Kaklık Cave — The Pamukkale Underground

Kaklık Cave — Kaklık Mağarası — was an active cave that formed inside limestone by draining groundwater away. When its roof collapsed the interior was opened to daylight, and the odd sight the visitor sees today appeared: a room that stands below ground when you look down into it, and yet is open at the top.

Inside, the water forms pools in steps set one above another; stalactites hang from the roof, with stalagmites beneath them. Moss and ivy have taken hold on the constantly dripping walls — this is the look not of a dry cave but of a living surface that is still building up.

This stepped white formation is the source of the names given to the cave: 'Little Pamukkale', or 'the Pamukkale of the cave'. The resemblance is superficial but real — the same chemistry at work on a far smaller scale and in an enclosed space.

The formation is still going on today. Because the water seeping from the walls keeps leaving calcium carbonate behind, the surfaces thicken over the years — the steps you see are not a finished structure but a very slowly growing surface.

The thermal water inside the cave is clear and colourless, but it carries a distinct smell of sulphur. The smell spreads through the whole area and is noticed in the first second of the visit; some find it unpleasant, others find it interesting.

It is said among the local people that the water is good for certain skin complaints. This is a traditional belief, not medical advice — if you are thinking of using it for health purposes, consult your doctor first.

The cave was opened to visitors in May 2002 through the work of the Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism. Since then a swimming pool, a small amphitheatre, viewing areas, a cafeteria and shaded shelters have been laid out around it.

Visitor interest has risen noticeably in recent years: the cave, which drew close to 63,000 people in 2023, received more than 134,000 visitors in 2024. The site is now counted among the most-visited stops in the province after Pamukkale and the ancient cities.

That increase has a consequence of its own: the cave is small, and a crowd makes itself felt quickly in an enclosed space. Midday at the weekend is the busiest stretch; coming early in the morning gains you both the cool air and the quiet.