Know about fascinating underground city of Turkey, Derinkuyu

New Delhi: In the historical region of Cappadocia, there are over 200 underground cities in the Nevşehir Province of Turkey. Carved out of unique geological formation, these cities were claimed to be used by refugees in the past for hideouts. Of these 200 underground cities, the city of Derinkuyu delves over 250 feet below the Earth's surface and boasts numerous tunnels, halls, meeting rooms, wells, passages. The largest excavated underground city can accommodate up to 20,000 people and has all the usual amenities like wine and oil presses, stables, cellars, storage rooms, refectories, and chapels. The largest of the Cappadocia underground complexes is multi-storey (18 storeys), with fresh flowing water, ventilation shafts and individually separated living quarters or 'apartments', shops, communal rooms, wells, tombs, arsenals and escape routes. The complex was air conditioned throughout, with 52 air shafts discovered so far, one of which is 55m deep. The map of the underground cityIt was open to tourists in 1969 and only 10 percent of it is accessible. Entry is through tunnels that force one to almost crawl. Circular door in the cityIn addition, Derinkuyu has a tunnel about 8 miles long that leads to another underground city of Cappadocia, Kaymakli.The tunnel is big enough to crawl so as to enter insideStables have been located, dining, a church (cruciform plan of 20 by 9 meters with a ceiling of more than three meters high), kitchens, Presses for wine and olive oil, wine, food shops, a school, numerous rooms and even a bar. The city benefited from the existence of an underground river, water wells and had a wonderful ventilation system The history of this city as to who built it is still a mystery. Some suggest that the earliest construction started with the Hittites in the 15th century BC and built these cities as shelter during war with the invaders.Others are not convinced of a Hittite origin and point instead to the Phrygians because they are known to have possessed the necessary architectural skills, and inhabited the region for such a long time. Some opine that Derinkuyu was built by ancient Persians; since the Avesta( book on Zoroastrianism) dates to the founding of Zoroastrianism (1500-1200 BC). The master mind behind this spectacular city is still unknown.