Exploring a national monument: Anitkabir

Anitkabir, one of Turkey's most revered monuments is the mausoleum that houses the remains of the founder of the modern republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. It is an important national symbol to Turkish people and they are always making pilgrimages to the site. It is even common to see students graduating from nearby universities holding graduation photoshoots at Anitkabir.

Aside from being a mausoleum, it houses a museum that display some of his personal belongings. Photography inside the museum is , however, prohibited.

I got the chance to visit Anitkabir on a hot summer afternoon. This turned out to be a big mistake. This is because it is located at the second highest point of Ankara making it scorchingly hot during the summer. In the winter, the cold wind blows quite harshly making the experience, in my opinion, unbearable. Despite the harsh weather, there is a group of soldiers always marching from one end of the spanning site to the other. Some soldiers guarding the buildings stand still the whole day and do not move a muscle, no matter how hot they get! Here it is considered an honor to serve the nation by guarding the monument.

To cater to visitors who may not be able to walk up the hill leading from the gate to the museum, a shuttle is provided. Every fifteen or so minutes, it ferries people to and fro. 

The long path to the museum is lined with rose flowers which when we visited were in full bloom! There are 24 lion statues lining the path; they symbolise power and pride.

As a result of my trip to Anitkabir I finally got to understand the patriotic nature of Turkish people by learning about Ataturk.

The mausoleum is open everyday and entry is free to everyone!