Doğubayazıt

Doğubayazıt (Kurdish: Bazîd) is a town in Eastern Anatolia, Turkey. In the extreme east of the country and right next to the Turkish-Iranian border, it is the primary gateway of Turkey to the east, and of Iran to the west. It also has a variety of attractions worth stopping by for, including the splendid 17th-century Ishak Pasha Palace and Mount Ararat, Turkey's highest, but better known in the West for its association with Noah's Ark.

Understand
Like many places in the east of Turkey, mostly Kurds live here.

After a brief Kurdish rebellion in the area was suppressed in 1930, the old town was destroyed, and the town was rebuilt in its current location, lower and flatter than the previous site and therefore much easier to keep under control. It was also renamed from Beyazıt to Doğubayazıt, "eastern Bayazıt" around this time, to avoid postage destined for the Beyazıt quarter of Istanbul's Old City ending up in the wrong place and vice versa. Apparently this was too mouthful, or simply too hard to remember for the hippies who were often as high as Ararat while streaming past the town on their way to India back in the day, so they just dubbed it "Doggy Biscuit".

By plane
The nearest airports are Iğdır Şehit Bülent Aydın 70 km north, and Ağrı Ahmed-i Hani  100 km west. The airports have flights from Istanbul (mostly IST; SAW is served much less frequently) and Ankara, at least once daily. Flight durations for Ağrı are 2h 10min from IST, 2h from SAW, and 1h 35min from Ankara; add an extra 5min to each for Iğdır.

Mefser Turizm runs buses to Doğubayazıt from both airports. Car rental agencies are also available at the airports.

By bus
Coaches running between Trabzon and Van don't serve Doğubayazıt; the closest town on that route is Ağrı, from where it's possible to get a minibus to Doğubayazıt.



It can be difficult to leave after about 14:00 as most buses depart in the morning.

By car
Doğubayazıt is at the eastern terminus of the major highway of D100 (or European route E80), which is dual carriageway in its entirety. Istanbul is about away on this route, via Erzurum. That's quite a long drive: to put it into perspective, Istanbul is roughly the same distance away from Vienna in the opposite direction, with at least three countries in-between.

Other approaches are also divided highways, although worse surfaced. D975 from Van climbs up to an elevation of over at Tendürek Pass, so expect rough driving in winter.

Get around
You could walk to most places in this town of about 70,000 inhabitants, but most attractions are spread out so you will want wheels.

See
The highlight is the Ishak Pasha Palace in the former site of the town, now known as Eski Beyazıt, "Old Beyazıt", on a hill about 8 km southeast.
 * For a taxi from the town centre, expect to pay approximately 10-15 TL one way. Worth considering asking the taxi driver to wait at the gate.
 * There is a dolmuş service to the Palace. The dolmuş leaves every 30 minutes. You can find it at the end of the pedestrian street on the road that goes to the palace, close to a taxi station. The bus is green and white. 6 TL (2022) for one way. The last one leaving the palace is at 18:30.
 * Alternatively, it's a very stiff walk all the way up (or down) fully exposed to the elements (at least until the roadside saplings grow into a canopy); in summer take a lot of water and a hat, due to the risk of dehydration and heat stroke. Beware of scarily big sheepdogs regardless of the season.
 * The rest of Eski Beyazıt, a major Kurdish and Armenian-inhabited town of yore, is mostly unidentifiable rubble a short trek away up from the palace across the valley. It was probably first settled during Urartu times, at 800 BC. The points of interest include the 16th century Old Mosque (Beyazıt Eski Cami), an Urartian castle on the outcrop dramatically soaring above the mosque, and the tomb of Kurdish poet and scholar Ahmedi Hani/Ehmedê Xanî (1650–1707), a pretty building that wouldn't be out of place in the Levant with its multiple domes and walls made of alternating light and dark-coloured rows of stones.
 * The rest of Eski Beyazıt, a major Kurdish and Armenian-inhabited town of yore, is mostly unidentifiable rubble a short trek away up from the palace across the valley. It was probably first settled during Urartu times, at 800 BC. The points of interest include the 16th century Old Mosque (Beyazıt Eski Cami), an Urartian castle on the outcrop dramatically soaring above the mosque, and the tomb of Kurdish poet and scholar Ahmedi Hani/Ehmedê Xanî (1650–1707), a pretty building that wouldn't be out of place in the Levant with its multiple domes and walls made of alternating light and dark-coloured rows of stones.

Further afield

 * [[Image:The Structure Claimed to be the Noah's Ark near the Mount Ararat in Turkey.jpg|thumb|Durupınar site]]
 * [[Image:The Structure Claimed to be the Noah's Ark near the Mount Ararat in Turkey.jpg|thumb|Durupınar site]]

Do

 * Climb Mount Ararat. Guides and vehicles are available in Doğubayazıt. The climb is long, but there is a fairly easy route from the south in late summer for climbers who are familiar with the use of axe and crampons. The glacier begins around, so the last 400 m (¼ mile) is snow-covered year-round. International climbers need a climbing permit that can be obtained through Turkish embassies, or the easier option is to let your guide's company do it. Expect the authorities to process your permit application in two months. You also need a licensed guide to accompany you on the trek. There are two possible campsites on the mountain, and people most often attempt to climb up to the summit and return to Doğubayazıt in 4 days. However, you may need more time to acclimatise, so it can be wise to add an extra day.
 * As part of your acclimatisation, you may also want to climb other mountains in the region, such as Mt Süphan to the south on the rim of Lake Van.

Buy
Liquor stores (Tekel) along the eastward lane of the highway bypass offer the last legal pints before Iran. Apparently this is a lucrative business: there are several of these shops, and they seem to be well-stocked. One thing to consider is how you will bring your drinks across the border; it's risky in your luggage, and tipsy already in your system.

Eat
Try to get a rare abdigor köfte, the local delicacy. It is a fist-size meatball on rice.


 * Yöresel Yemek Evi (formerly Doguş Restaurant) is not bad, but is overpriced and often crammed with tour groups.

Drink

 * Cafe shop on Kermelsi Rd. in the centre of Doğubayazıt
 * Pure fruit juice shop, makes nice pure juice! Istanplak Avenue in eastern Doğubayazıt

Sleep
Hotels are numerous. Not all places provide air conditioning.



Connect
You'll get 4G with Turkcell but the town is otherwise a dead spot - the highways further out have a better signal. 5G has not yet reached this area.

Go next

 * Van to the south is the hub for the Lake Van area with amazing ancient castles and medieval monasteries.
 * Iran is right around the corner to the east. Maku is its first significant town.
 * Iğdır to the north has transportation options into the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan.
 * Kars further to the north has a beautiful Russian-built old town and the striking Armenian ruins of Ani in its vicinity.
 * Erzurum to the west is the largest city in eastern Turkey where you will likely pass through to travel anywhere else in the country.