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Bogazkale (Hattusha) was the
capital of the Hittite
Empire 2300 years ago, and is
a striking sight today.
Located 200 km (124 miles) east of Ankara on
the way to Çorum and
the Black
Sea coast, Bogazkale (boh-AHZ-kah-leh)
is impressive not so much for its buildings--there
are none left, only their foundations--but
for its setting, its layout,
and its great antiquity. Guided
day tours run from Ankara
to Bogazkale and back.
The Hittites are mentioned
in the Bible as the conquerors of Babylon
and challengers of the Egyptian pharaohs. Hattusa (hah-TOO-shah)
was their power center, the site of
their temples to the Storm
God and other deities.
At Yazilikaya (yah-zuh-LUH-kah-yah,
Inscribed Rock), 3km (2 miles) from
the main ruins, bas reliefs of ceremonial
processions were carved into the sheer
walls of a natural holy-place.
Alacahöyük, 36 km
(22 miles) north of Bogazkale, was
another important Hittite city, and
is worth a look if you're interested
enough in Hittite
history and art to visit Bogazkale.
Bogazkale has a few simple motels and pensions.
There are hotels in Sungurlu, Çorum and
Yozgat.
Take a bus to Sungurlu,
then a minibus or taxi to Bogazkale.
The nearest airport is
at Ankara.
Guided
Tours from Ankara
Distances & Travel Times
Amasya: 175
km (109 miles) NE, 2.75 hours
Ankara: 200
km (124 miles) W, 3.5 hours
Cappadocia
(Urgup): 240 km (149 miles)
S, 4 hours
Çorum: 83
km (52 miles) N, 1.5 hours
Istanbul: 650
km (404 miles) NW, 10 hours
Kayseri: 230
km (143 miles) SE, 4 hours
Sinop: 390
km (242 miles) N, 8 hours
Sivas: 260
km (162 miles) E, 4.25 hours
Sungurlu: 30 km (19 miles)
W, 35 minutes
Yozgat: 35 km (22 miles) S,
40 minutes
Central
Anatolia
Turkey
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