Utkarsh Rai

Istanbul is the bridge between Europe and Asia. On our way from the airport, we saw two people fighting in the middle of the road over whose car was responsible for the accident. The guide was embarrassed but opened up fast when he came to know that such things were common in India too. We went to see the Military museum but were welcomed by a Pakistani song was played by the band. The guide looked at us sheepishly clarifying that they had close relationship with Pakistan. He quickly added that the Turkish people recognized the support of India during the Khilafat movement. The show depicted the migration of people from Central Asia to the world including Babar’s setting up of the Mughal Empire in India. There we learnt the history of the fall of Constantinople.

The Hagia Sophia, Suleymaniye and Blue mosques, Dolmabahce Palace and Basilica Cistern, where “From Russia with Love” was shot, were all breathtaking. The “Orient Express” starts from Istanbul and a visit to the railway station brought Agatha Christie’s novel back to life. However, the most memorable place was the Topkapi palace, the residence of the Ottoman emperors, having a few articles of Prophet Mohammad too. The throne section of the museum has an extremely beautiful Indian throne that was presented to Turkey around Nadir Shah’s period. Whether this was a section of the famous Takht-e-Taus or a part of many other treasures, which he had looted from Delhi, remained a mystery?

I picked up a hookah as a souvenir and tried to bargain hard for it. I paid him the money and asked him to return the change according to what his conscience told him. He laughed and said that Turkish people also bargained the same way.

The hostility between Turkey and Greece was narrated to us including the territorial claims and population exchanges based on religion. This sounded similar to issues between India and Pakistan. My guide knew that Greece was our next stop and smiled and said that we would hear the other side of the story too.