Aksaray is in central Turkey. Its adjacent provinces are Konya along the west and south, Niğde to the southeast, Nevşehir to the east, and Kırşehir to the north. It covers an area of 7,626 km². The provincial capital is the city of Aksaray.

This is a region of great natural beauty: Aksaray is one of the four provinces in the much-visited area of Cappadocia, along with Nevşehir, Niğde and Kayseri. Also the 3,000m volcano Hasan Dağı stands between Aksaray and Niğde. Summers are hot and dry on the plain, but the area is green and covered in flowers in springtime, when water streams off the mountainside. The 2400km² salt lake, Tuz Gölü, lies within the boundaries of Aksaray, a large area of swamp with a maximum depth of 1 metre.

Aksaray today

Today Aksaray is a quiet mid-size city. In recent past, many inhabitants migrated to Britain, Germany and other European for job opportunities.

Ihlara Valley and the other tourist attractions of Cappadocia are close, but as yet, Aksaray has not been very successful in attracting visitors to the city self. A the new attraction in Aksaray city is Hünkarland, a large theme park with artificial waterfalls and which has immediately become a popular venue for Aksaray wedding parties.

Cuisine

This is a rich agricultural region producing grains, meat and dairy and many kinds of fruit and vegetables. Therefore the cuisine of the town is of high standard. Well-known dishes include many pastries and other kinds of wheat-based dishes such as:

* yufka a thick filo-pastry, eaten like bread or filled with cheese (or meats and other fillings) and toasted on a hot griddle (sıkma, katmer or sac böreği depending on the filling)
* many kinds of local pasta or cous-cous including one stuffed with meat and steamed like ravioli, (called mantı)
* tarhana a soup made from a dried mixture of wheat-flour, spices and yoghurt
* pelte and sweet of flour, syrup and butter
* höşmerim, kaygana and many other rich sweets, mostly involving butter and flour

Other dishes include soups made with okra or yoghurt and a thick floury chicken stew called Arabaşı.

Places of interest

* Hasan Dağı - a 3,000m volcano between Aksaray and Niğde, visible from the city.

* Aşıklı Höyük - a burial mound 25 km east of the city of Aksaray.

* Acemhöyük - an early Bronze Age settlement, 18 km north-west of the city of Aksaray.

* The ancient Roman and Byzantine city of Nora, in the village of Helvadere near the city of Aksaray.

* Ihlara - a canyon, 40 km from the city of Aksaray, contains ancient churches, (9th century and earlier) carved into the valley walls and decorated with frescoes.

* Ervah cemetery in the city contains the tombs of 14th century Islamic leader Somuncu Baba and the scholar Cemaleddin'i Aksaray.

* Zincirye Medresi, a Koranic school with a typical Seljuk portal, built by the Karamanoğullari emir in 1345.

Mosques

* Karamanoğlu Camii - a large mosque in the city centre.

* Eğri Minare (Oblique Minaret) - a Seljuk Turkish minaret 1221-1236, built under the rule of Aläettin Keykubat I

* The high church - on a steep rock 3 km from the city.

Caravanserais

There are three monumental caravanserais in the neighbourhood of Aksaray. The best known is Sultanhanı, located in the village Sultanhan about 40 km west of Aksaray. This fortified structure was built in 1229 (dated by inscription), during the reign of the Seljuk sultan Kayqubad I, by the Syrian architect Mohammed Bin Havlan El Dimaski (the work Dimasci indicating Damascus) along the trade route from Konya to Aksaray, leading to Persia (the Uzun Yolu). After it was partially destroyed by a fire, it was restored and extended in 1278 by the governor Seraceddin Ahmed Kerimeddin bin El Hasan during the reign of the sultan Kaykhusraw III. This monumental caravanserai then became the largest in Turkey. It is one of the best examples of Anatolian Seljuk architecture.

One enters the Sultanhanı in the east through a monumental 13 m high marble gate (pishtaq) projecting from the fifty-meters wide front wall. The gate is enclosed by a pointed arch decorated with muqarnas corbels and a plaiting with elegant geometric patterns. The open courtyard (44 x 58 m) was used in the summer, while the covered ones (iwans) on both side were used during the winter. In the middle of the open courtyard stands a square stoned kiosk-mosque (kösk mesçidi), the oldest example in Turkey. The mosque on the second floor sits on a construction of four carved barrel-vaulted arches. The arcades on both sides of the inner courtyard served as stables and has accommodations above.

At the other side of the courtyard is another arched entrance. It is equally decorated with a muqarnas niche, joggled voussoirs and interlocking geometric designs. The central aisle of the covered hall is covered with a barrel vault with transverse ribs. A short tower, capped by a dome, stands over the center of the vault. This dome has an oculus, providing light and air to the hall.