Karain Village

This is an abandoned village located 10 km from the center of Ürgüp in the Nevşehir province. The village was relocated in 2017 because the soil in the area contained high levels of erionite, a substance known to cause mesothelioma.

Although only a few houses remain in the village today, I would say that 95% of the village is deserted. I will share some notes from my last visit to the area:

Many of the houses in the village were abandoned many years ago and are in a dilapidated state.

Many of the houses had dried onions spread on the floors; I couldn't understand why.

The road connecting Karacaören village to Karlık village passes through the village, and almost all the houses along this road are still inhabited.

A relatively new mosque, still in use, was built by the main road.

Located 100 meters south of this mosque is the Hacı İsa Mosque, dating back to 1230 (Hijri). I couldn't enter the mosque because its door was locked.

Within the village, there is another completely abandoned school.

The village headman's office and the village guesthouse are also located along the main road. I saw seating and resting areas in front of the guesthouse.

All of the fairy chimneys rising just behind the village were used as dovecotes and for storage purposes.

I found newspapers from 1980 inside abandoned houses.

Within the village, there is a sturdy set of stone.

Behind the slope to the west of the village lies a dovecote valley, where numerous dovecotes are carved into the fairy chimneys.