Pamukkale meaning “cotton castle” in Turkish, is a natural site in Denizli Province in southwestern Turkey. The area is famous for a carbonate mineral left by the flowing of thermal spring water.
This is the second time I have visited this beautiful site. And yes, 10 years ago and now I can feel some changes. Most of the pools are dried up now.
Cotton Castle is about 620km from Istanbul. The site gets its name from the numerous cascading white pools with bright turquoise water surfaces. From afar, it looks like a castle of fluffy cotton.
The best time to visit Cotton Castle is in the evening so you can see the sunset.
You should bring along a towel when visiting Cotton Castle because you can soak your feet and walk around with bare foot. The hot spring is really nice to walk on during winter. The path gets slippery so be very careful. The temperatures of these pools can range from 35 °C (95 °F) to 100 °C (212 °F). Super comfortable to walk on in the cold weather. After you are done walking, use the towel to dry your feet.
Around this area, there are also remains of an ancient city of Hierapolis, a Greco-Roman and Byzantine town that stood on top of the castle.
Hieropolis is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, ruins are scattered throughout the city. The ancient city of Hierapolis gained it popularity when its calcium springs were discovered by the Romans to cure illnesses and diseases. The water here is miracle water. Do remember to soak your feet! The ground is rough and does hurt your feet – you cannot wear shoes in the protected areas. The area is spectacular for photo shooting