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.
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Click here – Anıtkabir, Ataturk’s Mausoleum
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.
Frontal view of Anitkabir, which means “memorial tomb”.
How important do you have to be to get one of these?!
A group of students proudly stretch the Turkish flag in front of the Mausoleum
Inside the mausoleum, Ataturk’s sarcophagus is in the centre (above the red wreath)
The sarcophagus of Atatürk, the Father of the Republic of Turkey
Atatürk’s Cadillac on display with his personal boat
Views of the ceremony grounds from the exit of the mausoleum,
standing at the top of the stairs in front of the large columns
There were hundreds of students visiting the mausoleum during school hours,
a testiment to the importance of Atatürk’s legacy
A lone soldier stands guard outside the entrance to the spectacular mausoleum
Turkish Soldiers march with authority through the ceremony ground
Statues of three men located in front of the Freedom Tower,
representing a Turkish intellectual (left), a peasant and a Turkish soldier (right)
Fun fact – In the first 11 months of 2007, Anıtkabir received more than 11 million visitors!
The entrance to Anıtkabir, the remarkable Mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
Located in prime real estate in the centre of Ankara, the capital city of Turkey
It’s hard to not be impressed by this extravagant memorial. On the 69th anniversary of his death, over 550,000 people visited the mausoleum to pay respect to the Father of Modern Turkey. Think about that for a moment!
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What is the most impressive memorial you’ve ever visited?
Share your stories in the comments section below!
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How pretty. It’s very simple, isn’t it, yet striking.
Andy Hayes recently posted..Foodie’s Guide to New Zealand
Indeed. I like the simplicity in its grandeur
Traveling Canucks recently posted..Bernkastel, Germany’s Picture Perfect Christmas Village
Wow, I didn’t know he was so important nor that he had such a HUGE tomb.
We have a park with a fountain just one block from us (in Santiago, Chile) with a small monument to him. I never really paid much attention to it, only that the guy was from Turkey.
(I admit I had to google it to make sure it was the same person and not some other Turkish guy).
Rob W.
South America ME recently posted..Chilean Travel Photography
Yep – He is the Turkish legend. Very few people get that kind of tomb!
Traveling Canucks recently posted..When I die- I want one of these!
Haha, so true.. He’s definitely as famous as you can get in Turkey.. Everyone just loves him. Great shots too!
Thanks!
Traveling Canucks recently posted..When I die- I want one of these!
This bears a bit of resemblence to Ho Chi Minh’s masoleum! So…want to be entomed in style…start a revolution that succeeds…got it!
Aaron @ Aaron’s Worldwide Adventures recently posted..Say What Travel Photo- Bhutan Toilet Etiquette
Yup – just need to win a revolution!
Traveling Canucks recently posted..When I die- I want one of these!
As a New Zealander we know Ataturk – even though he was on the other side of the battlefield he wrote this beautiful speech; YOU, THE MOTHERS, WHO SENT THEIR SONS FROM FARAWAY COUNTRIES WIPE AWAY YOUR TEARS; YOUR SONS ARE NOW LYING IN OUR BOSOM AND ARE IN PEACE.AFTER HAVING LOST THEIR LIVES ON THIS LAND THEY HAVE BECOME OUR SONS AS WELL.
John in France recently posted..The Smell of Paradise – New Zealand
I read Ataturk’s biography and its quite impressive. No wonder he gets the highest honors, the place is really impressive!
Priyank recently posted..When a half-day is three days long
Indeed. He has an impressive resume!
Traveling Canucks recently posted..When I die- I want one of these!
The building looks amazing but I was taken with the tile work on the floor outside, just beautiful.
ayngelina recently posted..How I Quit Happy And Got Much More
Yes – the tile work is incredible, as is the interior of the mausoleum.
Traveling Canucks recently posted..When I die- I want one of these!
I’m with everyone else – the work around the main building looks so impressive. Thanks for sharing about this mausoleum. Sounds like a great trip!
Thanks Marly! It was a great trip. Tourists typically skip Ankara but it’s worth a visit
Traveling Canucks recently posted..When I die- I want one of these!
Hah, agreed! What a way to be remembered. I guess our blogs will carry on our legacies…?
Haha… I guess… or we can all band together to lead a revolution?
Traveling Canucks recently posted..When I die- I want one of these!
Great photos! It really does remind me of the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum in Hanoi, and it appears that Ataturk is just as well respected.
Migrationology recently posted..17 African Cultural Values To Know Before You Travel to Africa
Indeed – there are a lot of similarities between Ho Chi and Ataturk
Wow! So the masoleum is all for him? Not other important people in Turkey as well?
Laurel recently posted..Cheap Flights to Canada from Europe
There is another tomb at the other end of the mausoleum for the first president, but it is nothing compared to the main attraction
Great photos! Turkey is definitely on my list to see!
Roy recently posted..Jungles Of Panama
Thanks! Turkey has so much to offer but often gets overlooked. Glad it’s on your list!
Traveling Canucks recently posted..Simple Travel Tips for Driving Abroad
Turkey is DEFINITELY on our list.
To bad the Father of Turkey isn’t around to enjoy that gorgeous building.
The NVR Guys recently posted..Priceline Isn’t Perfect
Glad to here that Turkey is on your list, you won’t be disappointed!
Traveling Canucks recently posted..Simple Travel Tips for Driving Abroad
Catchy title for the blog
Who wouldn’t want to be built a memorial THAT big! Haha. And I thought the mausoleums in cemeteries were already lavish. This is like… a thousand times more lavish than those in cemeteries.
Wandering Trader’s Travels recently posted..A FAT MAN SCULPTURE-PLAZA BOTERO-MEDELLIN
It’s one of our more clever titles, isn’t it?!
Indeed, it’s as lavish as it gets!
Traveling Canucks recently posted..Simple Travel Tips for Driving Abroad
THAT is the main reason why we want to go to Ankara – apart from the Museum of Anatolian Civilisaitons. So beautiful. Yeah, no escaping the importance pf Atatürk. In Fethiye, where we are, there are framed posters of him (different black and white shots) in stands at 20 metre intervals all along the harbour for about 2 miles.
Great photos by the way!
Julia
Turkey’s For Life recently posted..Turkish Recipes- Yoğurtlu Brokoli
Thanks Julia! Hopefully you’ll get a chance to travel to Ankara soon.
If you do, make sure you visit the mosque and citadel too!
Traveling Canucks recently posted..Simple Travel Tips for Driving Abroad
Wow, what a mausoleum, so grand! We visited Kemal Ataturk’s residence in Izmir, and it was a million times more modest than this.
Dina recently posted..Best of France by Travelers Around the World
Wow! That is amazing. 11 million people, that cannot have been matched anywhere. Great capture of what it is like to be there, you really put me in the moment. The greatest memorial we have been to is Vimi Ridge. The tribute to Canadians in WWI, it is quite impressive although far less travelled
Dave and Deb recently posted..Giant News!!!
This reminded me of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington and the Mao Zedong Memorial in Beijing. Definitely gonna visit this in the future! Thanks for sharing!
Wai Tsui recently posted..Photo Story – Remembering the Cherry Blossom in Japan
Wow, it’s so angular. Reminds me in a strange way of the cube in La Defense, Paris.
Abi recently posted..How To Travel Around the World – In Photos
Wish I had made it to Ankara after Cappodocia… It sounds like a very interesting city — would have liked to see this Mausoleum.
Travelogged recently posted..Life’s a Beach- Five Fabulous Beaches
Beautiful in it’s simplicity. We’ve heading to Turkey later in the year – Was planning on just Istanbul and Goreme, but now Ankara just got added to the itinerary.
Steve recently posted..Skiing near Beijing – NanShan Ski Village- China
Wow – Great Pictures. I have not been to Ankara yet but definitely want to make it soon just to see this place.
Natalie recently posted..20 Black and White Pictures of Turkey
It’s pretty amazing!! I think it was in India, at one of the various tombs, that I started thinking about how we just don’t bury people like we used to…I mean, can you imagine someone building something like this for a prominent figure today?? Crazy talk!
megan recently posted..Afternoon at the Mongolian Museum