Dara Mesopotamia Ruins
Dara Mesopotamia Ruins
4.5
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BrakiWorldTraveler
Belgrade, Serbia19,617 contributions
Oct 2022
In this review I point out some facts and tips for a leisure visit without rush and a tour guide, which you certainly don't need unless you're a detailed history buff who wants deeper knowledge guides can provide.
Dara was our first stop after we landed in Mardin and rented a car at the airport. From the airport it's around 40 km distance which takes around 40 min driving on a very good road (almost the same you need from Dara to Mardin, but on other road).
I strongly advise renting a car as it's pretty cheap (likewise the fuel), roads are good and well signposted and you have your freedom.
Moreover, bear in mind Dara used to be a big 6th cent Roman city and the sites are scattered over a pretty big area, so without a car you'll have much walking in desert heat.
The first site you encounter is the necropolis where we were shocked the entry to all Dara is free !! The tombs are rock hewn on three levels along the gorge and in many you can enter. It reminds on Cappadocia but on a much smaller scale.
Some 5 min further from here is a smaller cistern, and another 10 min is an impressive ruined canal system built by Emperor Justinian engineers to navigate the river flow towards the cisterns for storage. These two are in walking distance.
Around 20-30 min walk (5 min by car) takes you to the Roman Agora, with the main street house ruins, dried river bed with ancient mills and a bridge (great photo op). In vicinity is the spectacular 35m deep cistern with 2000 m3 water capacity over which a Cathedral was firstly built, and now there's a house on top of it.
Beside that there are remains of the fortification walls scattered around.
It is also interesting to visit the present village of Dara - you'll see the bygone era lifestyle (almost medieval) with many kids running around you. Have some candies or 1 Lira coins by yourself to give them.
To give you an idea of time needed - with a car count around 2 hours to see all the sites around and almost the double without it.
Dara was our first stop after we landed in Mardin and rented a car at the airport. From the airport it's around 40 km distance which takes around 40 min driving on a very good road (almost the same you need from Dara to Mardin, but on other road).
I strongly advise renting a car as it's pretty cheap (likewise the fuel), roads are good and well signposted and you have your freedom.
Moreover, bear in mind Dara used to be a big 6th cent Roman city and the sites are scattered over a pretty big area, so without a car you'll have much walking in desert heat.
The first site you encounter is the necropolis where we were shocked the entry to all Dara is free !! The tombs are rock hewn on three levels along the gorge and in many you can enter. It reminds on Cappadocia but on a much smaller scale.
Some 5 min further from here is a smaller cistern, and another 10 min is an impressive ruined canal system built by Emperor Justinian engineers to navigate the river flow towards the cisterns for storage. These two are in walking distance.
Around 20-30 min walk (5 min by car) takes you to the Roman Agora, with the main street house ruins, dried river bed with ancient mills and a bridge (great photo op). In vicinity is the spectacular 35m deep cistern with 2000 m3 water capacity over which a Cathedral was firstly built, and now there's a house on top of it.
Beside that there are remains of the fortification walls scattered around.
It is also interesting to visit the present village of Dara - you'll see the bygone era lifestyle (almost medieval) with many kids running around you. Have some candies or 1 Lira coins by yourself to give them.
To give you an idea of time needed - with a car count around 2 hours to see all the sites around and almost the double without it.
Written 25 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
nickukusa
Boston, MA46 contributions
Jul 2022
I went on a tour of Dara with a guide, which was necessary considering its location and the four sites within Dara. The cisterns are more spectacular than the one in Istanbul, and touring the tombs is like visiting a city underground.
I highly recommend Ali Amak, who is based in Mardin and organizes tours in southeastern Turkey. He was recommended by another guide who was unavailable - we visited Midyat, Mor Gabriel, Nusaybin, Mardin, Deyrulzafaran Monastery, and I added an extra day with him to see Diyarbakir. Ali's email is amak_ali47@hotmail.com and he can be reached via WhatsApp (+90 543-881-2474)
I highly recommend Ali Amak, who is based in Mardin and organizes tours in southeastern Turkey. He was recommended by another guide who was unavailable - we visited Midyat, Mor Gabriel, Nusaybin, Mardin, Deyrulzafaran Monastery, and I added an extra day with him to see Diyarbakir. Ali's email is amak_ali47@hotmail.com and he can be reached via WhatsApp (+90 543-881-2474)
Written 15 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tim Van Helden
Brussels, Belgium57 contributions
Jul 2021 • Couples
We stopped at Dara while driving to Mardin,it is a must seen stop. The necropolis is located in the middle of mountains, there are almost no tourists and this helps to create a very historical atmosphere. All the tombs have been excavated on the rock and you can visit also inside. Very well preserved, worth a stop.
Written 17 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jack V
Los Angeles, CA1,443 contributions
May 2022
this ancient city is soon to be a UNESCO site and it is well deserved. it is almost 1500 years old and comprised of: city walls, a necropolis, graves and tombs and a beautiful cistern that is approximately 100 or so meters away under a locals home. this entire area has hidden ancient walls and what not in the middle of the neighborhood, in back yards and often times a house was built right on top of the ruins.
Written 22 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ebru G
Istanbul, Türkiye244 contributions
Apr 2024 • Family
The ancient city is home to a few accidental civilizations in the village of Mardin’s Son. As we were just starting out to tour Newbie, a very helpful friend also mastered our pics while telling us about the rich history of the place. We both ⁇ it and were informed.I think the name Mehmet was our friend we would thank him very much if he read it... There are a few spots around that serve ice cream shops and traditional flavors of the neighborhood.Prices are reasonable. We went for the holiday in April, but it was still hot.1 - 2 hours would be good enough.Attraction is available.Be careful when hitting cenote and hot springs.
Automatically translated
Written 15 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Catherine TK
Izmir, Türkiye263 contributions
Nov 2023 • Solo
Let's be clear, the site is no longer "off the beaten track". All the agencies and all the taxis in Mardin offer it, and there were still people in November and during the week, but all these tours stop at the necropolis and the cistern for photos, once you leave, you are quiet.
Going there is worth it, for the necropolis of course, for the history, but above all for the landscapes of the Mesopotamian plain. Going there with a rental car allows you to enjoy it at its best.
Going there is worth it, for the necropolis of course, for the history, but above all for the landscapes of the Mesopotamian plain. Going there with a rental car allows you to enjoy it at its best.
Written 11 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Edin Krnic
Tuzi, Montenegro3,701 contributions
Dec 2020 • Friends
This really awesome to visit this ancient city. 1490 years old town is located on way from Mardin to Cizre. Entrance is free of charge and this is must visit place in this part of Turkey. On the gate is very nice tour guy Sinan.
Written 2 December 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TrishHWashington_DC
Washington DC, DC135 contributions
Apr 2012 • Friends
I toured the Dara ruins in late April 2012. It's not far from from Mardin and the ruin is not even listed in older tour guides. Although the ruins are not well-marked and information lacking, some of its charm is the fact that it's not a busy tourist stop--yet. The small Kurdish village of Oguz now co-occupies its location and gave me some memorable moments. When debarking from your transportation at the necropolis, you may hear a villager singing an old Kurdish tune. In fact, if you have a guide trying to explain the ruins as you walk through the necropolis, the singer may follow and drown out the guide. Have no fear, as he is good-natured and easily shooed back to his station at the entrance where he'll belt out the same tune from time to time. It's the darling village children who are charming and want to talk with you. They're not pests or hawkers, simply children who enjoy your company and can be quite helpful. They speak Kurdish at home, speak Turkish at school, and in the third grade, begin learning English. So they want to practice and are a very loving bunch.
Dara, founded by Roman Emperor Anastasius I in 505 AD, was an important East Roman fortress city built on the border with the Sassanid Persian Empire (last pre-Islamic Persian Empire). The city was built as a refuge for the Roman army who was walloped in previous Roman-Persian battles mainly because of no outpost for the Roman Army to gather its strength. It also served to guard against inroads of the Persians and Saracens. The new city was built on three hills (in great haste), endowed with storehouses, a public bath, water cisterns, and the necropolis, which is the most prominent ruin standing. Over the years the walls were were built higher (to 60 feet) and the towers raised to 100 feet with a moat surrounding. The nearby river Cordes was diverted to flow through the city thus ensuring amply water supply and denying a water supply to a besieging enemy, thus saving the city on several occasions. To avert the danger of flooding, an elaborate arch dam was built, one of the earliest known of its kind. The city lost it's military significance and was eventually abandoned when captured in AD 639 by the Arabs.
After touring the necropolis, walk up to the village with the children who will show you the arched bridges and the awesome underground water cistern. I didn't see the agora, fortress wall, or tower, nor the arched dam, but armed with better information than I had, you may find these places amid the ruins.
I highly recommend this stop while in SE Turkey. Give yourself 1-2 hours. Aside from the "opera" singer, the quiet countryside lends a certain atmosphere to this remote area, giving one the feeling of being back in time when the whistling wind was all the noise one heard and Middle Eastern armies may march by at any given time.
Dara, founded by Roman Emperor Anastasius I in 505 AD, was an important East Roman fortress city built on the border with the Sassanid Persian Empire (last pre-Islamic Persian Empire). The city was built as a refuge for the Roman army who was walloped in previous Roman-Persian battles mainly because of no outpost for the Roman Army to gather its strength. It also served to guard against inroads of the Persians and Saracens. The new city was built on three hills (in great haste), endowed with storehouses, a public bath, water cisterns, and the necropolis, which is the most prominent ruin standing. Over the years the walls were were built higher (to 60 feet) and the towers raised to 100 feet with a moat surrounding. The nearby river Cordes was diverted to flow through the city thus ensuring amply water supply and denying a water supply to a besieging enemy, thus saving the city on several occasions. To avert the danger of flooding, an elaborate arch dam was built, one of the earliest known of its kind. The city lost it's military significance and was eventually abandoned when captured in AD 639 by the Arabs.
After touring the necropolis, walk up to the village with the children who will show you the arched bridges and the awesome underground water cistern. I didn't see the agora, fortress wall, or tower, nor the arched dam, but armed with better information than I had, you may find these places amid the ruins.
I highly recommend this stop while in SE Turkey. Give yourself 1-2 hours. Aside from the "opera" singer, the quiet countryside lends a certain atmosphere to this remote area, giving one the feeling of being back in time when the whistling wind was all the noise one heard and Middle Eastern armies may march by at any given time.
Written 2 May 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fisun P
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico54 contributions
Jun 2019
I didn’t know what to expect about this town and the history around it. If you are a traveler, you have to visit Mardin and Dara ruins.
You need a great tour guide which we had the best!!! His name is Sinan Dara Aba!!
Not only he was a great tour guide, he also loved taking pics. We had the most fun and amazing pics with him!!! He truly enjoys what he does.
I can’t tell you much about the ruins because it’s something you have to see in person. It is quite a bit of a drive from Mardin, but we ll worth it. The history of it is amazing. There is also a Cistern close by. You must see that as well. If you find Sinan, he will take you all over that area. That’s his specialty. He is on Instigram, you can find him from there if you ever decide to go and need someone. If we didn’t have him, it would have never been the same experience! I am attaching some pics that he took for us. We didn’t have to do anything. Lol
You need a great tour guide which we had the best!!! His name is Sinan Dara Aba!!
Not only he was a great tour guide, he also loved taking pics. We had the most fun and amazing pics with him!!! He truly enjoys what he does.
I can’t tell you much about the ruins because it’s something you have to see in person. It is quite a bit of a drive from Mardin, but we ll worth it. The history of it is amazing. There is also a Cistern close by. You must see that as well. If you find Sinan, he will take you all over that area. That’s his specialty. He is on Instigram, you can find him from there if you ever decide to go and need someone. If we didn’t have him, it would have never been the same experience! I am attaching some pics that he took for us. We didn’t have to do anything. Lol
Written 18 June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Erhan Yildirim
Türkiye2,420 contributions
Dec 2020
Byzantine(the Eastern Roman Empire)garrison and border city Dara
Dara ancient city-necropolis…(Mardin/Turkey)
In official records, Dara, By the Roman Emperor Anastasius (AD 491-518) in 505-507, A garrison city was established to protect the eastern border of the empire to the Sassanids. The city is known as "Dara-Anastasiopolis" in the name of the founding emperor. There are different opinions about where the city's name comes from. Some sources said that the darius who was defeated in the Issos(İskenderun/Turkey) battle BC 333 between Alexander the Great and Darius III (Achaemenid Empire)died here after the war and the name dara came from here. some sources refer to the 3rd century BC. it is said to have been founded by King Arsaces of Parth in the second half of the century . According to another view, its strategic location, fertile land and rich because of its water resources, it was long before King of Parth 1. Founded by Tiridates (246-211 BC). The city walls are strengthened and raised by Justinian I (527-565 AD). The water cisterns and additional measures are taken against the sasani attacks.. The name of the city was changed to "Justiniana Nova" in AD 530 after a series of restoration works carried out by Emperor Justinian I. Ancient city of Dara ..it includes city walls, inner castle, bastions ,ditches ,defensive structures,cisterns,living areas,necropolis,agora,bridges. In 530 AD, it witnessed the victory of the emperor's generals Belisarius and Sittas over the Sassanids. the Sassanids are forced to flee. in some sources, it is said that the emperor built the small Hagia Sophia church((Church of the Saints Sergius and Bacchus) .in Istanbul in memory of this victory. Until 640, Dara changed hands several times.between the Sassanids and the Romans .Islamic armies conquer Dara in 640. the most important structures of the city are the necropolis section,agora,cisterns and city walls. 3 bridges were built over the river in the section where the stream, which has dried up today, passes through the middle of the city. a wide and smooth road and agora, about 100 meters long, were built on the edge of the river. there are water distribution systems and cisterns that allow huge water to be distributed and cleared to the city in the direction of the river's entrance. one of the most visited parts of the city, giant cisterns about 35 meters high, which are examples of magnificent Roman architecture today called dungeons, were built. in various sources,it is said that these giant structures were used as cisterns, warehouses or dungeons. the most important and most visited part of Dara is of course the necropolis section, which was built with 3 floors. in the necropolis area, there are sarcophagi and chamber type graves outside the 3-storey section.all structures of the area in general are constructed of limestone.in some sources, it is said that limestones extracted from the deep valley created for the necropolis were used in the construction of castle walls and other buildings. The lowest floor of the necropolis, which was built on 3 floors, contains a large number of human bones. it is said that these bones belong to the people who were killed in the city when the Sassanids took over the city. it is believed that the people living in the city buried the people killed by the Sassanids here, where they believed that the prophet ezekiel would resurrect them, as written in the Old Testament. On 2 floors of the 3-storey structure, there are carved Tomb types in the wall. the last floor is a section where different beliefs and ceremonies are held. soot and fire marks on the ceiling suggest that this place was previously used as an animal shelter and shelter. there is a 15-meter-high tunnel with a diameter of about 5 meters, which opens from the last floor to the Earth.it can be considered that the tunnel is used for two purposes.it can be assumed that people who have been due to an infectious disease since ancient times were lowered down the tunnel with the help of a rope from above and left behind.another reason may be that the smell of harmful and bad gas is thrown out of the place where the dead are buried. the most important part of the necropolis area is the relief figures made at the top of the entrance of the 3-storey building.these figures are the first and only ones in the world. these relief figures describe 2 events in the Old Testament. in the center of the sketches on the left is the prophet ezekiel ,in the lower corner are the bones of the people who will be resurrected,in the upper right and upper left corner are 4 Angels, and in the upper right corner is a hand(the hand of God). in the Old Testament, it is written that in the time of the apocalypse, ezekiel will resurrect people with the permission of God.this event is described in the relief. there are different opinions about the relief on the right side. in this relief, there is a man and perhaps a small baby and a pine tree or cypress tree.one of them describes the incident of the Prophet Moses and the burning bush. other sources say that the relief was virgin Mary and Jesus. the cypress tree is known in mythology as the tree that communicates between 2 worlds and brings good news to the Earth…
Dara ancient city-necropolis…(Mardin/Turkey)
In official records, Dara, By the Roman Emperor Anastasius (AD 491-518) in 505-507, A garrison city was established to protect the eastern border of the empire to the Sassanids. The city is known as "Dara-Anastasiopolis" in the name of the founding emperor. There are different opinions about where the city's name comes from. Some sources said that the darius who was defeated in the Issos(İskenderun/Turkey) battle BC 333 between Alexander the Great and Darius III (Achaemenid Empire)died here after the war and the name dara came from here. some sources refer to the 3rd century BC. it is said to have been founded by King Arsaces of Parth in the second half of the century . According to another view, its strategic location, fertile land and rich because of its water resources, it was long before King of Parth 1. Founded by Tiridates (246-211 BC). The city walls are strengthened and raised by Justinian I (527-565 AD). The water cisterns and additional measures are taken against the sasani attacks.. The name of the city was changed to "Justiniana Nova" in AD 530 after a series of restoration works carried out by Emperor Justinian I. Ancient city of Dara ..it includes city walls, inner castle, bastions ,ditches ,defensive structures,cisterns,living areas,necropolis,agora,bridges. In 530 AD, it witnessed the victory of the emperor's generals Belisarius and Sittas over the Sassanids. the Sassanids are forced to flee. in some sources, it is said that the emperor built the small Hagia Sophia church((Church of the Saints Sergius and Bacchus) .in Istanbul in memory of this victory. Until 640, Dara changed hands several times.between the Sassanids and the Romans .Islamic armies conquer Dara in 640. the most important structures of the city are the necropolis section,agora,cisterns and city walls. 3 bridges were built over the river in the section where the stream, which has dried up today, passes through the middle of the city. a wide and smooth road and agora, about 100 meters long, were built on the edge of the river. there are water distribution systems and cisterns that allow huge water to be distributed and cleared to the city in the direction of the river's entrance. one of the most visited parts of the city, giant cisterns about 35 meters high, which are examples of magnificent Roman architecture today called dungeons, were built. in various sources,it is said that these giant structures were used as cisterns, warehouses or dungeons. the most important and most visited part of Dara is of course the necropolis section, which was built with 3 floors. in the necropolis area, there are sarcophagi and chamber type graves outside the 3-storey section.all structures of the area in general are constructed of limestone.in some sources, it is said that limestones extracted from the deep valley created for the necropolis were used in the construction of castle walls and other buildings. The lowest floor of the necropolis, which was built on 3 floors, contains a large number of human bones. it is said that these bones belong to the people who were killed in the city when the Sassanids took over the city. it is believed that the people living in the city buried the people killed by the Sassanids here, where they believed that the prophet ezekiel would resurrect them, as written in the Old Testament. On 2 floors of the 3-storey structure, there are carved Tomb types in the wall. the last floor is a section where different beliefs and ceremonies are held. soot and fire marks on the ceiling suggest that this place was previously used as an animal shelter and shelter. there is a 15-meter-high tunnel with a diameter of about 5 meters, which opens from the last floor to the Earth.it can be considered that the tunnel is used for two purposes.it can be assumed that people who have been due to an infectious disease since ancient times were lowered down the tunnel with the help of a rope from above and left behind.another reason may be that the smell of harmful and bad gas is thrown out of the place where the dead are buried. the most important part of the necropolis area is the relief figures made at the top of the entrance of the 3-storey building.these figures are the first and only ones in the world. these relief figures describe 2 events in the Old Testament. in the center of the sketches on the left is the prophet ezekiel ,in the lower corner are the bones of the people who will be resurrected,in the upper right and upper left corner are 4 Angels, and in the upper right corner is a hand(the hand of God). in the Old Testament, it is written that in the time of the apocalypse, ezekiel will resurrect people with the permission of God.this event is described in the relief. there are different opinions about the relief on the right side. in this relief, there is a man and perhaps a small baby and a pine tree or cypress tree.one of them describes the incident of the Prophet Moses and the burning bush. other sources say that the relief was virgin Mary and Jesus. the cypress tree is known in mythology as the tree that communicates between 2 worlds and brings good news to the Earth…
Written 22 December 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bu konuda bilgim maalesef yok. Ben kendi aracımla gitmiştim
Written 17 May 2019
Merhaba,gittiğinizde orayı tanıtan yöresel rehber mevcut zaten otoparka girdiğinizde sizi karşılıyorlar Dara Kenti 2 bölüm zannedersem 2 saat yeterli olur etkileneceksiniz iyi günler dilerim.Mustafa AĞAOĞLU
Written 23 March 2019
Thank you for sharing your memories of Dara.
I have few questions: is it easy to find the archaeological site? The way is signed?
The entry is free or there are opening hours?
Thank you very much!
Written 2 August 2015
you could find easily to Dara , Mardin city has a airport but I am not sure you can go to Dara by local transportation but you can rent a car It is very cheap in Mardin . and the entry is free you can visit every day to Dara unti 05:00 pm.
Written 23 February 2017
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