Bursa Ulu Mosque: History, Secrets of Kuldukari Pulpit and Visiting Guide

History and Establishment Legend of Bursa Ulu Mosque

Yıldırım Bayezid Khan, the 4th sultan of the Ottoman Empire, vowed to have 20 separate mosques built in Bursa if he won the war, before the legendary Nigbolu Victory against the Crusader armies in 1396. After the victory, the state official and the great spiritual figure of the period, His Eminence Emir Sultan, recommended the construction of a huge and sublime temple with 20 domes gathered in a single place instead of 20 separate mosques.

The opening day of the Grand Mosque, built by Architect Ali Neccar between 1396 and 1399, witnessed one of the most impressive scenes in Ottoman history. During the first Friday prayer, Sultan Yıldırım Bayezid requested Emir Sultan to read the sermon; Emir Sultan entrusted this great task to the great saint Somuncu Baba (Sheikh Hamid-i Veli), who lived in the guise of a baker. In this first Friday sermon, Somuncu Baba impressed all the scholars of the period by interpreting the Fatiha Surah in seven different exoteric and esoteric levels, and when his secret was revealed, he left Bursa.

Architectural Masterpieces and Mysterious Art Details

Bursa Ulu Mosque sits on a rectangular area of 55 x 69 meters and is surrounded by thick cut stone walls. 20 lead-covered domes placed on 12 huge pillars in the interior make the acoustics and spaciousness of the mosque unique.

1. 16 Corner Internal Fountain with Glass Ceiling

The ceiling of the dome at the very center of the mosque is covered with glass, allowing natural daylight to enter. The 16-cornered white marble fountain located right under this dome spreads the soothing sound of water to every corner of the temple. According to rumor, an old woman living on the land where the mosque would be built did not want to give her land, so the expropriation was not forced; Later, with the consent of the woman, this area was transferred to a fountain pool where clean water flows, instead of the prayer floor.

2. Unnailed Kundekari Pulpit Depicting the Solar System

The pulpit, made of hard walnut wood by Hacı Mehmed bin Abdülaziz ed-Devvakı of Antep in 1399, is one of the rarest examples of the art of kundekari (attachment without nails and glue) in the world. On the east and west side facades of the pulpit, which consists of 6,666 pieces of wood, centuries before Galileo and Copernicus, the Solar System, the orbits of the planets and their relative distances to the Sun are perfectly engraved with relief geometric motifs.

3. Open Air Museum of Islamic Calligraphy (192 Plates)

On the walls and pillars of the mosque, there are 192 plaques and graffiti written by 41 different calligraphers in thuluth, celi and kufi calligraphy. In particular, the huge Letter 'Vav', located on the southwest wall of the mosque and in front of which Hızır Aleyhisselam is said to have prayed, is a spiritual center where thousands of visitors stop to pray every day.

4. 1517 Yavuz Sultan Selim Kaaba Door Cover

After the Ottoman sultan Yavuz Sultan Selim Khan took over the caliphate and the holy relics as a result of the Egyptian Expedition, the renewed pure gold brocade door cover of the Magnificent Kaaba was personally gifted to Bursa Grand Mosque. This historical cover is exhibited in a special glass case on the right side of the pulpit.

Where and How to Get to Bursa Ulu Mosque?

The Ulu Mosque is located in the Osmangazi district, which is considered the heart of Bursa, on Atatürk Street and right at the entrance of the Historical Bazaar and Inns Area.

• By Bursaray Metro: You can get off at Şehreküstü Station and walk 5 minutes up from the Atatürk Street exit.
• With the T1 Sculpture Tram: You can get off at the Ulu Mosque stop directly at the mosque gate.
• From the Intercity Bus Terminal: Yellow public bus number 38 reaches directly in front of the Statue / Ulu Mosque.
• Parking: Grand Bazaar Multi-Storey Car Park and Zafer Plaza car parks around the mosque are within walking distance.

Local Tips for Visitors (Insider Guide)

• Light and Photography Angle: Between 10:00 and 11:30 in the morning, sunlight hits the fountain water through the ceiling glass, creating fascinating water waves on the walls.
• Dress Code: Since it is an active place of worship, female visitors are required to wear a headscarf and appropriate clothing; There is a free cover supply point at the entrance.
• Environmental Exploration: At the exit of the mosque, you can pass through the northern gate and go directly to the Historical Koza Han, built in 1491, where you can shop for genuine Bursa silk under the centuries-old plane trees and drink roasted Turkish coffee.