Pamukkale appears in almost every list of places to be seen before you die and visited by almost two million tourists each year. Pamukkale is a place where nature assumed the role of artist and created such majestic beauty. The white travertine cascades resembling frozen waterfalls and terraces of shallow pools were created by the waters of thermal springs reacting with the air. Its allure first noticed by the Romans. The magnificent Hierapolis ancient city was established near the travertine by the Romans. Those unique travertine and the ancient ruins were inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
In our age, those who seek beauty or health still dip in the thermal pools. You may also enjoy swimming the timeless pools as your ancestors did, and enjoy the majestic sight of the travertine. However, the natural beauty created over thousands of years is so fragile. Therefore only certain areas are open to paddling or dipping. Those who seek a cure should arrange a longer stay at Pamukkale to enjoy balneal treatment, mud baths, and massages in thermal spa resorts around the city of antiquity and travertine city.
Pamukkale is a small place, but it has remarkable spots to make your trip memorable such as the ruins of Hierapolis (ancient spa town), Sacred Pool (scattered marble columns add to the charm of this warm, calcium-dense pool), Roman Theater and the archaeological Museum.
It provides several unique experiences to its visitors. Enjoying the magnificent sight created by the sunset colouring the travertine in beautiful hues, is an experience worth to extend your visit.
- Hierapolis:
Usually said to be founded by Eumenes II, king of Pergamum (197-159 BC), Hierapolis may actually have been established closer to the 4th century BC by the Seleucid kings.
The name of the city may derive from Hiera, the wife of Telephus (son of Hercules and grandson of Zeus), the mythical founder of Pergamum. Hierapolis, whose name means “sacred city,” was believed by the ancients to have been founded by the god Apollo. It was famed for its sacred hot springs, whose vapors were associated with Pluto, god of the underworld. The city also had a significant Jewish community and was mentioned by Paul in his Letter to Colossians.
Today, Hierapolis is a World Heritage Site and popular tourist destination. In addition to interesting Classical ruins, the site offers a thermal Sacred Pool in which you can swim with ancient artifacts, a view of the spectacular white terraces of Pamukkale, and a good museum.
- Pamukkale Travertins:
The surreal, brilliant white travertine terraces and warm, limpid pools of Pamukkale hang, like the petrified cascade of a mighty waterfall, from the rim of a steep valley side in Turkey’s picturesque southwest. Truly spectacular in its own right, the geological phenomenon that is Pamukkale, literally “Cotton Castle” in Turkish, is also the site of the remarkably well-preserved ruins of the Greek-Roman city of Hierapolis. With such a unique combination of natural and man-made wonders it’s little wonder that Pamukkale-Hierapolis has been made a Unesco World Heritage site. With over two million visitors annually, it is also Turkey’s single most visited attraction.
There are dramatic travertine terraces dotted all around the globe, from China to Iran, the USA to Afghanistan. But nowhere else in the world can visitors enjoy exploring both picturesque travertine formations, built up over the millennia from limestone deposited by the abundant hot springs, and the colonnaded streets, temples, bath houses, necropolis and theatre of the remains of an idyllically located Greek-Roman spa city, Hierapolis. You can even bathe, as the Romans once did, in a picturesque pool filled with warm (around 36C), mineral rich waters and swim amongst submerged columns of great antiquity.
- Aphrodisias:
Aphrodisias was a small city in Caria, on the southwest coast of Asia Minor. Aphrodisias was named after Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, who had here her unique cult image, the Aphrodite of Aphrodisias.
The city was built near a marble quarry that was extensively exploited in the Hellenistic and Roman periods, and sculpture in marble from Aphrodisias became famous in the Roman world. Many examples of statuary have been unearthed in Aphrodisias, and some representations of the Aphrodite of Aphrodisias also survive from other parts of the Roman world.
As many pieces of monumental quarried stone were reused in the Late Antique city walls, many inscriptions could and can be easily read without any excavation; the city has therefore been visited and its inscriptions recorded repeatedly in modern times, starting from the early 18th century.
Today, the Temple of Aphrodite is well-preserved and partially restored; it is not hard to imagine its ancient splendor. Aphrodisias also offers ruins of a large theater, a stadium and other structures, as well as an on-site museum displaying artifacts.
- Historical Areas:
What makes Pamukkale all the more special is the ancient city of Hierapolis located right on top of the travertines, and then the natural beauty and thermal springs immediately surrounding the travertines, including Cleopatra’s pool. This truly is a bucket list must-see for anyone who loves to travel, so without further ado let’s get to what you gotta do once you get there!
- Paragliding:
In recent years, Pamukkale and its surroundings have become a place to mention the name of paragliding. If you want to see a bird’s-eye view of travertine and ancient cities, you can do this exciting activity from paragliding points. Paragliding points in the vicinity of Pamukkale create a suitable environment for amateur and professional flights. As the landing points do not carry any obstacles, paratroopers can safely make their flight. They are also very suitable points for the first trials.
- Jeep Safari:
There are also trails around Denizli and Pamukkale in different challenges where jeep safaris can be made. If you are interested in exciting activities, you should not miss jeep safari activities.
- Rafting and Canoeing:
The favorable natural wealth and abundance of streams around Pamukkale and Denizli have also improved the tourism of streams. You can rafting and canoeing on Büyük Menderes River
- Trekking:
Especially for thermal treatment in Denizli and Pamukkale to contribute to the treatment of those who need to start walking. You’re lucky there’s more than one track you can walk.
- Cycling Tour:
With bike tours, you can get to know the forested areas, hills, streams and roads of Denizli and Pamukkale. By renting a bike you can follow bike trails and picnic in wooded areas.
- Hot Air Ballooning:
Every year thousands of local and foreign tourists come to Pamukkale, which is famous known for its white travertines, hot springs and ancient cities. Pamukkale is also very popular spot for visitors going up in a hot air ballon to witness beautiful and unusual landscape of the area.
- Natural Thermal Springs:
Feel like restoring your body and soul? Look no further, let Pamukkale thermal springs find the cure right for you. The Pamukkale hot springs are legendary, dating back to the 2nd century BC, and the town has been a destination for healing for centuries. Pamukkale thermal waters are bursting with healthy minerals and are said to be good for circulation issues, skin ailments, heart conditions and rheumatism.
- Zafer Fizzy Drink:
Zafer means victory in English. And it is the most famous fizzy drink in Denizli, Pamukkale region.
- Liver Wrap:
It is a unique Aegean flavor that is obtained by wrapping the lung and liver together into the lamb’s shirt and giving it to the oven.
- Rag (Çaput) Rice:
A type of rice with lamb, spices and vine leaves.
- Dish of Mutton or Chicken and Coarsely Ground Wheat (Keşkek):
It has been one of our national dishes since Central Asia. Its main ingredient is wheat, which is forged with fatty goat or ram meat. Red pepper is added and served.
