Nation's Garden - Taraklı

The traffic is usually heavy. The track goes from Adapazarı-Bilecik road, which is the main route, towards Geyve. You will encounter gas stations and recreational facilities on the road. When you turn to Taraklı from Alifuatpaşa in the southwest direction before coming to Geyve, the road continues over two lanes. The slopes begin with this section. Until Taraklı, the road mostly follows an incline. It is a track with an elevation gain of about a thousand meters and is suitable for training purposes. One of the tougher tours, but well worth it. Why? Taraklı is one of the rare spots that managed to preserve its natural structure throughout history. With its houses, streets, nature, food and people, Taraklı is a settlement where those "old days" are lived. While pedalling with your bike, Taraklı's unique houses will draw your attention. Located in a lush nature, Taraklı Houses are structures that have managed to survive for many years. So much so that some of the historical houses are over three centuries old. Moreover, it is located in a lush, natural environment. The general characteristic of these houses is in the form of a three-storey house that epitomises the Ottoman urban texture. Another structure of the district that carries the past to the present is the Yunus Pasha Mosque. According to its inscription, it was built in 1517 by the Grand Vizier Yunus Pasha, during the period of Yavuz Sultan Selim's Egyptian expedition. The structure, which is one of the works of Sinan the Architect, is covered with a dome and was built in a square plan. Yunus Pasha Mosque is a revelatory example of Classical Ottoman architecture. Historical inn, narrow and cobbled Taraklı streets smelling of history, historical bath, plane tree, fortress… You will cross many houses which could have sprung directly from Taraklı's past. Taraklı cuisine has also taken its share from the deep-rooted past of the region. Pastries and desserts are at the forefront of Taraklı cuisine. At the beginning of Taraklı regional , delicious recipes such as uhut dessert, köpük halva, meat dish with chickpeas (nohutlu et yemeği), keşkek, and stuffed leaves. You should definitely try it. As in the past, the most important handicraft in Taraklı is making spoons from boxwood. It has been established that in the 1970s, 79% of the people in Taraklı made their living from this traditional handicraft. Spoons made in Taraklı were exported to Arab and Persian countries for many years. In short, leave room for gift spoons in your bag on the way back.