A traveller's reflection: 2016 Aegean Sea Trip: 10 Pamukkale, Turkey

"The tans will fade but the memories will last forever..."

(The terrace of hot springs and travertines)

Day 06: Tuesday, 19 April 2016

Pamukkale, Turkey

Pamukkale is a town in western Turkey known for the mineral-rich thermal waters flowing down white travertine terraces on a nearby hillside. It neighbors Hierapolis, an ancient Roman spa city which include a well-preserved theatre and a necropolis with sarcophagi that stretch for 2km. The Antique Pool is famous for its submerged Roman columns, the result of an earthquake.

Hierapolis, Turkey

The ancient Greco-Roman and Byzantine city of Hierapolis was built on top of the white castle which is in total about 2,700 metres long, 600 metres wide and 160 metres high. It can be seen from the hills on the opposite side of the valley in the town of Denizli, 20 km away.

Tourism is and has been a major industry. People have bathed in its pools for thousands of years. As recently as the mid-20th century, hotels were built over the ruins of Hierapolis, causing considerable damage. An approach road was built from the valley over the terraces, and motor bikes were allowed to go up and down the slopes. When the area was declared a World Heritage Site, the hotels were demolished and the road removed and replaced with artificial pools. Wearing shoes in the water is prohibited to protect the deposits.

(The ancient Greco-Roman and Byzantine city)

(The entrance to the ancient city)

(The stone wall around the ruins of Hierapolis)

(Large columns along the main street)

(A great site for wedding photography)

(The facade remains standing)

(Ancients structures destroyed by earthquakes)

(Self reflection on the hot-spring pool)

(The cotton castle viewed from the edge of the cliff)

Cotton Castle

Pamukkale, meaning ‘cotton castle’ in Turkish, is a natural site in Denizli Province in southwestern Turkey. The city contains hot springs and travertines, terraces of carbonate minerals 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.

(Taking a walk around the Cotton Castle)

(Travetine terrace formation, as white as snow)

(Pamukkale town, viewed from the terrace)

(Visitors bathing and soaking in the thermal water)

(People bathed in these pools for thousands of years)

(The water is supersaturated with calcium carbonate)

(Standing at the edge of the thermal pool)

(The lake at the Natural Park at the bottom of the hill)

(Precipitation of minerals creating the terraces)

(Several dried-up terraces)

(Walking on the hardened travertine could be painful)

(White wall surrounding the thermal pools)

(Panoramic view of the travertine terraces)

(Shadow play in the hot sun)

(Wearing shoes in the water is prohibited)

(Having a scoop of Turkish ice-cream)

We checked in the Lycus River Spa Resort, Pamukkale. The resort offers quality accommodations and only 5 km from the world-famous Cotton Castle. It has an extensive spa center with Jacuzzi, indoor and outdoor pools and massage facilities. Local food specialties are served at the hotel restaurant.

Day 07: Wednesday, 20 April 2016

(A cozy room to rest)

(A resort complete with amenities)

We had breakfast and checked out of the hotel and headed to Pamukkale Natural Park where we had a better view of the Cotton Castle from below.

Pamukkale Natural Park

Pamukkale Natural Park has 3 pools for visitors to enjoy a good swimming in hot weather. There is a pool for kids as well as for adults that includes jacuzzi in it. There is also a little mud pod where one can take a healing mud bath. In the evenings, there’s usually a wedding at this location, specially in the summer.

(One of the top attractions in Pamukkale)

(Ducks and swans enjoying the warm water)

(One of the three pools of the park)

(A restaurant by the lake)

(The water flows from the Cotton Castle above)

(Clear blue water of the hot spring)

After some photo shots of the view we drove to a cotton textile outlet. The Pamukkale and Denizli area is famous for its cotton and the home wares. Many of the other souvenirs and traditional Turkish wares that you can find in other parts of Turkey are cheaper around Denizli and Pamukkale because they are produced there. At the textile shopping center we bought towels, bathrobes and other textile products for souvenirs.