Pamukkale

Day 8 Of My Turkey Getaway.

My last post about my Turkey travelogue : Cappadocia Turkey

When I first decided to visit Turkey, Pamukkale's among the places I scribble on my notebook to visit. During that time, I'm completely a novice  about traveling on my own not with travel agency. I did many research and re-reading articles, blog posts to get familiar with its surrounding. My only restraints was ~ time. My allocated time frame for this getaway was very limited hence I must plan carefully.

So, after much thoughts and consideration, I decides to put Pamukkale on my travel map (after Cappadocia). I just followed  some of my friends itinerary.  Travel by bus again. Night journey. To save cost on hotel. On our way, we passes Konya town. We are scheduled to arrive in Denizli around 6-7 in the morning, next day (19/4/2013). Another tiring and uncomfortable journey. I'm someone that cant even sleep good in my own bed let alone in a moving buses (you should see me... i stay awake for hours every night). This is the reason why I cant stay at hostels when I travel. Okay, continue on this matter,  8 hours journey without sleeping, my head started to aches and I wish  the bus  move faster faster faster! Btw, the bus stops a few time for a breather (some smoke, go to toilet or drink cay) during the journey.

To cut it short (no story to tell anyway), we arrived in Denizli around 6am. Those who want to visit the cotton castle must get off from the bus at Denizli Station and later on another bus/van will pick you up to take you to Hermosa Hotel. When we arrived, the man who picks us up said we can arrange our next plan from here.  Oh well... whatever.... but I really need to go tho the bathroom. Refreshed myself a bit. Brushed my teeth, washed my face and put sunblock and lipstick. Hey.... I really look like hag okayyy...

We didnt stay overnight at Pamukkale. Only transit before continued to Selcuk. Just  took the morning tour of Hierapolis and the famous travertines ...

A visit to Turkey is deemed quite incomplete without a visit to the famous Pamukkale site. Located in the Denizli Province in southwestern Turkey, the 'cotton castle'―as it is more popularly known―beckons tourists the world over for a visit to its pearly white landscape, doused with liberal amounts of turquoise pools. The city, simply put, is home to hot springs and terraces of carbonate calcium minerals (called travertines), which have been formed due to the flowing water.

Pamukkale (pronounced pah-mook-kah-leh) is called the cotton castle by literal translation of the word 'Pamukkale' in Turkish. The Turks call it the cotton castle because of the similarities that these white mountain slopes have with the cotton plantations that are cultivated in central Turkey. While the ruins of the Hierapolis city garner a lot of interest, it is the travertine pools and terraces that are the most famous. Let me take you through the details of this site and provide you with other interesting facts about the same.

• Pamukkale is located 19km north of Denizli and is around 250km east of Izmir
• Pamukkale means ‘cotton castle’ in Turkish, there are three reasons for this name: Firstly, It looks like a cotton castle; its limestone deposits are as white as cotton and it is tall and strong like a castle, secondly, the water contains properties needed to clean the locally produce cotton, and lastly, a Turkish poet gave it that name after he had a vision of mythological giants called titans using the side of the mountain to hang out and dry their cotton crops
• Pamukkale’s unique shape was created from hot mineral springs bubbling up from the ground, then overflowing down the side of the mountain, as it travels it cools and loses its ability to hold the minerals in the solution. The minerals are then deposited on the way down forming white terraces, stalactites, and pools
• Pamukkale is about 2,700 metres (8,860 ft) long, 600 m (1,970 ft) wide and 160 m (525 ft) high
• The area has been used as a health spa for more than 2000 years, the minerals in the water were recommended to treat everything from high blood pressure to skin diseases
• The attraction of the hot springs and their healing properties lead to the foundation of the city of Hierapolis, the Holy city. King Eumenes II of Pergamon founded the city in 190 BC
• More hot springs are located 5kms from Pamukkale. Known as ‘the red water’, their high levels of iron form ribbons of blue, red and yellow on the surrounding rocks
• Pamukkale has a thermal pool that you can swim in for a fee. The pool is known as the Sacred Pool and due to an earthquake at the site, remains of the ancient city of Hierapolis now lay in the water, forming an underwater museum
• The site is home to not one but seventeen hot water springs
• Footwear is not allowed on the travertine terraces as the calcium carbonate is deposited in jell form and can be easily damaged before it is able to harden and form part of the structure
• Tourism took its toll on Pamukkale. Calcium deposits were being destroyed and the structure was weakened. In the early 1990s, not long after it became a UNESCO world heritage site, restrictions were placed on the site; Areas were restricted, hotels knocked down, and paths were placed around the site. This move was successful as Pamukkale is now able to deposit enough calcium to keep the site strong and damage has been kept to acceptable levels.

Our tour started at 9.30am and will end around 2.30 - 3pm. We were attended  by Veli, one of Hermosa Travel Agency representative. Our guide for the morning walks is Ms Aynur.

Pamukkale is located 19km north of Denizli, and is around 250km east of Izmir

Pamukkale means ‘cotton castle’ in Turkish, there are three reasons for this name: Firstly, It looks like a cotton castle; its limestone deposits are as white as cotton and it is tall and strong like a castle, secondly, the water contains properties needed to clean the locally produce cotton, and lastly, a Turkish poet gave it that name after he had a vision of mythological giants called titans using the side of the mountain to hang out and dry their cotton crops

Pamukkale’s unique shape was created from hot mineral springs bubbling up from the ground, then overflowing down the side of the mountain, as it travels it cools and loses its ability to hold the minerals in the solution. The minerals are then deposited on the way down forming white terraces, stalactites, and pools

Pamukkale is about 2,700 metres (8,860 ft) long, 600 m (1,970 ft) wide and 160 m (525 ft) high

The area has been used as a health spa for more than 2000 years, the minerals in the water were recommended to treat everything from high blood pressure to skin diseases

The attraction of the hot springs and their healing properties lead to the foundation of the city of Hierapolis, the Holy city. King Eumenes II of Pergamon founded the city in 190 BC

More hot springs are located 5kms from Pamukkale. Known as ‘the red water’, their high levels of iron form ribbons of blue, red and yellow on the surrounding rocks

Pamukkale has a thermal pool that you can swim in for a fee. The pool is known as the Sacred Pool and due to an earthquake at the site, remains of the ancient city of Hierapolis now lay in the water, forming an underwater museum

The site is home to not one but seventeen hot water springs

Footwear is not allowed on the travertine terraces as the calcium carbonate is deposited in jell form and can be easily damaged before it is able to harden and form part of the structure

Tourism took its toll on Pamukkale. Calcium deposits were being destroyed and the structure was weakened. In the early 1990s, not long after it became a UNESCO world heritage site, restrictions were placed on the site; Areas were restricted, hotels knocked down, and paths were placed around the site. This move was successful as Pamukkale is now able to deposit enough calcium to keep the site strong and damage has been kept to acceptable levels.

- See more at: http://www.travelunearthed.com/pamukkale-facts#sthash.kcIpwwGM.dpuf

Pamukkale is located 19km north of Denizli, and is around 250km east of Izmir

Pamukkale means ‘cotton castle’ in Turkish, there are three reasons for this name: Firstly, It looks like a cotton castle; its limestone deposits are as white as cotton and it is tall and strong like a castle, secondly, the water contains properties needed to clean the locally produce cotton, and lastly, a Turkish poet gave it that name after he had a vision of mythological giants called titans using the side of the mountain to hang out and dry their cotton crops

Pamukkale’s unique shape was created from hot mineral springs bubbling up from the ground, then overflowing down the side of the mountain, as it travels it cools and loses its ability to hold the minerals in the solution. The minerals are then deposited on the way down forming white terraces, stalactites, and pools

Pamukkale is about 2,700 metres (8,860 ft) long, 600 m (1,970 ft) wide and 160 m (525 ft) high

The area has been used as a health spa for more than 2000 years, the minerals in the water were recommended to treat everything from high blood pressure to skin diseases

The attraction of the hot springs and their healing properties lead to the foundation of the city of Hierapolis, the Holy city. King Eumenes II of Pergamon founded the city in 190 BC

More hot springs are located 5kms from Pamukkale. Known as ‘the red water’, their high levels of iron form ribbons of blue, red and yellow on the surrounding rocks

Pamukkale has a thermal pool that you can swim in for a fee. The pool is known as the Sacred Pool and due to an earthquake at the site, remains of the ancient city of Hierapolis now lay in the water, forming an underwater museum

The site is home to not one but seventeen hot water springs

Footwear is not allowed on the travertine terraces as the calcium carbonate is deposited in jell form and can be easily damaged before it is able to harden and form part of the structure

Tourism took its toll on Pamukkale. Calcium deposits were being destroyed and the structure was weakened. In the early 1990s, not long after it became a UNESCO world heritage site, restrictions were placed on the site; Areas were restricted, hotels knocked down, and paths were placed around the site. This move was successful as Pamukkale is now able to deposit enough calcium to keep the site strong and damage has been kept to acceptable levels.

- See more at: http://www.travelunearthed.com/pamukkale-facts#sthash.kcIpwwGM.dpuf

Oh my! now I'm lost. I dont know where to start. It was exactly 1 years, 5 month, 2 weeks & 1 day since I left Pamukkale. But it was a good tour, good company and all laughs. Small tour groups and we clicked right away. Needless to say, we covered most of the "must see" of Pamukkale Places to visit i.e Hierapolis Antique City, Necropolis, Roman Baths, Domitian Gate, Latrina, Oil Factory, Frontinus Street, Agora, Byzantium Gate, Triton Fountain, Cathedral, Apollon Temple, Plutonium, Theater, Antique Pool and Pamukkale white terraces.

THE GALLERY OF PAMUKKALE WALKS

Instant Friend : Indonesian, Thai's and Malaysian = ASEAN

 (Hey Ladies! Which Part Of The World Are You Now? I Missed You)

The Thai's, Malaysian and American

At the beginning of our Hierapolis Ruins Walks. The other? busy taking pictures. Because  we're Asean, blessed with generally friendly spirit, we get acquainted quite fast, sharing joke and laugh. Ms. Aynur ~ our nice n pretty guide sometimes mumble ~ why you Asean loves taking pictures so much? Aha.... because our European team seldom does... especially not doing SELFIES like us. Ha Ha Ha. You know why Aynur? because we loves to preserved our memories. Picture speak louder than words. And most of us, the travelers are very much into photography (as hobbies). And when we came back from our holiday, friends and families always demand for pictures! See? we will be in trouble if failed to showcase our rendezvous in foreign land. Ha ha ha poyo!

ROMAN REMAINS AT HIERAPOLIS PAMUKKALE

Let's Start Exploring

The city of Hierapolis was founded in the second century BC as a thermal spa and given by the Romans to Eumenes II of Pergamum (197 B.C.-159 B.C.) in 190 BC. The city passed back to the Romans in 133 B.C. 

At the height of its prosperity as a Roman city, Hierapolis had splendid temples, a theater and sacred hot springs that attracted tourists because of their alleged healing properties. Archaeologists working at the site found the temple, pools and steps leading to the cave with inscription dedicated to Pluto and Kore, gods of the underworld, amid extensive ruins believed to have been caused by earthquakes. 

History records a major earthquake in 17 A.D. during the reign of Tiberius, and another in 60 A.D. during the reign of Nero that left the city in ruins. The site was a popular destination for certain important pagan rites. Only the eunuchs of Cybele, goddess of fertility, could enter the "Gate of Hell." Strabo said the priests held their breath when they passed the fumes. He thought that their immunity to the fumes could also have been enhanced by "certain physical powers that are antidotes against the vapor" and "divine providence."

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/347038#ixzz3FBJ9fy7s

Hierapolis has such extensive ruins which is suggested: the city walls, the octagonal Martyrium of St. Philip, the 2nd century theater, Temple of Apollo, basilica, then the necropolis which covers 2 km². and contains some of the best examples of tomb styles; it is one of the best-preserved ancient cemeteries in all of Anatolia.

My fellow traveler from US

Rest for awhile. Its a long walks

The Roman Baths Basilica

The Roman North Gate

The ruins of the Roman town of Hierapolis, at Pamukkale, in western Anatolia, Turkey.

Hi Hi Hi

Hierapolis contains the largest surviving Roman theater in Turkey and the view from the theater is absolutely stunning with a panoramic of the valley below and mountains in the distance.

Hierapolis Amphitheater

Dating back to the Calcholithic age, this was the site of a settlement of the earliest communities, and changed hands continuously, becoming the center of various civilizations in different time periods. The ancient city of Laodikeia is close here, within the borders of Denizli, with its ruins awaiting for the sightseers. In addition to Triopolis which was known as the center of bishops, while Christianity spread. Hierapolis is another Ancient City, being a real historical treasure, while it also offers a real wonder of nature in its vicinity. Named, as »Pamukkale« today, this place is astonishingly beautiful, and unique in the world with its white travertine offering marvelous scenery.

Hierapolis also has an ancient pool in which one can still take a dip and swim amongst columns and pillars.  The pool is at a lovely 36 Celsius.

Also Known As The Sacred Pool. Wanna jump? 25TL

No. I didnt jump. But the Canadian couples did. While waiting for them to finish their rejuvenating bath (hi hi hi) we go to the cafe and buy something to bite!