Karatay Municipality Completes the Restoration of the Burhan Dede Tomb

Karatay Municipality has added another project to the efforts carried out to preserve the historical and cultural heritage located in the district. Considered one of Konya's spiritual values, the Burhan Dede Tomb has been revived through restoration works carried out in accordance with its original form.

Karatay Municipality continues to strengthen the historical identity of the district by carrying out numerous projects aimed at preserving its cultural and spiritual values; including the restoration of historical mosques, tombs, fountains, and examples of traditional architecture. In this context, the Burhan Dede Tomb has also been restored and returned as part of Konya's spiritual heritage.

THE HISTORICAL STRUCTURE HAS BEEN TAKEN UNDER PROTECTION

Located in Sarıyakup Neighbourhood, the Burhan Dede Tomb was registered as an immovable cultural asset that must be preserved under the Law No. 2863 on the Protection of Cultural and Natural Assets by the decision of the Konya Regional Council for the Protection of Cultural Heritage dated 17 February 2017 and numbered 4263. The tomb was classified as a second group protected structure. The restoration project prepared for the area owned by Karatay Municipality was approved by the Konya Regional Council for the Protection of Cultural Heritage on 24 September 2024. Following the approval, implementation works began on 12 June 2025. During the restoration process, the use of traditional construction techniques and original materials was prioritized, and the works were completed accordingly.

KILCA: WE ARE CARRYING KARATAY'S SPIRITUAL HERITAGE INTO THE FUTURE

Karatay Mayor Hasan Kılca stated that the revival of the Burhan Dede Tomb carries great importance for the cultural memory of Konya.

Mayor Kılca said that "Karatay is a place where history and culture are intertwined, with a deep-rooted past. Through the restoration and preservation projects we carry out across our district, we both strengthen the city's identity and preserve the cultural heritage entrusted to us by our ancestors. The Burhan Dede Tomb is one of the important works we approached with this understanding. We have completed its restoration in accordance with its original form. With the completion of the landscaping, we will open the tomb for public visits."

THE CENTURIES-OLD TOMB HAS BEEN PRESERVED WITH ITS ORIGINAL ARCHITECTURE

Built using traditional Sille stone material on a stone foundation, with brick-reinforced geometric stone walls, the Burhan Dede Tomb is one of the original examples of traditional architecture with its flat interior ceiling and single-slope exterior roof.

It is believed that the four sarcophagi inside the tomb belong to Burhan Dede, his wife, daughter, and son.

Burhan Dede has been remembered with great respect by the people of Konya for centuries. Visited by the public, the tomb carries significant spiritual value in both religious and folk culture. Having remained for many years within private property in the courtyard of a house, the tomb was brought to light and taken under protection as a result of the urban transformation and expropriation works carried out by Karatay Municipality. With the meticulous restoration works carried out by the municipality, the tomb was revived in full fidelity to its original architectural character.