Things to Do in Beşiri: 5 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Beşiri

• 2 Historic
• 2 Religious
• 1 Nature

While you are in Beşiri, you can also see the highlights of Batman province. These places are in other districts.

• Hasankeyf Upper Castle — A castle founded as a frontier fortress under the Roman emperor Constantius II (4th century) and furnished with palaces and mosques in the Artuqid and Ayyubid periods; because it stands above the dam water, it has been preserved and turned into an open-air museum.
• Hasankeyf Culture Park — A park set up on the bank of the Tigris in New Hasankeyf; the Zeynel Bey Tomb, the minaret of the Er-Rızk Mosque, the Artuqid Hammam, the Sultan Süleyman and Koç mosques, the Imam Abdullah Zawiya and the Kızlar Mosque, all moved from their old sites before the Ilısu Dam, are displayed here.
• Zeynel Bey Tomb — A cylindrical tomb built by the Aq Qoyunlu ruler Uzun Hasan for his son Zeynel Bey, who died in the Battle of Otlukbeli in 1473, the work of the Iranian architect Pir Hüseyin; with its turquoise-glazed brick decoration it is unique in Anatolia.
• Hasankeyf Museum — A museum displaying about 4,000 items found in the Hasankeyf excavations, from the Palaeolithic, Neolithic, Bronze and Iron Ages and the Roman, Artuqid and Ottoman periods; it was fully opened to visitors in 2019 in New Hasankeyf.
• Ilısu Dam Lake — The reservoir of the Ilısu Dam on the Tigris, which began to hold water in 2019 and started generating energy in 2020; boat tours are run in front of Hasankeyf and stand out for their sunset views.
• Mount Raman — A mountain 1,288 metres high, very close to the centre of Batman; oil was found here in 1940 by the MTA (Mineral Research and Exploration Directorate) for the first time in Türkiye, changing the fate of the city.

Practical Information for Visiting Beşiri

Suggested time

1 day

Best time to visit

Spring and autumn

Places to visit

5 places

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  Büryan Kebabı (pit-roasted lamb)

  Prepared by cooking lamb for hours in a tandoor pit, büryan kebabı is a traditional dish also widely eaten in Beşiri.

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  Bulgur Pilavı (bulgur pilaf)

  Made from fine bulgur, the pilaf is cooked with lamb or chicken stock. It is one of the staple dishes of Beşiri cuisine.

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  Kaburga Dolması (stuffed lamb ribs)

  Rice and minced meat are stuffed inside lamb ribs and baked in an oven. It is the traditional dish of special occasions.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Beşiri

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  Artuqid Heritage

  Beşiri remained under the rule of the Artuqid Principality between the 12th and 15th centuries. The castle and building remains from this period are an important part of the district's historical heritage.

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  Rural Way of Life

  Traditional farming and livestock culture is maintained in the rural areas of Beşiri. Harvest festivals and village weddings are living examples of this culture.

Local Products

• Cotton — Cotton grown on the Beşiri plain is the district's most important agricultural product.
• Walnut — Walnuts grown in the gardens around the district are the traditional product of the area.

Economy

The Beşiri economy rests on farming and livestock. Cotton, grain and pulses are produced on the fertile plain. Small livestock farming is the basic source of livelihood in rural areas. The oil sector also contributes to the district's economy.

How to Get to Beşiri

Beşiri is 40 km from Batman city centre. Access is by road. There are regular minibus services from Batman. The nearest airport is Batman Airport (45 km).

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Batman

Beşiri: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Beşiri Famous dishes and local products →
• 🗺️ Things to Do in Batman The province's 9 best places and all its districts →

Other Districts of Batman

• Batman Central District 6 places Raman Mountain, Batman Stream and Batman Museum
• Gercüş 5 places Mor Yakup Monastery, Gercüş Castle and Gercüş Stone Houses
• Hasankeyf 9 places Ilısu Dam Lake, Hasankeyf Ancient City and Hasankeyf Castle
• Kozluk 9 places Kozluk Castle, Kozluk Hot Springs and Kozluk Grand Mosque
• Sason 8 places Sason Mountains, Mereto Mountain and Sason Castle