Are you going on holiday to Pamukkale in Turkey? Want to know when and where to go and what to do in Pamukkale? Read on
Visiting Pamukkale
Pamukkale is a popular tourist destination in the west of Turkey. The nearest modern Turkish town from Pamukkale is Denizli which is approximately 20km away. The main attraction in Pamukkale is the amazing natural springs and “cotton castle”: vast swathes of calcium carbonate deposits that lie on the ground. Several tourist buses come into Pamukkale everyday and the town has many small guesthouses and hotel making Pamukkale a pleasant place to spend the night.
Pamukkale cotton Castle
Pamukkale is a national park and requires an entry fee of $1 at the gates. After entering most other things in Pamukkale are free although there are some cordoned off sights of historical interest that require an extra fee. Pamukkale first became inhabited in 190BC when the ancient city of Hieropolis was established as a curing centre. It was believed that the mineral rich natural springs which are still present in abundance had many health benefits. Ancient Pamukkale had many Jewish and later Christian inhabitants and two churches are still present there today. The oldest church in Pamukkale dates back to the early Christian era whereas the newer and bigger church in Pamukkale is from Byzantine times.
Pamukkale Museum
The Pamukkale museum opens daily from 8am until 5:30pm and houses the roman baths. Close by to the Byzantine church in Pamukkale are the remains of the foundation of the ancient temple of Apollo. There is also a spring which emits toxic gases that has been cordoned off for safety reasons however if one approaches close to the gate they can still hear the bubbling of the gases in the water. There is also a roman theatre in Pamukkale that seats approximately 7000 people.
Hotels in Pamukkale
Pamukkale town depends heavily on the tourists that come to visit Pamukkale so there is no shortage of Hotels and restaurants although these are usually small locally owned businesses. Many of the hotels have swimming pools filled with the mineral water from Pamukkale in which guests can swim for a small fee.
