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“Our gate is open to all who will enter,
Our offering is lawful to all who will eat”
Karamanoğlu Ibrahim Bey
The city of Karaman ( formerly Laranda) is not only the “Apple Basket” of Turkey ( 23% of total output) but it is also the largest (50 %) chocolate, (44%) candy and biscuits production center of the country. It also boasts with its wheat and cracked wheat which reaches to around 23 % of Turkish output.
It is located in south of central Anatolia, north of Taurus Mountains 160 km. from the nearest Mediterranean port of Taşucu, Mersin and 210 km. from Mersin Free Trade Zone. It stands at 110 km. South of Konya, just two hours by car to Antalya and three and a half hours to Ankara. It is the capital district of the Karaman Province.The population of the province is 230,000 of which 130,000 live in the town of Karaman. The province covers an area of 9.590 km2 and the town lies at an average elevation of 1,039 m. Existing rail way connection to Konya and Ankara is being modernized to be integrated to the İstanbul-Ankara fast train system by 2012. When finished it will take 40 minutes to go to Konya, two hours to Ankara and 5 hours to İstanbul.
Karaman is among the top 10 regions out of 81 in Turkey with the longest sun shine duration and it also has the least earthquake risk in the country. The city has a population of 130 thousand with over Turkish average education level and has the third lowest crime level in the country.
IT IS TRUFFLES SEASON OF THE YEAR
Karamans Delicious truffles are on the market. Every year in April and May potato like truffles (Terfezia category mushrooms) form small humps in the fields as soon as they see the rain. People of Karaman know how to find and dig out these precious as well as nutricious fungi sought by international haute cuisine. Though some types of truffles can receive up to USD. 2.000 per kilo, in Karaman you can buy them for as low as USD. 15.
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