A New Chapter for One of Anatolia’s Oldest Settlements: Ten newly restored caves in the archaeological site of Hasankeyf, located in Batman Province, have officially been opened to tourism, marking an important step in showcasing the area’s rich historical and cultural heritage.
Speaking at the opening ceremony held in the Castle area of Hasankeyf, Governor Ekrem Canalp said the restoration project, which began three years ago, has now been completed and the caves are ready to welcome visitors.
“This Is Just the Beginning”
Governor Canalp emphasized that the project is only the first phase of a much broader vision. He stated that the number of restored caves will increase in the coming years, adding:
“This is a beginning. From now on, we will move forward step by step by adding new ones every year. The hardest part was doing the first one. Now, we will be bolder, because we will follow the same method and principles.”
Cave Hotel Projects on the Horizon
Canalp also revealed that cave hotel projects are planned for the region. He noted that all necessary preparations have been completed, including zoning plans and the allocation of land from the National Property Directorate to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
“In the near future, we will be in a position to tell investors, ‘Come and invest,’ when it comes to cave hotels,” he said.
Following the ceremony, Governor Canalp and accompanying officials toured the restored caves.
The event was attended by AK Party Batman MP Ferhat Nasıroğlu, Hasankeyf District Governor Mehmet Ali İmrak, along with mayors and representatives of political parties and civil society organizations.
Keywords: #Hasankeyf #Batman #CulturalHeritage #HistoricCaves #TourismInTurkey #AnatolianHistory #CaveRestoration #CulturalTourism
