Anıtkabir, Mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

By Traveling Canucks
Ankara, Turkey

Anıtkabir – The Mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the Father of Turkey

Although Ankara, the capital city of Turkey, is not blessed with the stunning landscapes of Cappadocia or the magnificent historical architecture in Istanbul, it does have the title of being home to one of the world’s most impressive mausoleums.

I must confess that prior to my trip to Central Turkey I had little knowledge about Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder and first president of the Republic of Turkey and the victorious leader of the Turkish War of Independence. Being a foreigner, it’s difficult to fully appreciate the impact that Mustafa Kemal Atatürk has on the people of modern Turkey. One quickly realizes that Atatürk is as famous as it gets in Turkey.

Anıtkabir is a top tourist attraction in Ankara, along with the Ankara Citadel and the Kocatepe Mosque. The magnitude of Atatürk’s legacy is undeniable when you first approach the lavish memorial and get a sense of its enormity and dominance. It reminded me of Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum in Hanoi, Vietnam and sends a similar message to its visitors.

The mausoleum looks a lot like the Parthenon in Athens, with tall columns at its entrance. As the video illustrates, there were moments when horns blasted over the speakers and all of the visitors stopped to pay tribute to the Father of Turkey.

I’m not sure if this was a daily occurrence or if it was because I had visited the massive memorial in November, a few days before the anniversary of Atatürk’s death.

via Anıtkabir, Mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk | Traveling Canucks.

more : https://travelingcanucks.com/2011/03/anitkabir-the-mausoleum-of-mustafa-kemal-ataturk/