Reaching Mount Nemrut to be made easier with a road project
ADIYAMAN - Anadolu Agency
The ancient site on Mount Nemrut, which is famous for its collection of massive stone heads that were erected in the first century B.C., is visited by lots of locals and foreign tourists every year. AA photos
With the construction of a new road in the southeastern province of Adıyaman’s Kahta district, tourists will be able to reach Mount Nemrut with more ease, and in a shorter time.The ancient site on Mount Nemrut, which is famous for its collection of massive stone heads that were erected in the first century B.C., is visited by lots of locals and foreign tourists every year.
Transportation to the mount from Kahta is provided in two ways. Tourists reach the mount by traveling 60 kilometers through the main road or 30 kilometers through the Arsemia pathway.
Pathway construction
The Arsemia pathway is being paved with cobblestone for tourists to climb the nearly 2,150 meter-high tumulus easily. When the pavement is completed, tourists will be able to reach the Mount Nemrut within a shorter time.
Workers use donkeys to carry sand, cement and cobblestone pavers as vehicles cannot be driven on the road to the mount. Governor Mehmet Demirtaş said that the Mount Nemrut was one of the wonders of the world, adding that while many tourists visited the mount, they often encountered great difficulties in reaching it.
Demirtaş said that as a result of talks with the Culture and Tourism Ministry to solve the problem, they started laying down cobblestone pavers in the region. “The Arsemia pathway is dangerous. Now the road is under construction. Within the scope of the project, we will also place lighting system and information signboards,” the mayor added.
The Arsemia pathway is being paved with cobblestone
for tourists to climb the nearly 2,150 meter-high
tumulus easily.
Demirtaş added that a rail system would also be established for old and disabled tourists.
The rail system is part of a tourism revival project funded by the European Union. The project also includes the establishment of a building in the city center in which the miniatures of historical and cultural artworks will be displayed and traditional foods and handicrafts will be promoted.
The cost of the project was 5.8 million euros and it would rearrange the area surrounding Mount Nemrut. A two-kilometer rail system will be built between the beginning of the walking route and the top of the mount. There will be six railway cars, each of which will be drawn by mules.
The railway cars have been prepared by a machine engineer and take into account all the needs of disabled people.