Sheikh Shahabuddin Suhrawardi Zawiya (Salı Tekkesi)

Salı Tekkesi opens its doors only two days a week: Tuesday and Friday, between 10:30 AM and 4:30 PM. This restriction is not coincidental; as the structure is located within a living neighborhood, the privacy of local residents is respected. It is essential to plan your visit according to these days.

As for the season, spring and autumn are preferable. Odunpazarı's narrow streets and wooden mansions offer a much more pleasant walk during these seasons. It can also be visited in the summer months; however, temperatures can be oppressive during midday. Arriving at 10:30 AM for opening allows you to catch the cooler hours and see the tomb before the crowds.

The tomb is located on Kemal Zeytinoğlu Street, Odunpazarı's main thoroughfare, at address number 6. You can reach it by taking the Eskişehir tram to the Odunpazarı stop and walking for a few minutes. Municipal buses from the city center also operate to this area. For those arriving by car, there are paid and free parking areas around Odunpazarı; however, walking is much more practical due to the narrow streets.

The exact construction date of the structure is not precisely known due to the absence of an inscription. Foundation records indicate that the tomb dates back to the second half of the 13th century. A 1575 Ottoman register from the reign of Sultan Selim II records that three farm lands in the Sultanönü district of Eskişehir were endowed to this zawiya from ancient times; this shows that the structure maintained its function since the Seljuk period.

The zawiya was built in the name of Sheikh Shahabuddin Suhrawardi, the founder of the Suhrawardiyya order. The Sheikh came to Anatolia as an envoy of the Abbasid Caliph and invited the Anatolian Seljuk sultans Izz ad-Din Kaykaus I and Ala ad-Din Kayqubad I to the Futuwwa Organization. In this context, the structure is a place of importance not only religiously but also in terms of political and social history.

While the tomb itself is a modest structure, the Odunpazarı neighborhood it is located in is a photographic route in itself. Restored wooden mansions along Kemal Zeytinoğlu Street, narrow stone streets, and windowsills adorned with flowers create a rich shooting itinerary when combined with a visit to the tomb. Exploring the streets between 10:30 AM and 11:30 AM when the light is softest, or in the afternoon, is more productive for both photography and the general atmosphere.

Odunpazarı is one of Eskişehir's busiest cafe and restaurant areas. After visiting the tomb, you can take a tea break at cafes set up on the ground floors of historical mansions. There are also small businesses in the area offering çiğ börek, Eskişehir-style pişi, and local desserts. Options will naturally appear as you walk along Kemal Zeytinoğlu Street and the surrounding alleys.

Combining a visit to Salı Tekkesi with other historical structures in Odunpazarı makes for a much more productive day. Kurşunlu Mosque, Odunpazarı Houses, and the Modern Art Museum (ESMM) are on the same route or within walking distance. If you visit the tomb at its opening at 10:30 AM and then slowly explore the neighborhood, you will have largely seen the historical fabric of Odunpazarı before noon.

Visits are only possible on Tuesdays and Fridays between 10:30 AM and 4:30 PM; the gate is closed outside these hours. As it is a religious site, appropriate attire and quiet behavior are expected when entering. Since the structure is located within a living neighborhood, it is important to be respectful of local residents. It is recommended to confirm the hours with an official source before visiting.