Mausoleum, Çankaya, Ankara, Turkey
Anıtkabir came about as an idea of and from the desires of the Turkish people to erect a mausoleum for Gazi Mustafa Kemal (Atatürk), the founder of the Turkish Republic, a revolutionary, a brave soldier, a great leader and an international figure. In order to choose the most suitable design for this special project, an international contest was held with Prof. Emin Onat winning the contest. Anıtkabir, situated on a hill called Rasattepe behind the Maltepe area of Ankara, covers 700.000 square metres of land and includes a Peace Park, which contains plants from all parts of Turkey and the world. It took nine years to complete the mausoleum. On November 10 th, 1953, fifteen years after Atatürk’s death, his casket was taken from the Ethnographical Museum with great ceremony and was laid to final rest in its assigned place in Anıtkabir.
Approaching Anıtkabir from Tandoğan Square, a driveway through the Park will bring you to a set of stairs. Ascending the stairs you are greeted by the Independence and Freedom Towers, two of the ten towers symbolizing the existence and high ideals of the Turkish nation and state.
Epic Turkey Culture & Adventure Route © Monika Newbound
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