Hot water in white terraces! That’s what’s around me here at Pamukkale, Turkey. Located in the inner Aegean region of Turkey, Pamukkale is a natural site featuring hot springs and white travertines and it’s one of the most beautiful places to see in Turkey.
The Cotton Castle
Pamukkale means “cotton castle” in Turkish, and the place is rightly named so. Owing to the deposits of calcium carbonate by the flowing water, the hot springs are surrounded by white terraces. And as these terraces and pools rise up, the area appears like a white castle.
Facts about Pamukkale
The ancient Greco-Roman and Byzantine city of Hierapolis was built on top of this white castle, the ruins of which can still be seen from 20 km away! The ruins are still remarkably well preserved, owing to efforts taken when the site was declared a world heritage site. Prior to the declaration, the location was in danger of being totally damaged due to hotels and roads being built over the ruins.
Ruins of Hierapolis
One of the best things to do here is walk up to the ruins of Hierapolis, where you can bathe in the mineral water pools. Because of its status as a world heritage site, preservation efforts are now undertaken, to ensure minimum damage to the delicate calcite deposits. That’s why there’s no footwear allowed here, on the travertines as well the pools. Sure this makes the walk to the ruins a little rough, but it’s still totally worth it. Want a pro-tip? Bring sunglasses and don’t forget your jacket in winter!