History and General Information / Local Legends and Folklore
Kocatepe Mosque, whose foundations were laid in 1967 and opened for worship in 1987, is a monumental masterpiece that brings together Ottoman classical architecture (the synthesis of Mimar Sinan's Edirne Selimiye Mosque and Istanbul Sultanahmet Mosque) with 20th century engineering genius in the capital of the Republic of Turkey. The mosque was designed by Hüsrev Tayla and Fatin Uluengin; It leaves its mark on Ankara's silhouette with its 4 88-meter-high minarets, a huge congregation capacity of 25 thousand people, and a 48.5-meter-high main dome. The 9.5-ton crystal chandelier, handmade Iznik tiles, gold-leaf calligraphy and specially woven huge Uşak carpet in the interior of the mosque bring the spiritual magnificence to the top. It is the historical send-off place for the funerals of Turkey's high officials and martyrs. Geographical Structure, Altitude and Natural Features
The mosque is built on the Kocatepe hill at an altitude of 910 meters. Since it is located on one of the dominant hills of the city, it rises majestically from many parts of Kızılay, Sıhhiye and Çankaya. Visiting Hours, Days and Entrance Fees
•Entrance Fee:It is a place of worship and entrance is completely free (is_free: true).•Visiting Hours and Days:It is open for worship and visits 7 days a week, from the morning adhan until after the night prayer.•Rules, Safety and Stroller/Disabled Access: Attire appropriate to mosque etiquette (headscarves for women, clothing that covers shoulders and knees) is mandatory; Shoes are removed at the entrance. The mosque courtyard and interior can be easily accessed via elevators and disabled ramps.•Facilities and Facilities:There is a large marble courtyard, fountains, conference hall, library, lower floor shopping and parking complex, ablution facilities and WC. Transportation, Public Transit Routes and Exact Location•Address / Open Location:Kültür Mahallesi, Dr. Mediha Eldem Sokak No:67, Kocatepe, Çankaya / Ankara.•Road Condition and Vehicle Availability: It is only 800 meters from Kızılay Square; It can be reached in 3 minutes by passenger car via Mithatpaşa or Meşrutiyet Street.•Real Public Transportation Information: From Kızılay Metro Station, it takes 8-10 minutes to walk along Olgunlar or Meşrutiyet Street; All buses and minibuses passing through Mithatpaşa Street pass very close by.•Parking Availability:Under the mosque, there is a Kocatepe multi-storey indoor car park with a capacity of hundreds of vehicles. Contextual Experience Tips, Photography and Local Gastronomy•Spiritual Visit and Prayer Etiquette: It is essential to pray in peace by going under the huge dome of the mosque and watching the acoustics and dome inscriptions, and to preserve the silence and awe of the congregation during prayer times.•Photo Spots:The symmetry of the four elegant minarets reaching into the sky from the large marble courtyard of the mosque, the interior decorations of the main dome and the sparkle of the huge crystal chandelier.