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10 places to visit in the Ayrancı district of Karaman: Ağızboğaz Village, Saracık Plateau and Divle Obruk Cave. Plan your trip to Ayrancı with local food, practical tips and transport information.

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History

Ayrancı is a district of Karaman province with an area of 2,245 km² and an altitude of 1,139 metres. The large majority of the population are Avşar Turkmens. In 1903, a village named Osmaniye was founded with the settlement of Crimean Turks and Yörüks. The Ayrancı subdistrict was separated from the Ereğli district of Konya in 1987 and became a district attached to Konya province; in 1989, when Karaman became a province, it was attached to Karaman province. Ayrancı is 38 km from Konya Ereğli and 44 km from Karaman city centre. Ayrancı is one of the driest geographical areas in Türkiye, and its livelihood is agriculture and livestock farming. During the Tuwana Kingdom, Ağızboğaz village was an important resort and hunting ground; at Saracık Plateau, a small palace was built where the Tuwana King went hunting.

History and Culture

In 1903, 210 households of Crimean Tatars were settled in Osmaniye village. The name of the district was changed to Ayrancı in 1923. Ayrancı became a district by law in 1987. During the Karamanoğulları period, Ayrancı and its surroundings (Divle) were used as the summer pasture of the ruling families of the principality.

Highlights

When Sultan Yavuz Selim Khan passed through Ayrancı on the Karaman–Ereğli route on his way to the Persian Campaign (Battle of Çaldıran, 1514), he encountered the stream on which a dam has now been built, next to the cauldron. A 3rd-century AD sarcophagus, known by this name because it was found in Ambar village, which belongs to the Ayrancı district of Karaman.

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Places to Visit in Ayrancı

  • 1 Historic
  • 2 Religious
  • 5 Nature
  • 2 Other

Historic Sites 1

Historic

Ayrancı Castle

Castle remains near the district centre, dating from the Byzantine period. This structure, which sheds light on the region's past through its historic fabric, offers visitors an authentic experience.

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Religious Buildings 2

Religious

Karaağaç Mosque

Listed in the Karaman Governorship's list of mosques as a mosque in Ayrancı.

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Religious

Ayran Dede Tomb

A tomb built over time on the grave of Ayran Dede. The name of the district is based on this legend.

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Natural Wonders 5

Nature

Saracık Plateau

A highland area in the Tuwana Kingdom period where the King's hunting palace stood.

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Nature

Divle Obruk Cave

A natural sinkhole in Üçharman village of Ayrancı, 12 metres deep and with a constant temperature of 10°C. It has been used for centuries as a place to ripen cheese, and Divle Obruk Cheese is produced here.

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Nature

Karadağ Etekleri

Karadağ to the north of Ayrancı stands out for its volcanic structure and steppe vegetation.

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Nature

Akgöl Tabiat Koruma Alanı

Akgöl, within the boundaries of Ayrancı district, is a natural bird paradise. The lake was registered as a nature conservation area by a decision of the Council of Ministers in 1995.

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Nature

Divle Obruğu

A cave about 150 metres long in Ayrancı, where tulum cheeses are ripened.

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Other Places 2

Other

Ağızboğaz Village

A village used as a hunting ground in the Tuwana period, famous for its sheep's yoghurt and white cherries.

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Other

Ayrancı Dam

A dam built on the Kocadere within the boundaries of Ayrancı district. Construction was completed in 1962.

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Places to Visit Around Karaman Province

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

  • Binbirkilise (Thousand and One Churches) — Remains of many Byzantine-era churches, monasteries and chapels, concentrated in the villages of Madenşehri and Değle on the slopes of the extinct volcano Karadağ, about 30 km north of Karaman; they were documented by Gertrude Bell and W. M. Ramsay at the beginning of the 20th century.
  • Karaman Castle — A castle on the mound in the city centre, its inner walls dated to the time of Kılıç Arslan II and its outer walls to that of Gıyaseddin Keyhüsrev I; in the Karamanid period it was the residence of the beys.
  • Hatuniye Madrasa — A madrasa built in 1382 in the name of Nefise Sultan, wife of Karamanoğlu Alaeddin Bey; the muqarnas and geometric decoration of its marble portal is among the masterpieces of stonework from the principalities period.
  • Aktekke Mosque (Mader-i Mevlânâ) — A mosque built by Karamanoğlu Alaeddin Bey I in 1370–1371; in its graveyard lies the tomb of Mümine Hatun, mother of Mevlânâ Celâleddîn-i Rûmî.
  • İbrahim Bey Imaret — A complex of mosque, madrasa and tomb built by Karamanoğlu İbrahim Bey II in 1432–1433; its tiled mihrab and kündekâri (interlocking woodwork) doors reflect the art of the period.
  • Karaman Museum — A museum behind the Hatuniye Madrasa displaying finds from the Canhasan mound, works from Binbirkilise and works of the Karamanid period.

Practical Information for Visiting Ayrancı

Suggested time
Half a day
Best time to visit
Spring and autumn
Places to visit
10 places

What to Eat in Ayrancı

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  • Divle Obruk Peyniri (cave-ripened cheese)

    Made from goat's and sheep's milk, the cheese is obtained by ripening it for 4 to 5 months in natural sinkholes. This cheese with a geographical indication has a production method unique in the world.

  • Arabaşı (chicken broth dish)

    Prepared with chicken broth, flour and butter, arabaşı is Ayrancı's traditional winter dish.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Ayrancı

  • Obruk Peynirciliği Geleneği

    The sinkhole cheese-making tradition, practised in Ayrancı for centuries, is based on the use of natural caves as places to ripen cheese. This unique tradition is a candidate for UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

Local Products

  • Divle Obruk Peyniri — Tulum cheese ripened in natural sinkholes, it is the most valued local product of Ayrancı and Karaman.

Economy

Ayrancı's economy is based on agriculture and livestock farming. Grain, pulses and livestock are the main sources of livelihood. Divle Obruk Cheese production is an important source of income.

How to Get to Ayrancı

Ayrancı is 45 km from Karaman. There are minibus services from Karaman.

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Ayrancı: Frequently Asked Questions

What are the things to see in Ayrancı?

The 10 highlights of Ayrancı: Ağızboğaz Village, Saracık Plateau, Divle Obruk Cave, Ayrancı Castle, Karadağ Foothills, Akgöl Nature Conservation Area, Ayrancı Dam, Karaağaç Mosque, Ayran Dede Tomb and Divle Obruğu.

What is there to eat in Ayrancı?

Divle Obruk Cheese and Arabaşı are the highlights of Ayrancı's tables.

What is Ayrancı famous for?

Ayrancı is known for Divle Obruk Cheese and the Sinkhole Cheese-Making Tradition. The tulum cheese ripened in natural sinkholes is the most valued local product of Ayrancı and Karaman.

How do I get to Ayrancı?

Ayrancı is 45 km from Karaman. There are minibus services from Karaman.

How much time should I set aside for a visit to Ayrancı?

Suggested visit length: half a day. Best time to visit: spring and autumn.

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