In the Turkish lands

Be the beauty, food or historical heritage, Anusha Mani seems to be smitten by it all. The singer had gone to Istanbul for a concert in May

In the Turkish lands

Be the beauty, food or historical heritage, Anusha Mani seems to be smitten by it all. The singer had gone to Istanbul for a concert in May and shares her travel memories with CS:u00a0u00a0

Cool days
The weather was just perfect -- periodic rains, chilly nights and pleasant days. After Mumbai's scorching heat, it was amazing to be wearing coats and boots in May! And so wrapped up in all my winter wear, I went to see the Blue Mosque, which is very famous for its architecture and has a great history behind its making.

Virtual treat
I also visited the incredible Hagia Sophia museum. It has an interesting story behind it. It first served as a Roman Catholic church many thousand years ago, and then was converted to a mosque in 1435 and in 1935, it finally got converted to a museum. The architecture again is just splendid as it's the amalgamation of two distinct religions.

Other places worth visiting are Dolma Bagchi Palace, the Bosphorus River that has Europe on one side and Asia on the other and a bridge connecting the two. The bridge is beautifully lit up at night and a cruise ride is a must. And though many warned me against thieves, fortunately I didn't have any such experience.

Bazaar beckonsu00a0
As my trip was a very short one, I couldn't explore the city completely. But I can say for sure that Istanbul has great food to offer. Though I am a vegetarian, I was lucky enough to find some really delicious food. The Turkish baklava is a must have. Also, a trip to Grand Bazaar is something you just can't afford to miss. It has over 2000 shops filled with lovely lamps, carpets, jewellry, etc. The very famous Evil Eye accessories are a must buy too.