Dishes you should try in Ahlat: Büryan Kebabı (earth-oven lamb), Çiğ Köfte and Otlu Peynir (herbed cheese). This guide also covers the local products to buy and what Ahlat is famous for.
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Famous Dishes of Ahlat
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Büryan Kebabı (earth-oven lamb)
Prepared by slow-cooking lamb in an earth tandır, büryan kebabı is Ahlat's best-known dish.
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Çiğ Köfte
Made by kneading fine bulgur with spices, çiğ köfte is an indispensable dish on guest tables in Ahlat.
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Otlu Peynir (herbed cheese)
Made with wild herbs gathered from the highland pastures, otlu peynir is indispensable on Ahlat's breakfast tables. It is eaten after months of maturing.
Dishes from Bitlis Cuisine
What to eat in Bitlis →These dishes are known throughout Bitlis province; see the provincial food guide for details.
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Bitlis Büryan Kebabı (pit-roasted lamb)
A lamb kebab with a registered geographical indication, hung and cooked in a well tandır oven.
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Bitlis Avşor Çorbası
A soup with a registered geographical indication.
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Bitlis İçli Köftesi (stuffed bulgur shells)
Stuffed köfte (içli köfte) with a registered geographical indication.
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Bitlis Katıklı Dolma
Dolma with a registered geographical indication.
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Ciğer Taplaması (liver taplama)
A Bitlis dish with a registered geographical indication.
What to Buy in Ahlat: Local Products
- Ahlat Bastonu (Ahlat walking stick) Ahlat Bastonu was registered as a protected geographical indication on 26 December 2017 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 298). Product group: handicrafts other than carpets, kilims and textiles. Registered by: Ahlat District Governorship.
- Ahlat Stone Ahlat's volcanic red stone has been used as a building material for centuries. Seljuk tombstones and kümbets were built from this stone.
- Ahlat Honey Flower honey obtained from the highland pastures on the slopes of Süphan Mountain, one of the region's valued natural products.
What Ahlat Is Famous For: Culture and Traditions
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Legacy of the Battle of Malazgirt
The Battle of Malazgirt, fought in the nearby region in 1071, marked the beginning of the Turkification of Anatolia. In this period Ahlat was one of the first settlement centres of the Seljuk Turks in Anatolia.
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Seljuk Stonework
Ahlat contains some of the richest examples of Seljuk stonework. The geometric and floral motifs on the tombstones represent the peak of Seljuk art.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I eat in Ahlat?
Ahlat is known for 3 local dishes, above all Büryan Kebabı (earth-oven lamb), Çiğ Köfte and Otlu Peynir (herbed cheese). Prepared by slow-cooking lamb in an earth tandır, büryan kebabı is Ahlat's best-known dish.
What is Ahlat famous for?
Ahlat is known for Büryan Kebabı (earth-oven lamb), Ahlat Bastonu (Ahlat walking stick) and Legacy of the Battle of Malazgirt. Its best-known sights include Ahlat Seljuk Meydan Cemetery and Ahlat Castle.
What to buy in Ahlat?
Local products and souvenirs to buy in Ahlat include Ahlat Bastonu (Ahlat walking stick), Ahlat Stone and Ahlat Honey.
Ahlat Travel Guide
What to Eat in Other Districts of Bitlis
- Bitlis Central District 4 dishes Bitlis Büryanı (lamb cooked in a clay oven), Çiğ Köfte and Perde Pilavı (rice wrapped in pastry)
- Adilcevaz 3 dishes Büryan Kebabı, Otlu Peynir and Adilcevaz Walnut
- Güroymak 2 dishes Büryan Kebabı (lamb cooked in a clay oven) and Çiğ Köfte
- Hizan 2 dishes Büryan Kebabı (lamb slow-cooked in a clay oven) and Otlu Peynir (herbal cheese)
- Mutki 2 dishes Büryan Kebabı (lamb cooked in a clay oven) and Çiğ Köfte
- Tatvan 3 dishes Büryan Kebabı (slow-roasted lamb pit kebab), Van Gölü İnci Kefali (Van pearl mullet) and Perde Pilavı (layered rice)