24.11.2025 15:38
The Çökene neighborhood, which is part of the Büyükorhan district in Bursa and has a history of 450 years, has largely emptied due to water issues. Currently, only 4 people live in the village, where they are trying to sustain their lives through agriculture and livestock.
In the rural Çökene neighborhood of Bursa's Büyükorhan district, which has a history of approximately 450 years, life continues in only 3 households. The mountain village of Çökene, with a population of 4, has almost turned into a ghost village.
ALMOST IN RUINS
Located about 25 kilometers away from Büyükorhan, Çökene began to empty due to a water problem that emerged in the late 1980s. The entire population migrated to nearby districts and the center of Bursa, leaving Çökene completely abandoned for many years, and it has almost turned into ruins.
After being empty for a long time post-1994, Çökene neighborhood, which was annexed to the nearby rural Bademli neighborhood in 2008, began to see a return 10 years ago. Former village head Hüseyin Kaya and his wife Fadime Kaya, who previously made a living through forestry and agriculture, returned to their hometown after a 30-year adventure in Bursa.
WATER SCARCITY DISTRIBUTED, NOW 4 PEOPLE LIVE
Fadime Kaya (64) stated that life in Çökene, which is far from both the district and Bursa, is not easy, but they could not stay away from their ancestral land and hometown for too long, explaining that they returned when the water problem was resolved. Kaya expressed that the village population dispersed when there was no water and never returned, saying, "Now only smoke is rising from 3 households. In the other two households, women whose husbands have passed away live. Previously, there were more than 50 households in our neighborhood, and now we are just 4 people."
"I WISH WE WERE LIKE BEFORE"
Kaya expressed their sadness over their village, which was once admired for its life, scenery, and nature, turning into ruins after being abandoned, saying: "When there is no water, what can people do? They left, and we left too. I had one child who was 6 and another who was 9. What would we have done if we stayed here? No water, no agriculture, no income. They studied in Bursa and found jobs. They also had children. We returned to our village, our life is here, but they will not return anymore. The houses of those who do not come have fallen apart here. We breathe among the dilapidated structures. I wish they all would come back, I wish we were crowded like before."
CHEESE, YOGURT, AND EGGS ARE NATURAL
Fadime Kaya stated that they engage in small-scale agriculture and animal husbandry, saying, "We have two goats. One goat gives birth to 3 kids. It is just enough for us. When the children and grandchildren come, we slaughter for them. We milk the goats and make yogurt and cheese. We have 3-5 chickens, and we eat their natural eggs. We have rebuilt our village life and we are happier here; it was very difficult in the city."