Pamukkale - A land of white

Stark against the clearest sky, poised as a glorious giant. Imposing yet inviting, static yet moving, surreal, sweeping and divine.... the mountain calls out to me!

I have always loved these natural castles of stone, carved out as beautiful pieces of art - when continents collide, tectonic plates subside. However this one is extra special - Pamukkale, "cotton castle" in Turkish, honestly its a very apt description.

These hills are listed as UNESCO world heritage site for unique geological formations called Travertines, pools of mineral bearing water creating these wondorous terraces across the slopes. The water is rich with calcium carbonate, which makes the hills stand white.

Set in the mountains near the Aegean sea, these hills were home to Hierapolis- an ancient roman city which was the most important oriental center of power for the Empire in the early 1st-3rd centuries.

The astounding Greek Theatre which is one of best preserved sites from the Hellinistic era documents the prosperity of the city from its glory days. The outskirts of this ruined city boasts to be the largest necropolis (ancient cemetry) in the ancient world, almost 2 km of lined gravestones and tombs might send a shrill down your spine. One can see the ruins of massive Byzantine church (christian era) and the sprawling Temple of Apollo (hellinistic period), it is not hard to imagine hundreds of citizens walking on these paved streets to practice their religion across differnt centuries.

For me the most refreshing part were the thermal pools. These pools are known to be the beauty secret of many a queens including Hera and Cleopatra. I cannot think of a better way to relax your tiring muscles after hours of uphill climb under the hot aegean sun. The pools work like elixir, known as a scientific fact to have numerous health benefits.

I concluded my visit walking down the travertines while watching the sun go down. The beautiful changes in the light reflected in these pools are surely a sight to behold.

An immersive experience strong enough to put it in writing...
never to be forgotten...in memories to behold
revisited and recounted...aching to be retold... Pamukkale.. a land of white