Sometimes I wander so far off the usual routes that a place doesn’t appear in guidebooks or on most maps. That was the case when I stumbled upon a remarkable landscape around Hamzalar Lake in Beypazarı. Despite limited information, the scene was unforgettable.
From a hilltop viewpoint I surveyed a patchwork of green fields, a small shimmering lake and broad mountains rising in the distance. The view was striking, but the lake drew me down the steep slope for a closer look.
Hamzalar Lake in Beypazarı
Hamzalar Lake lies in the Beypazarı district, not far from Turkey’s capital, Ankara. Local residents shared a few details about the lake’s origin and names.
This small body of water is known by three names: Kayışın, Depel and Hamzalar. The multiple names reflect local usage and the lake’s recent, man-made origins. Because it is new, people have not settled on a single name.
Near the lake lives a single resident who operates a small, traditionally furnished guesthouse. He offers simple accommodation in an authentic Turkish home-style setting, and for a modest fee will take visitors fishing on the lake.
The owner is a former Turkish army wrestler who won many tournaments and eventually earned the wrestling championship belt. In Turkish the word for belt is “kayış,” which explains one of the lake’s names.
I had hoped to meet this former wrestling champion, to hear his stories firsthand, but my visit came at the end of summer when many villagers were preparing to move to towns and cities for the colder months. If you travel to Beypazarı and find him, I would love to hear about your encounter—his life and memories are compelling.
Travel tip: If you are driving between Istanbul and Cappadocia, consider a short detour to explore historical Beypazarı. The region offers Ottoman-era architecture, rural landscapes and small local attractions like Hamzalar Lake that reward curiosity and slow travel.
Photographs and local viewpoints capture the quiet charm of this area and can be helpful in planning a visit. If you prefer a compact, rural experience close to Ankara, Beypazarı and its surrounding lakes make an excellent stop.
Experience the region at a relaxed pace: walk the hillsides, talk with residents when possible, and enjoy simple local hospitality. The combination of green countryside, a peaceful lake and distant mountains creates a memorable slice of inland Turkey worth exploring.