Pamukkale Review

Pamukkale means cotton castle in the Turkish language, and is named for the hot springs, travertines, and terraces of carbonate minerals that measure around 9000 feet long, and 500 feet high upon which the ancient city of Hierapolis was built.  Visable from up to 20 miles away and a UNESCO world heritage site to boot, this natural wonder of the world is located deep in the Denizli Province of southwestern Turkey and within the Menderes River valley.  A little out of the way to be sure, but trip through history that's well worth making. 

Hierapolis was founded as a thermal spa early in the second century BC by the Romans, and the city was named to honour Hiera, wife of Telephos, the son of Heracles.  Pretty cool, huh??  Hierapolis became a healing center where doctors used the hot thermal springs as a treatment for their patients.  As time went on the city's name changed from Hiera to Hierapolis, or holy city.

The ruins cover the entire top of the hillside above the enormous calcium deposits, with many walkways, buildings, and theatres still quite intact making visualizations easier than many other sites.  Hierapolis contains a large theatre, a first rate museum with fascinating artifacts, and best of all in my opinion, the Antique Pools, also known as Cleopatra's pools. 

In Roman Empire times, Hierapolis and its pools were used as a health center, and in those years, thousands of people used to come to the baths. Today, they still do, but not necessarilyfor health purposes, but to bathe in bubbly 95 degree mineral water and swim amongst the marble columns and floors of ancient Hierapolis.  It's like swimming in warm champagne.

The Antique Pool, or Cleopatra's pool, was shaped by an earthquake in the 7th century AD which created the depression in which the columns collapsed, the flooring sunk, and it all filled with bubbling mineral water. 15 pools at one time I was informed.  

The experience begins though with the large calcium deposit for which the city abutting it was named.  Awesome to visualize, filled with warm pools of turquoise water, and miles of hiking trails on which to explore this natural wonder.  Most travel books tell you to take a day to see this site, advice which I planned for and followed, but I think with two you would be better served for this natural wonder. 

Many hotels ring the UNESCO site from below, and accomadations range from hostels to the luxuriant.  Out of the way....yes...but well worth the travel time. 

Travel tip:  While this is a long way for North American travelers, it's a short hop for Europeans and such, so bare in mind that in the Summer months it will be very crowded.  Picture Disneyland in you're mind. Shoulder to shoulder, and the Antique pools are quite large, and open to the public for swimming.  I advise travel in the Spring or Fall as the temperatures are still quite pleasant, the prices are down and so are the crowds.