This is the funerary sanctuary King Antiochus I of Commagene built for himself in the 1st century BCE, a man-made summit tumulus flanked by two terraces of colossal stone heads - Zeus, Apollo, Herakles, Antiochus himself, and an eagle and lion - toppled from their bodies by earthquakes over two millennia. It is a genuine full-day undertaking from Malatya: the appeal is standing at 2,150 metres among these detached heads at sunrise or sunset, when the low light picks out the stone. Most visitors also work in the ruins of Arsameia, Antiochus's former capital, and the Roman-era Cendere Bridge on the same route out of Kahta.
| Distance | 220 km (~137 miles) from Malatya city |
|---|---|
| Travel time | 2 hours 30 minutes by bus to Kahta; then 1 hour by minibus to summit |
| Getting there | Bus from Malatya otogar to Kahta (₺150–₺200/~$4.20–$5.60; 2.5 hours); then local minibus/taxi to summit (₺150–₺300/~$4.20–$8.40) |
| Address | Nemrut Dağı Milli Parkı, Kahta, 02200 Adıyaman, Turkey |
How to get there
- Bus to Kahta + minibus to summit; or hire a private car from Malatya (approx. ₺2,000–₺3,000/~$56–$84 return for vehicle, not per person)
Location
Nemrut Dağı Milli Parkı, Kahta, 02200 Adıyaman, Turkey
37.9800, 38.7400 View on map
Highlights
- East and West Terraces - the two sets of giant seated-god heads, separated by the tumulus itself
- Karakuş Tumulus - a smaller royal burial mound with a column topped by an eagle, en route
- Cendere Bridge - a single-span Roman bridge over the Cendere stream, still carrying foot traffic
- Arsameia - Antiochus I's former royal city, with a large relief of the king shaking hands with Herakles