Pamukkale (Hierapolis) Guide

PAMUKKALE ( HIERAPOLIS )

Pamukkale, which means "cotton castle" in Turkish, first resembles as a massive, chalky white cliff rising 330 feet from the lowlands. Mineral-rich volcanic spring water rapids over basins and natural terraces, forming into travertines—white curtains of what looks like hardened white water, seemingly suspended in air. The hot springs at Pamukkale are believed to cure rheumatic and other diseases and have attracted guests for millennia, as illustrated by the remains of the Roman spa city of Hierapolis, whose well-preserved amphitheater and necropolis lie within sight of Pamukkale.

In the mid-1990s, the change of water from the springs to fill thermal pools in nearby luxury hotels in the nearby spa village of Karahayit reduced the volume of water reaching Pamukkale. This, combined with a massive rise in the number of guests, discolored the water's once-pristine whiteness. As a consequence, wearing shoes in the water is banned to protect the deposits. Though Pamukkale is not quite as exciting as it once was, for first-time visitors the white cliffs are still an extraordinary sight. Parts of the site are now blocked off, as the officials strive to conserve and recover a striking natural wonder to its former glory. However, you can still feel down the white cliffs and dip in the water: the rock can be sharp and slippery by turns, so remember to watch your step, no matter how enthralled you are.

If you have time, give the night in Pamukkale, as the One Day Bus Tour from the coast are tiring and limiting: you'll end up using more time on the bus than you do at the real site. A full day at Pamukkale will give you plenty time to enjoy the water and the remains. The site is large, but you can easily operate it without a guide if you want the independence to swim, wade, and explore at your pace. if you have more time, the area around Pamukkale is marked with unusual geological forms. And archeological sites, covering the nearby ruins of Laodicea and the springs of Karahayit.