Malabadi Bridge

The Malabadi Bridge is one of Anatolia's most magnificent medieval stone bridges, spanning the Batman River (historically the Satidama). A curious detail is that half of it lies within the Kozluk district of Batman Province and half within the Silvan district of Diyarbakir, so both provinces claim it as a landmark.

History

Its inscription bearing the date 542 AH / 1147 CE records that construction was begun by the Artuqid ruler Husam al-Din Timurtash of Mardin; after his death in 1154 the arch was completed under his successor Najm al-Din Alpi. Sitting on the old Diyarbakir–Bitlis caravan road, the crossing was for centuries a backbone of Silk Road commerce, pilgrim caravans and military movement, and it remained in continuous use until a modern road bridge was built upstream in the 1950s.

Architecture and Engineering

Architecturally, its most striking feature is the single pointed arch spanning 38.60 metres, considered one of the widest stone arch spans in the world; that such a span was raised in an age without modern structural calculation makes it an extraordinary landmark in the history of engineering. The bridge is roughly 150 metres long and 7 metres wide, rising 19 metres from low water to the keystone, and is built of coloured cut stone. Small rooms were hollowed into the piers on either side of the arch so that caravan traders and travellers could shelter there, especially in harsh winters; this hollow design both lightens the load and gives the bridge the function of a small caravanserai, while carved figures on the western pier reflect the stonework of the period. With its graceful double-sloping silhouette it is often called the 'twin' of the Mostar Bridge.

Visiting and Access

Its tourist value is high both historically and photographically, and agencies favour Malabadi because it stands right beside the Batman–Diyarbakir highway: coaches can pull over, passengers can walk the span in twenty to thirty minutes, and it slots into the Hasankeyf–Diyarbakir leg of GAP tours with almost no lost time. The average visit lasts twenty to forty minutes. In guided programmes it usually appears as a roadside photo and rest stop while transferring from Hasankeyf toward Diyarbakir.

The best photo angles are from the riverbank directly facing the arch and lengthwise shots taken from the deck; morning and late-afternoon light bring out the colour of the stone. Nearby, Kozluk Waterfall and its highlands, the ancient city of Hasankeyf and the historic monuments of Silvan can be linked into the itinerary.

Access is easy by private car or tour, with roadside lay-by parking for coaches and cars. Disabled access is limited: the bridge and its riverbank approach are stony and sloped, making wheelchair use difficult, though the view can be enjoyed from the roadside. The best season to visit is spring (April–June) and autumn (September–October); the scenery is at its liveliest in spring when the river runs high. Peak season falls in the spring and autumn tour months, while summer midday hours are hot and dry.