Travelers dream destination, episode-4

Pamukkale, travelers most awaited spot

Today I would like to introduce all of my travel freak friends Pamukkale which is considered as

heaven to all of the travelers. Pamukkale, meaning "cotton castle" in Turkish, is a natural site in Denizli in southwestern Turkey. The area is famous for a carbonate mineral left by the flowing water. It is located in Turkey's Inner Aegean region, in the River Menderes valley, which has a temperate climate for most of the year.

The ancient Greco-Roman city of Hierapolis was built on top of the white "castle" which is in total about 2,700 meters (8,860 ft) long, 600 m (1,970 ft) wide, and 160 m (525 ft) high. It can be seen from the hills on the opposite side of the valley in the town of Denizli, 20 km away.

Known as Pamukkale (Cotton Castle) or ancient Hierapolis (Holy City), this area has been drawing the weary to its thermal springs since the time of Classical antiquity. The Turkish name refers to the surface of the shimmering, snow-white limestone, shaped over millennia by calcium-rich springs. Dripping slowly down the vast mountainside, mineral-rich waters foam and collect in terraces, spilling over cascades of stalactites into milky pools below. Legend has it that the formations are solidified cotton (the area's principal crop) that giants left out to dry. The water from these springs ranges in temperature from 35-100°C (95-212°F) so it’s been used as a spa since the second century BC. Unfortunately, the travertines have suffered damage from decades of tourism so the most beautiful terraces are now off-limits. To preserve their appearance, tourists are asked to remove their footwear and follow a set pathway, along which are shallow pools where you can dip your feet whilst crossing the travertines.

Together with Hierapolis, Pamukkale has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988. The name Pamukkale literally means “cotton castle” in Turkish because of the white, cotton-like appearance of the calcium deposits.

Best time to visit pamukkale:

Travelers can cope up with the environment to enjoy the nature in fullest way. Ironically, Pamukkale’s peak season is also its most uncomfortable. Driven by summertime tourism to neighboring coastal destinations, Pamukkale is at its busiest from Jun-Aug when temperatures are known to reach a scorching 40°C (104°F). A more comfortable time to visit would be in the spring (Apr-May) when weather is moderate and days are long. Autumn (September-October) is also said to be favorable, with its mild weather but shorter days.

MAR-MAY: Weather-wise, Spring is one of the best times to visit Pamukkale. The weather is mild with temperatures hovering around 20°C (68°F).

JUNE-AUG: This is the peak season for local tourism in Pamukkale. It gets crowded and hot so you may want to skip these months if you can.

SEPT-OCT: Like Spring, Autumn is an ideal time to visit Pamukkale. The weather is mild and major festivals like the International Pamukkale Music and Culture Festival are held in Denizli in September. If you enjoy festivals, then this may be the best time to go.

NOV-FEB: This is winter in Pamukkale. If you don’t like cold weather, then this may not be the best time to go. It’s coldest in January when the temperature often goes below 0°C (32°F).

Destination guide:

Travelers always look for minimizing the time they need to reach the spot. There are many ways to get to Pamukkale depending on where you’re coming from. But for the purpose of this traveling conveniently, let’s assume you’ll be coming from the popular tourist destinations of Istanbul, Selçuk, and Cappadocia, and interested only in the fastest and/or cheapest options.

From Istanbul:

Flying, as you’d expect, is the fastest way to get anywhere in Turkey. There are two carriers with direct flights from Istanbul (Ataturk or Sabiha Gocken) to Denizli Çardak which is the nearest airport to Pamukkale — Turkish Airlines and Pegasus Airlines.

From Selçuk:

The cheapest and most reliable way to travel from Selçuk to Pamukkale is by train. The train from Selçuk to Denizli takes a little over three hours. Soon as you arrive at the gar (train station) in Denizli, walk over to the otogar which is on the other side of the highway and take a minibus to Pamukkale. 

There are no direct flights from Cappadocia to Denizli so your best bet would be to go by overnight bus. This isn’t such a bad thing since Turkey’s buses are some of the nicest. Buses are the most popular form of travel for locals.

Where to stay in Pamukkale:

A comfortable place to stay in is the most desirable option for the travelers.Pamukkale is small so there really is no best place to stay. There are some hotels nearby which are more or less comfortable enough to stay.

List of some famous hotels in Pamukkale:

1.Richmond Pamukkale Thermal

2.Spa Hotel Colossae Thermal

3.Venus Suite Hotel

4.Çavdar Thermal Hotel

5.Tripolis Hotel

6.Melrose Viewpoint Hotel

7.White Heaven Hotel

8.Reis Thermal Otel

Things to do in Pamukkale:

Travelers always seek to explore the beauty of nature at the spot.

Traverse the Calcium Travertines & Explore Hierapolis:

This place is out of this world. Gleaming in its whiteness, these calcium travertines are what travelers flock to Pamukkale for. They’re a remarkable sight and something most people have probably never seen before. Cascading down the side of the plateau, you can cross the travertines to get to the top and the ancient ruins of Hierapolis. You can easily visit these sites on your own, but if you’d like to go on a guided tour, then you can do so through Get Your Guide.

Swim with Roman Columns in Cleopatra’s Pool:

As described, Pamukkale was once a prominent spa city famous for its mineral-rich water. Tourists today can still enjoy its calcium-laden mineral water here at the Antique Pool, which is also known as Cleopatra’s Pool because it was said to have been a gift from Marc Anthony to Cleopatra. What makes this beautiful tree-lined pool unique are the marble columns that litter its bottom. They date back to the 2nd century BC and are remnants from the nearby Temple of Apollo.

Visit Hierapolis Archaeology Museum:

If you have an interest in archaeological artifacts, then you may want to visit this small but interesting museum. Housed in a former Roman bath, it’s home to historical artifacts from Hierapolis and Laodicea, as well as other archaeological sites. You’ll find some beautiful sarcophagi here. 

Go Paragliding Over the Travertines:

It is the most exciting part of any traveler. All the safety measures are maintained there. In addition, one instructor will assist all the time during paragliding. You can take the help of the guide also for managing the task.

Visit the Goddess of Love at Aphrodisias:

Named after Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love, Aphrodisias is home to some of the most beautiful and well-preserved ruins in Turkey. It was renowned for its school of sculpture during Roman times so the reliefs and sculptures here are second to none. About two-and-a-half hours from Pamukkale, it’s off the beaten path so the easiest way to get here would be to arrange for private transportation from Pamukkale. 

Explore the Ruins of Laodicea:

Located just off the main road between Pamukkale and Denizli, you can make a stop at this ancient city that’s been the subject of much excavation and restoration work in the past decade. It’s an important archaeological site being home to one of the Seven Churches of Revelation. Much of it still looks like rubble but the team leading the excavation hopes to make Laodicea the next Ephesus. 

Enjoy the Subterranean Calcium Travertines of Kaklik Cave:

You may have heard about the calcium travertines of Pamukkale, but did you know that you can see subterranean versions as well? Around 45 km from Pamukkale and 30 km from Denizli, you can visit this small cave that boasts the same travertine formations as its more famous neighbor, but in a cave and underground. It’s out of the way but worth it. 

Suggestions:

Travelers should always keep in mind his/her safety first. Enter from the North & Exit Through Pamukkale Town Entrance. There are three entrances to Hierapolis and the travertines — North, South, and the Pamukkale town entrances. Most people without rental cars will probably enter the plateau through the Pamukkale town entrance. This is fine but it means that you’ll need to cross the travertines twice — going there and back — which isn’t as easy as it looks. Instead, I suggest taking the minibus all the way up to the north entrance and walking in from there.

You can walk through the vast necropolis and explore the Hierapolis ruins in about 1-2 hours. You can then spend around half an hour at the museum, go for a swim in the Antique Pool if you like, before making your way down the travertines and exiting the plateau through the Pamukkale town entrance.