Çıralı: A Folktale and Plant Records in the Surrounding Area

Çıralı brings together a locally rooted story and clearly identified geographical references in the surrounding area. A folktale was recorded here; mountains, river courses, and dated plant records provide further clues to the landscape. This distinction can help you decide what kind of trip you want before searching for a holiday apartment.

A folktale from Çıralı

The folktale recorded in Çıralı tells of a merchant who sets out to visit Hızır Ali. The story gives the place a specific connection to oral tradition: at its center is a traveler with a named destination. Those who also look for cultural stories when traveling will find a clearly defined point of interest here.

Boundaries and plant records in the surrounding area

Çıralı forms the eastern boundary of the Laç Deresi area. For the 2025 hunting season, the Karasakal Dağları form the northern boundary of the Çıralı state hunting ground. Its eastern boundary runs along the foothills of Aziz Abdal Dağı, follows Kutu Deresi, and passes through Gökçek.

Plant records in the nearby area are also associated with dates and elevations. On August 27, 2014, Allium dictyoprasum (Top soğan) was recorded on a roadside along the Tunceli–Sütlüce road at 1,844 m; the site is described as 10 km from Çıralı. Ornithogalum munzurense (Munzur yıldızı) was recorded in steppe vegetation along the Tunceli–Çıralı road on June 1, 2015, at 1,810 m, 8 km from Çıralı. Orchis spitzelii (Dağ salebi) was also found there in steppe vegetation: on May 30, 2015, at 1,760 m, 13 km from Çıralı. The three records differ by species, date, elevation, and distance.

Nature and culture in the wider destination of Tunceli

In the wider destination of Tunceli, Munzur Valley National Park extends along the valley to the Munzur Mountains. In the narrow, deep sections of the Munzur Suyu Valley, steep slopes, rock formations, and ravines shape the landscape; there are also waterfalls in some places. The national park’s flora includes 1,518 different plants, including 227 species endemic to Türkiye.

Tunceli also offers regional options for active days. The large volume of water in Munzur Suyu and Peri Suyu creates favorable conditions for rafting, especially in spring. A roughly 20-kilometer stretch of Munzur Suyu between Aşağı Torunoba, Sarıtaş, and Halbori Gözeleri also has rafting potential. Munzur Suyu, Pülümür Çayı, Peri Suyu, Mercan, and Tahar are home to a variety of fish species, including trout; the fish population offers potential for sport fishing.

The Tunceli Museum has departments and exhibition areas covering archaeology, ethnography, coins, traditional agriculture, flora and fauna, beliefs, stone artifacts, and recent history. In 1963, a 20-hectare section near Munzur Gözeleri was designated as a forest recreation area. Thus, the regional view of Tunceli includes cultural topics and a specific historical designation alongside landscape and activities.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Çemişgezek, Ovacık, Tunceli, Tozkoparan Köyü.

Back to the wider travel guide: Tunceli.