Travel Highlights - Pamukkale

Pamukkale

Pamukkale, also known as Cotton Castle, is called Pamukkale in Turkish. Pamul means cotton, and Kale means castle. Pamukkale is a must-see destination in Turkey. Its snow-white terraced fields are topped by warm springs, and the view overlooking the valley from the mountains is breathtaking. The only other similar attractions in the world are Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park and the Huanglong Scenic Area in Sichuan. Bring a swimsuit to soak in the hot springs, or simply stepping in the water and soaking your feet is also a great spot for photos. Nearby, there are the ruins of the ancient city of Hierapolis, which you can also visit along the way. Both Pamukkale and Hierapolis were designated World Heritage Sites in 1988.

Today, we'll drive 3:40 minutes from Oludeniz to Pamukkale. After checking in at the hotel, we'll head directly to Pamukkale, the ancient pools, and Hierapolis. The walk from the pools to the theater takes about 10 minutes. Because it was close to sunset, I calculated the time to take a beautiful photo from above when the sun was setting.

Pamukkale has three entrances. Ancient Roman ruins tower above it. The South Entrance offers a commanding vantage point into the castle's limestone sheds, allowing for iconic photos of the castle from both the top and bottom. The downside is that it's often crowded with tourists, so unless you arrive early in the morning, it's often packed. Because of its convenience, we chose to enter through this entrance. We arrived at Pamukkale a little after 6:00 AM, just in time for some sunset photos.

These ruins are dotted with broken rocks and walls.

After entering the park from the south entrance parking lot, you will pass a large area of ruins.

Hierapolis Amphitheater

The amphitheater is a symbol of ancient Roman splendor. From its perch, admire the dusk of Pamukkale. The imposing structure stands against the distant, snow-white Pamukkale. As the sun sets, the sense of loneliness is heightened. Although the ancient Roman amphitheater has been restored, the grandeur of the main structure, standing on this empty hilltop, still evokes a sense of medieval splendor. We timed our visit to coincide with sunset and managed to capture a few magnificent photos of the Roman amphitheater at dusk.

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