Ancient stronghold on Mt Meleto Population: 12,700
Other name: Qabilcewz (Kurdish), Kabilceviz
Sixty-five km north of Batman, the small town of Sason hunkers down beneath beautiful Meleto Dağı (Mt Meleto, 2967m) which is normally snow-covered right through until early summer. Unfortunately the town itself is the usual unplanned concrete jungle so you come here more for the journey and the cool mountain air than because your final destination has much in the way of sightseeing to offer.
According to the Nişanyans’ Guide to Eastern Turkey, Sason is the most northerly location in which Arabic is the primary language although Kurdish is spoken in most of the villages in the hills above it. However, the town was traditionally an Armenian settlement where in 1894 around 1,000 locals are believed to have been massacred in an incident that laid the ground for what came later.
The new road from Batman replaces a winding old one so tough that I was told people only used to visit the town once a year. It mainly follows the Sason Çayı (river), a tributary of the Batman Çayı, and along the way you’ll see storks’ nests on virtually every pylon. In summer pavement stalls fill up with locally grown strawberries and walnuts and with locally-made honey.
Transport info
There are hourly minibuses to Sason from Batman‘s İlçe Otogarı (local bus station) but nothing that travels any further. Nor are there any taxis available to get out to local sights.
Day trip destinations
Bozıkan Kalesi (Castle)
Kom (St Peter’s Monastery)
