Istanbul : Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower

blue-mosque-travel

Hi Everyone,:)

Here’s the first post from Istanbul. We spent loads of time sightseeing there. We started our day with Grand Bazaar. It has around 4000 shops and is a good place to buy your trinkets. Don’t get into buying bags, shoes, jewellery etc. They have the best of fakes. πŸ˜› It’s the best place for picking up souvenirs for friends and family. Don’t forget to BARGAIN! πŸ™‚

Then we walked ahead on lovely cobbled streets to see the Blue Mosque, Hippodrome of Constantinople, Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace. Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia literally blew our mind away with their enriching history and enchanting architecture. It’s crazy how amazing the architecture of the Byzantine era was. I wore a black outfit since we were going to visit the mosques. And this was my little way of showing respect! πŸ™‚

Honestly, we got a little bored at the Topkapi palace. It’s basically a museum and you get to see the clothes, and gems of the royalty of Byzantine time. But the best thing was the cafe at the Topkapi Palace. You sit right next to the sea, enjoy the chilly wind, catch the view and sip your coffee. Β This was the View. It was breathtaking. πŸ™‚

The last stop of the day was the Galata Tower. It is the highest point of Istanbul. But the highlight of the day was the birthday celebration of one of the members of our travel group. We were really lucky to have an amazing group to travel with during the trip. The people of our group gelled with each other just like a family. It made the whole trip super memorable for everyone. πŸ™‚

We went back to our hotels, chilled out over glasses of wines and headed to have a late dinner.

It was a beautiful day. πŸ™‚

Sharing some pics from our day in Istanbul. πŸ™‚

D84A2934 D84A2942 D84A2953 rajesh-pratap-singh-trousers D84A2962 D84A2987 rajesh-pratap-singh-pants turkish-shoes

The Gran Bazaar!
The Grand Bazaar!
what to shop???
what to shop???
Amongst the busy crowd!
Amongst the busy crowd!
Lights!
Lights!
blue mosque turkey
The Sultan Ahmed Mosque is known as the Blue Mosque for the blue tiles adorning the walls of its interior.
 The many lamps inside the mosque were once covered with gold and gems. Among the glass bowls one could find ostrich eggs and crystal balls. All these decorations have been removed or pillaged for museums.
The many lamps inside the mosque were once covered with gold and gems. Among the glass bowls one could find ostrich eggs and crystal balls. All these decorations have been removed or pillaged for museums.
 The Blue Mosque has one main dome, six minarets, and eight secondary domes.
The Blue Mosque has one main dome, six minarets, and eight secondary domes.
The prayer movements!
The prayer movements!
A fragment of Hippodrome of Constantinople - it   was a circus that was the sporting and social centre of Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire. Today it is a square named Sultanahmet MeydanΔ± .
A fragment of Hippodrome of Constantinople – it was a circus that was the sporting and social centre of Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire. Today it is a square named Sultanahmet MeydanΔ± .
the masked beauties!
the masked beauties!

 

Hagia Sophia is a former Greek Orthodox patriarchal basilica (church), later an imperial mosque, and now a museum in Istanbul, Turkey.
Hagia Sophia is a former Greek Orthodox patriarchal basilica (church), later an imperial mosque, and now a museum in Istanbul, Turkey.
look up!
look up!
memories!
memories!
The stunning architecture inside Hagia Sophia
The stunning architecture inside Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia is famous in particular for its massive dome, it is considered the epitome of Byzantine architecture and is said to have "changed the history of architecture.
Hagia Sophia is famous in particular for its massive dome, it is considered the epitome of Byzantine architecture and is said to have “changed the history of architecture.
A lady came and put this flower crown on my head! : )
A lady came and put this flower crown on my head! : )
the crown seller! There were many such there : )
the crown seller! There were many such there : )
Inside the Topkapi Palace- Kind used to have secret conversations with his vazir in this room.
Inside the Topkapi Palace- The king used to have secret conversations with his vazir in this room.
The view of Istanbul from Galata Tower
The view of Istanbul from Galata Tower
View from Galata Tower!
View from Topkapi Palace!
Birthday celebration on top of the world! : )
Birthday celebration on top of the world! : )
The chicest one!
The chicest one!
A busy istanbul evening!
A busy istanbul evening!
Laughters!
Laughters!
On a regular say in Istanbul!
On a regular say in Istanbul!
Colors!
Colors!

rajesh-pratap-singh

Beatles!
Beatles!
Color Co-ordinated
Color Co-ordinated
wonder who is offering the light!
wonder which one is offering the light!

Pants : Rajesh Pratap Singh
Top, Hairband : Zara
Shoes : Turkey
Bag : Dior
Sunglasses Rayban

Also Read ,

Cappadocia – Hot Air Balloon, Fairy Chimneys, Goreme Open Air Museum, Whirling Dervishes
Turkey – Antalya, Pammukale, Konya

This entry was posted in Outfits, Travel and tagged , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

30 Responses to Istanbul : Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *