The minaret has become a 'watchtower'! They have been watching for 40 years: We even see our dreams here

The rural neighborhood, which is affiliated with the central Kocasinan district and 45 kilometers away from the city center, was moved to another location due to floods in 1985.

Over the past 40 years, the houses in the neighborhood, where approximately 450 families lived, have turned into ruins.

The mosque, which was built in 1200 by the Yıva tribe of the Oghuzs and has been renovated many times over time, draws attention with its minaret, which was built in the 1970s, being the only structure left standing in the neighborhood.

The minaret, made of hollow bricks placed between the iron frame, became a "watchtower" for citizens who wanted to see the streets where they spent their childhood.

"THERE WERE 450 HOUSEHOLDS IN THIS VILLAGE AT THAT TIME"

Mehmet Erkılıç , 57, a resident of the neighborhood, told AA that the village, which has been inhabited for hundreds of years, has experienced floods several times.

Recalling that the village was moved to a new location in 1985 with the efforts of the headman of the period, Erkılıç said, "At that time, there were 450 households in this village. Those who could buy land from the new settlement settled there, and those who could not go to Kayseri . We live in the new settlement. We are engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry."

"WE EVEN SEE OUR DREAMS HERE"

Erkılıç, who said that he frequently comes to his old neighborhoods to refresh his memories, noted the following:

Ahmet Karahöyük, who moved to the city center about 40 years ago, said that he moved to a house near the neighborhood after he retired.

Emphasizing that he never severed his ties with the land he was born in, Karahöyük said, "This mosque has a 700-year-old charter. We come here every eve, open the mosque and pray here. Even though there is a new village up there, we come here. Our ancestors are here."