Daily life
Karaman sits in Central Anatolia on the northern edge of the Taurus range, roughly 100 km south of Konya. Known in antiquity as Laranda, the town was taken by Karaman Bey in 1256, renamed after him, and served as capital of the Karamanid principality from 1307 to 1468. The dynasty's second ruler, Karamanoğlu Mehmet Bey, issued a decree on 13 May 1277 following his capture of Konya, declaring Turkish the only language to be used in courts, palaces, and public life — an event still commemorated annually as Turkish Language Day. In the city center, the 12th-century inner castle walls and the 1370 Ak Tekke Mosque, which holds tombs linked to Rumi's family, anchor a walkable old town where the poet Yunus Emre also spent his later years. About 30 km north, on the slopes of the extinct volcano Karadağ, lie the ruins known as Binbirkilise (Thousand and One Churches) — roughly fifty Byzantine church and monastery remains dated to the 3rd-8th centuries, documented by Gertrude Bell and William Ramsay in 1907. The surrounding province leans on grain and orchard farming plus village handicrafts, and the city itself keeps an unhurried, provincial rhythm rather than a touristy one.
Transport
The easiest way into Karaman is via Konya: it's about 100 km by the D715 highway, roughly 2.5 hours by bus, with operators such as Özkaymak running regular services to Konya, Ankara, Istanbul, Adana, and Antalya. High-speed YHT trains from Ankara and Istanbul connect through Konya to Karaman, and the Toros Express from Adana takes around 6.5 hours; the railway station sits at the north edge of the old town. The nearest airport is Konya; the bus terminal is about 1 km from the center, at the D715/D350 junction. The city center is small enough to explore on foot, and dolmuşes run along the main streets. Reaching Binbirkilise, Taşkale, or Divle outside town requires a private car, an organized tour, or a hired taxi — it's worth confirming current schedules and fares locally rather than assuming fixed timetables.
Safety notes
For Karaman, current safety advisories, opening hours, prices and booking details are not verified in this pilot pack; the correct answer is.
FAQ
Was Karamanoğlu Mehmet Bey's Turkish-language decree actually proclaimed in Karaman?
The decree followed Karamanoğlu Mehmet Bey's capture of Konya on 13 May 1277; he ruled the Karamanid principality at a time when Karaman itself was its capital. Because of that, the event is treated as a defining reference point for Karaman's historical identity and for Turkish Language Day, celebrated every 13 May, even though sources place the actual proclamation in Konya rather than Karaman.
How do you get from Karaman to Binbirkilise, and how much time should you set aside?
Binbirkilise lies about 30 km north of the city center on the slopes of the extinct volcano Karadağ, made up of roughly fifty scattered Byzantine church and monastery ruins spread across several villages. Since the site is outside town, you'll need a private car or an organized tour; given how spread out the ruins are, plan for a few hours, sturdy shoes, and sun protection.
How old are the rock-cut granaries in Taşkale village, and can they still be seen today?
In Taşkale village, about 46 km from the Karaman city center, 352 grain storage chambers were carved directly into the rock face; the oldest are estimated at 800 to 1,000 years old, with construction spanning Christian, Seljuk, and Ottoman periods, and some chambers rising as high as 40 meters. These granaries still define the village's rocky hillside and remain clearly visible from outside.