Haci Bektas Veli Museum

The Haci Bektas Veli Museum, located in northern Cappadocia, is the centre of the Bektasi sect of Islam. Originally a dergah, Hacibektas was founded by the great philosopher, Haci Bektas-I Veli, in the 13th century. This lodge of Hacibektas was later transformed into a museum in 1964.

This museum comprises three courtyards lying side by side. At the entrance of the first courtyard is a big arched door. Towards the right of the courtyard, a set of three fountains, known as Ucler Cesmesi, stands. This courtyard also houses a laundry room and a Turkish bath.

Also known as Dergah Avlusu, the second courtyard of this museum is entered through a set of three doors called Ucler Kapisi. This courtyard also has a fountain with sculptured lions, named as ‘Fountain with Lions’. A mosque built by Sultan Mahmut II, a guest house and kitchens are also located within the second courtyard of the Haci Bektas Veli Museum.

The third courtyard, popularly called Hazret Avlusu, has six doors, which are collectively known as Altilar Kapisi. The courtyard mainly comprises a garden, accompanied with tombs of the dervishes influenced by Seldjoukide art. Inside the tomb is a small prayer room and Kirklar Meydani, a place where dervishes used to perform the ceremonial dance.

In the garden are tombs of Haci Bektas Veli and Khorasan Erens towards the east and Celebies and Guvenc Abdal on the west. Balim Sultan’s tomb was later constructed towards the right of the main garden.

A 40 minute drive from Goreme takes visitors to the Haci Bektas Veli Museum.

Timing: Tuesday – Sunday
              8 am – 12 pm and 1:30 – 5 pm
Admission fees: 122.76 INR