Oylat: Treatment from Paradise

The village is located near Oylat Stream, which is fed by the snow water of Uludağ and various springs. Oylat is Turkey's number one spa center and it is a paradise on a slope between two valleys surrounded by forests.

They say that there are hidden treasures offering people pleasant surprises; well, Oylat is one of them. I first visited there the last fall and one day was enough for me to fall in love with this green paradise. To tell the truth we had no idea what we were going to find there when we began our two-day holiday. One day was enough for Mudanya, we had almost memorized every corner of Bursa, and Uludağ is rather naked without its white blanket. Therefore we decided to head towards Oylat, a village my husband had heard about years ago. Oylat is on the Bursa-Eskişehir highway, 27 km from İnegöl. At first, I didn't give much thought to Oylat. Anywhere that we could rest was okay for me. Then I found out how unfair I was to this village… The incredible panorama grabbed our attention as soon as we drive up the mountain road and when we reached Oylat, it was a real paradise. I was very happy but also a little bit disappointed: "Why hadn't we discovered this place before?"

We had no idea about the village. Where could we stay overnight? At first we wandered around. Anyhow it is a very small place and has five or six hotels. There is a café whose terrace overlooks the valley, a cozy square, a hamam, a small restaurant, various shops such as a grocery shop, a bakery, a butcher shop, a corner selling towels, kese (coarse mittens used in a hamam), soap and hamam tası (metal bowl) for the spa. Just across from them there are dear old ladies selling various spices and herbs. Well it is a small village bazaar; however it immediately fascinates you.

While we were wandering around and looking for a place to stay overnight, we met an old man and asked his advice. He told us that he had been staying in Büyük Otel for eight years. We were glad to meet someone who has been coming here for years. He was so fit; obviously he had benefitted from the spa. We took his advice and stayed in Büyük Otel, which is run by Oylat Kaplıcaları İşletmesi Turizm A.Ş. It is the oldest hotel in Oylat; still, it is very clean. The hotel has 95 rooms and 210 beds, along with a spa pool, private baths and a sauna. Some rooms have 24-hour spa water. It is a real pleasure you don't have to leave your room to benefit from the thermal springs; the 40-degree water runs from the faucets of the bath! It is so relaxing… Of course I am not going to exaggerate and claim that the water works miracles in a single day; however it definitely gives you relief and energy.

The steam from the spa mixes into the air to provide you with a different sort of air. When we were in Oylat, it was somewhat misty - although we could not get a clear view, we liked the mystery it gave. The Oylat creek is fed by the snow water of Uludağ and turns into a waterfall in the forest nearby. We did not have time but I strongly suggest you eat trout here. I also wish to underline a detail about the hotel: you can only have tea with breakfast because they don't have Nescafe! They said nobody had ever ordered Nescafe before. I don't know whether or not they added it to their menu after we left Oylat. Büyük Otel is the right address for those who wish to have a spa in their rooms; however I long for the Yeşil Vadi, which has not been completed yet. Yeşil Vadi is an Apart Hotel composed of houses with gardens, wooden rooms with balconies, and bungalows. In addition to a restaurant serving trout and meat, there is an observation hall. The façade overlooks the green valley while the back has a view of the waterfall. It is a real beauty for which words are insufficient!

Oylat has visitors throughout the year. I want to benefit from its oxygen that we long for in the big city, I want to imprison myself in its beautiful green hues, I want to memorize the sound of the waterfall!! Oylak, I'll come back to you as soon as possible, when the mist will have subsided and the sun will be shining. Anyhow I promised the old woman at the market that from now on I would only buy fresh thyme from her.

Natural Healing Source
Oylat, in the outskirts of Uludağ, is a natural healing source. The spa, combined with the mountain climate and fresh air, is the cure to various illnesses. The mineral spa water is most efficacious for the aches of rheumatism. Therapists suggest 1- or 2-week-long treatments for such aches. The spa also has the ability to heal such illnesses as arthritis, sciatica, hypertension, nervous breakdowns, exhaustion, infantile paralysis, gynecological diseases, stress, physiotherapy, urethra inflammation, and ulcers.

Oylat Spa has all the specifications of oligo metallic, hyper thermal, radioactive and low calcium sulfate waters. The flow of the water is 55 liters/second. Radioactive spa water has healing properties for fatigue. After treatment in Oylat, patients gain energy and vigor. The spa water was analyzed by Prof. Kerim Çağlar to contain cations such as calcium, sodium, magnesium, potassium, aluminum and iron; and anions such as sulfate, hydrocarbonates, chlorine, nitrate, hydrophosphate and meta silicate acid. Oylat is Turkey's number one spa center; however, if you ask my opinion, you don't need to have rheumatism in order to visit Oylat. It is the right address for physical and mental fatigue. This healing water paradise on the outskirts of Uludağ promises you such beauties. Reserve a place as soon as possible.

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