Doğu Beyazıt and Ishak Pasha Palace

The city was named Beyazit in memory of Bayazid'i Bistami, of the mystic leaders of the Anatolian Turks, who lived in the 8th century. Dogu Beyazit is a major trading gate of Turkey opening into Asia via Iran. In the vicinity of Gurbulak border gate is the largest meteoric stone pit of the world measuring 60 m deep and 30 m wide. Moreover, there are remains dating from the Urartu era on the Hill of Aznavur in the area. The area is covered with plains formed as a result of the depression of extinct volcanoes such as Agri, Tendurek, Ala Dag, Kose, Ziyaret. Kanli and Siiphan Mountains. In the area called the old Beyazit, 95 km to the east of Agri, is the Ishak Pasha Palace and Kiilliye established upon a high hill dominating the Silk Way. It was built during the 17th century. Ishak Pasha Kulliye is surrounded with structural walls in the form of city walls and the Ishak Pasha Palace inside is two-storeyed and with 366 rooms. In its courtyard are the remains of the single-domed Ishak Pasha Mosque of Turkistan order, with walls twice as high as the palace, and of the turbe made of dressed stone, adorned with floral motifs at the window edges. Rising up on the walls of the Ishak Pasha Palace are pyramidal towers. The main entrance gates evoke the portal of a caravanserai of the Seljuk order.