In the last few years, some very nice hotels have been established in Eastern Anatolia, the eastern side of Turkey, as it has become a more popular tourist destination. İt is a good idea to visit this area as part of a pre-planned tour, as some places still require specific visas, and some areas are quite difficult to get to if you do not have an experienced driver and guide.

     There are some very good reasons to visit this side of Turkey, much of the area has history dating back to 7000BC. Many churches, monastaries, castles, fortresses and monuments still stand much as they originally were. Nature has also performed some wonderful feats on this side of the country. Volcanic activity, and the showering of meteorites have created some wonderous sights to behold.

     While in the east, you can visit places like the Ihsak Paşa Palace, a solitary structure built on a large plateau 5km to the east of Doğübeyazit, with extremely distinctive Baroque adn Rococco style architecture, and is often said to be more impressive than Istanbul's Topkapi Palace. Mt Ararat is also in this area, and ti has believed that this two peaked mountain is the resting place of Noah's Ark. It is also possible to climb the South facing side of the mountain.

     Then there is the area of Van, which contains the Van Fortress, which was constructed in the 9th Century BC, and at the foot of this fortress is the Ulu Cami (Great Mosque). Lake Van is also a beautiful spot to visit, it is the largest lake in Turkey, and 5th largest in all of Europe. At the lake you can visit the Rock of Van, an enormous outcrop rising from the ground, around which there are a number of well preserved tombs and a mosque. The silhouette of the rock at sunset is also a fabulous sight.

     This area features remains of a great number of civilisations which have come and gone over its great history. These include the Persians, Alexander the Great, Romans, Byzantians, Armenians, and quite a few more. İn the prehistorical cultural centres of Çapanuk and Bihiri, visitors can observe a number of artefacts that have been discovered over the years. There are also fantastic prehistorical cave paintings to be found throughout the area.

     As well as the man made, there are many natural wonders to be found here, on the Artos Mountain there are a number of endemic plant species, and on Çarpanak Island, some distinctive and rare bird species.

     There are Many Urartu cities scattered through the east, one of the main ones being Ani, which was deserted in 1239 after a Mongol invasion. Visitors can stay in the nearby city of Kars to visit this great ghost town with its huge outer walls and many distinctive churches.

     Of course, if you visit the east, you can not afford to miss what is considered to be the 8th Wonder of the World, Mt Nemrut. Nemrut is a small hill made up of pieces of stone, which cover a tumulus containing the tombs of many famous Turkish leaders. There are terraces built around the tumulus, adn on these terraces are 10m statues of Apollon, Tyche, Zeus, Heraches and Antioches. The bodies of these statues still stand erect, but the heads have become dislodged over time, and rolled partway down the hill, still an extremely impressive sight, none the less.

     Another different and distinctive part of this wonderfully diverse country, Eastern Anatolia's beauty can now be seen and enjoyed by all.