Uskudar is located on the Anatolian side at the entrance to the Bosphorus from Marmara Sea. Historically Uskudar was located between Salacak and Pasalimani. But it grew everday like other districts of Istanbul. Today, it streches to Umraniye on the east, to Kadikoy in the south to Beykoz in the north.

Uskudar was the third Muslim judgeship belonging to Istanbul, besides Galata and Eyup. It represents Anatolian Turco-Islam tradition. First of all, Uskudar is geographically Anatolian. It is located on the borders of Anatolia which is drawn by waters of of the Bosphorus. It was also Anatolian demographically. The muslim people who came from Anatolia, resided in Uskudar after it was conquered by Orhan Gazi in 1352. Sultan Mehmed The Conqueror speeded the immigration from Anatolia to Uskudar. The famous Turkish traveller Evliya Celebi, who lived in 17th century, wrote that there were 70 muslim neighborhoods in Uskudar and most of people had immigrated from Anatolia. He also stated that there were 11 Greek and Armenian, one Jewish and no French neighborhoods in uskudar. This gave ethnic and culturally homogeneous structrue to Uskudar.

Uskudar is the section of Istanbul which has the strongest connection with Anatolia. It was the center of trade with Anatolia until the railway was installed in the 19th century. It was also the starting point to trade with Iran. All Iranian merchants arrived in Uskudar with their trade caravans. Therefore, Uskudar became a trade town in the 16th and 17th centuries.

In spite of this fact, Uskudar was always quiet and modest. Its streets and houses were nice and well maintaned. Karacaahmet cemetery, the oldest and larges cemetery in Istanbul, is located in Uskudar. There are many cypress trees in cemetery and its is more like a park than a cemetery.

Uskudar is not only a point of separation where people leave this life. Every year the people going to Mecca for pilgrimage are sent from Uskudar. The Surre Alayi which brought the presents of the Ottoman Sultans to Mecca and Medina governors were sent from Uskudar as well. Therefore, Uskudar is used to sparations, it sends both dead and Hajj candidates with ceremony.

Uskudar is first part of Istanbul to be conquered by Ottomans. It was the messenger of the big conquest. It was separated from Istanbul for one century and one year, but in 1543 Uskudar once again united with Istanbul.

The Marmara sea was not the cause of separation, but means of the transportation. When you travel from this sea to Uskudar, Leanders Tower (Kiz Kulesi)welcomes you first. This beautiful tower is one of the beautiest and symbols of Uskudar. When you reach the shore, another beauty welcomes you. This one is the Mihrimah Sultan Mosque, built by architectural genius Architect Sinan. The Sultan Ahmed III fountain, which beautifies the Uskudar square, catches your attention too. The beauties of Uskudar captivates you and even before reaching the shore, and they surround you afterwards.

Uskudar has changed today, like the rest of Istanbul. Most notable is that nothing remains today of the shore-side palaces which wer built in 18th century. Its green hills became cement blocks. Just a few of the streets with wooden houses with balconies and bow-windows are still alive. But regardless of everything Uskudars has kept its quite Anatolian atmosphere.