Pamukkale
Turkey

The Pamukkale Termal pool, previously the sacred pool of Hieropolis

Pamukkale, one of Turkey's favourite tourist images, is mostly a white elephant of a place these days. The calcium enriched waters that created the famously organic cotton candy effect and gave travellers outdoor pools to soak in is now reduced to a dribble and most of the pools are fenced off. The puffy white shelves and stalactites are still hanging on, but sullied by a thousand tourist an hour dragging themselves up and down the slopes. For photos see Turkey Pictures.

However, the adjacent ruins of 190 BC Hieropolis cure centre are wonderfully atmospheric and hardly visited by the tour bus folk. Hieropolis' sacred pool has now metamorphosed into the pay-to-enter Pamukkale Termal pool. This is a gorgeous experience, with the naturally warm and curative waters washing over ancient fluted marble colums and freshly sunburnt skin in a glowing, tranquil environment. Worth every cent of the $5 or so it costs for two hours immersion.

Images: Beaches | Turkey Travel Video | Turkey Pictures

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