Pamukkale
So let’s say you want to visit Turkey and you start looking up places to visit on the internet. As you browse the web, you find this picture of a place with what appears to be ice craters with the most pristine blue water on them. You read the name of the place - “Pamukkale”. As you look through more pictures of it, you’re so shocked that a place like this exists that you’re like, “Holy sh**t. I’ve gotta come here no matter what”. Well that was me several months ago. And oh lordy do I not regret coming to Pamukkale.
Pamukkale, meaning “cotton castle”, is a small town very near the bigger city of Denizli in southwestern Turkey. Very little is known about the town’s historical origin. It might’ve been founded by the Phrygians. We do know that the town was heavily developed under Seleucid rule. “Hierapolis” as it was then called, was founded as a thermal spa, but would eventually grow in size. At the time, the town was known for its large Jewish population (around 50,000 in 62 BC). It was also famous as a place where doctors would attempt to heal patients using thermal springs. Hierapolis came under Roman rule in 133 BC. It suffered two devastating earthquakes, but the Romans decided to rebuild and renovate the city each time. Under the Romans, Hierapolis reached a golden age and became very wealthy. Many new buildings like baths, temples, and gymnasium were built. When the Byzantines took over, the town’s baths were turned into a basilica. Hierapolis would continue to prosper and was an important centre of Christianity, with it also being the place Philip the Apostle died many years before. Today, you can visit the massive site of Hierapolis and the museum. I highly recommend it as there’s a ton of really cool stuff. There is even an antique pool open to the public at the site that dates back 2,000 years.
Now adjacent to Hierapolis is Pamukkale’s most famous attraction, and the reason why I was determined to visit. It’s the Calcium Travertines. Wait the what? But Jalal I thought you said they were ice. Nope. The huge swathes of pure white terraces indeed look like ice, but they’re actually calcium carbonate minerals that precipitated from warm spring water that ran down the sides of the plateaus. The result is this snow-like landscape that made Pamukkale famous. Some of the terraces are dry, while others have this very pristine-looking water on them. It’s a photographer’s paradise…ish. The thing is, what kinda ruins the Travertines is that there are just tourists for days. Everywhere you look there are tourists. And it’s so annoying because it makes getting a clear photo of the Travertines and even the ruins of Hierapolis nearly impossible without getting some idiot in it. Also, remember that ancient pool I mentioned? Well that thing gets absolutely filled with old people and children. Something to note is that this was in mid September, so just imagine what the summer is like. If you came in November or December, I believe you would find less tourists, but of course the weather won’t be quite as good. It’s your call in the end.
Besides visiting the Travertines and Hierapolis, a lot of people often forget that Pamukkale has a pretty popular hot air balloon business. You’ve got to wake up really early, but the experience is definitely worth it. From up top you can see the sprawling Travertines and the ruins of Hierapolis. It was definitely one of the best views I’ve had in Turkey.
Pamukkale is definitely a place you should strongly consider going to if you’re visiting Turkey. The ancient ruins, the Travertines, and the hot air balloon rides all make for an amazing experience. As mentioned previously though - Pamukkale is very touristy. If you don’t mind the tourists, then by all means you must visit any time. But if you’re like me who hates to be around hundreds of tourists for hours on end and not get the opportunity to truly enjoy the place in peace, then think carefully about what month you visit in. And this also goes for the rest of Turkey. If you want less tourists as possible but also optimal weather (you don’t want it raining all the time), best time is the end of September to early November. I would call that the golden time to visit Turkey. But besides the tourist situation, I still had an absolute blast in Pamukkale. Being a classics and history student, I was obsessed with Hierapolis. I also still enjoyed the Travertines, both by looking at them and walking in some of the terraces. The hot air balloon might have best part as getting a birds-eye of both the Travertines and Hierapolis was simply breathtaking. I’m definitely visiting Pamukkale again the future, maybe in the later months so I could truly take in the beauty and history of this amazing place.
Things to do -
Visit Hierapolis (including the museum and the adjacent antique pool)
Visit the Travertines (note - if you want to walk in the terraces, there is a specific designated place for visitors)
Go on a hot air balloon ride
