, tells the story of the mythical creature that is half woman and half snake. It is an important part of Ceyhan's cultural identity and is often depicted in local art.
Ceyhan's economy is based on agriculture, energy and industry. Cotton, citrus fruit, peanuts and grain are produced on the fertile Çukurova plain. The Ceyhan Terminal, where the BTC (Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan) oil pipeline reaches the Mediterranean, has made the district a strategic point in international energy trade. Industrial investment in the Ceyhan Petrochemical Industrial Zone has also gained momentum. Logistics is also developing thanks to the rail connection.
Ceyhan is 45 km from Adana city centre and is reached via the D-400 highway. The nearest airport is Çukurova International Airport, on the border of Tarsus district in Mersin. There are regular bus and minibus services from Adana's intercity bus terminal. The Ceyhan railway station, in service since 1912, connects to the long-distance Adana-Elazığ line through the regional Mersin-İskenderun and Mersin-İslahiye lines.
The 12 highlights in Ceyhan are Yılankale, Sirkeli Höyük, Kurtkulağı Caravanserai, Tumlu Castle (Dumlu Kale), Ceyhan River, Abdülkadir Ağa Mosque, Yılankale (Şahmeran Castle), Sirkeli Mound, Tumlukalesi, Kurtkulağı Tomb, Abdulkadir Ağa Mosque (Grand Mosque) and Durhasandede Tomb.
Ceyhan Zeytinyağı, Adana Kebabı, Şalgam Suyu and Analı Kızlı Çorbası are the standout dishes on Ceyhan's tables.
Ceyhan is known for cotton and the Ceyhan Oil Wrestling. The Ceyhan plain is one of Türkiye's most productive cotton-growing areas. Cotton grown on the fertile soils of Çukurova is the district's main agricultural product.
Ceyhan is 45 km from Adana city centre and is reached via the D-400 highway. The nearest airport is Çukurova International Airport, on the border of Tarsus district in Mersin. There are regular bus and minibus services from Adana's intercity bus terminal. The Ceyhan railway station, in service since 1912, connects to the long-distance Adana-Elazığ line through the regional Mersin-İskenderun and Mersin-İslahiye lines.
Suggested visit length: 1-2 days. Best time to visit: spring and autumn.