Pamukkale

Pamukkale means Cotton Castle. It 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. It is located in the Denizli Province of southwestern Turkey and was named a UNESCO world heritage site in 1988.

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. Many patients came to stay in Hierapolis to soak in the pools as prescribed by their doctors for their ailments and they formed a thriving city until a series of earthquakes demolished the city in the 12th century.

When we reached Pamukkale, it was near sundown and raining so we could just see from our bus what looked like a snow-covered hill.

The next morning, our bus took us up the hill, and the view from up there was spectacular. We soaked our eyes in the view and our feet in the thermal pool.

The weather was cool so the European tourists came decently clothed. The Turkish tourist police force was very quick with the whistle whenever they see anyone going in the pool with footwear on.

There were remnants of Roman architecture and a museum there but we didn't have enough time to explore them. Gah! That's the peril of travelling with a tour group. We had to hurry to catch the next destination.

The pictures are grey because they were taken between 7 and 8 plus a.m. and the weather was cloudy until we hit the roads. (The first two pictures are courtesy of fellow traveller, Lin Ajis, the one in white coat).