Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Mission Istanbul

Napoleon Bonaparte rightly said, “If the Earth were a single state, Istanbul would be its capital” because in which other city would you find such diversity with numerous Ottoman Mosques on one hand and galleries, restaurants, bars and a bustling nightlife on the other, both being almost equal in number! Thanks to its long and eventful history, Istanbul, also called the ‘World’s Hippest City,’ has a mix of many historic buildings like its churches, mosques, synagogues, palaces, castles and towers all packed into one. Some of the major attractions include ‘Column of Constantine’ built by Constantine the Great. Hagia Sophia, which originally was a church but later became a mosque and now stands as a museum, is the largest structure on Sultanahmet Square in the Eminönü district. The Ottoman Turks built castles around the Asian and the European sides. Apart from these must-see monuments, the city also boasts of a colourful culture and gives its tourists abundant activities to choose from like opera, ballet, and theatre that go on all year round. The International Istanbul Film Festival, one of the most important film festivals in Europe, and Istanbul Biennial are the major festivals here. Moreover, when visiting Istanbul, one must soak themselves in a Hammam for a completely rejuvenating experience especially after a long day of travelling. No high quality massage over here to look forward to, but one can expect all the dead skin to be scrubbed off.

There are a lot of bazaars that one would find in here like the Grand Bazaar, the Egyptian Bazaar and Mahmutpasa Bazaar. Akmerkez is the only mall to win “Europe’s Best” and “World’s Best” awards. There are many clubs and restaurants; however, apart from the regular Turkish food one must try seafood in Istanbul which is, by far, the best cuisine served here. The best way to travel on water bodies is by ferry, whereas taxis would be a good option on road. Better still, take the reliable tram as the taxi drivers might overcharge! Also, it is best to avoid carpet touts and tour guides. An appropriate time to visit Istanbul is in the summer months of April and May and also during September-October.


Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.
 
IIPM : The B-School with a Human Face
Posted by at
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , ,