The ‘Kaklık Cave’ in Pamukkale, underground, hosted 6,000 visitors during the holiday

Kaklık Cave, known as the underground counterpart of Pamukkale on the UNESCO World Heritage List, has become a new attraction in alternative tourism with the support of GEKA. The cave, which has become a favorite for many local and foreign tourists, hosted 6,000 visitors during the holiday season. Located in the Honaz district of Denizli, Kaklık Cave, known as the underground Pamukkale, was made attractive for alternative tourism with the project support provided by the South Aegean Development Agency (GEKA). GEKA, operating under the coordination of the Ministry of Industry and Technology Development Agencies General Directorate, provided project support to Honaz Municipality for the improvement of infrastructure and facilities of Kaklık Cave within the scope of the 2020 Alternative Tourism Financial Support Program. With the support given to the project titled Revitalization of Value Added and Potential of Alternative Tourism Areas in Honaz, the infrastructure and superstructure facilities of Kaklık Cave, known as the underground Pamukkale with its travertines, thermal pools, and enchanting atmosphere, were improved, increasing the number of visitors by 10%. Within the project, infrastructure facilities of Kaklık Cave were improved, environmental arrangements were made, and common areas were upgraded. Particularly around Kaklık Cave, the variety of activities was increased with services such as pools, cafeterias, children’s play areas, and stands offering local products. By integrating local life, local and cultural elements into tourism, the cave became a preferred destination for visitors as an alternative tourism destination. Kaklık Cave, where the number of visitors is increasing day by day, is located in Kaklık Neighborhood, which is affiliated with Honaz district located 30 kilometers away from the city center. Adorned with stalactites and stalagmites, the cave is similar to the travertines in Pamukkale on the UNESCO World Heritage List and has a unique beauty with its travertine steps. The cave, also known as ‘Little Pamukkale’ or ‘Cave Pamukkale,’ attracts the attention of visitors with its abundant thermal water inside, which is clear, colorless, and smells of sulfur. It is rumored that the clear and sulfur-scented water, which visitors can walk on, is beneficial for some skin diseases. The continuously dripping walls of Kaklık Cave add a visual beauty with lush moss and small-leaved vine-like plants. These plants, taking on different shades of green throughout the day depending on the lighting, provide a visual pleasure for visitors. During the 9-day Feast of Sacrifice holiday, Kaklık Cave was visited by 6,000 domestic and foreign visitors.
Upon entering the cave, Erol Akarsu, who said he visited this cave for the first time, stated, ‘I am coming from Izmir. I had doubts when coming. I mean, I was not expecting such a place. I also researched on the internet, we heard that there was such a place. But when I saw it live, it was a very magnificent place. I recommend everyone to come and see. It is very crowded. An extraordinary place. It is very nice to be in a flat area at the foot of the mountain. I was not expecting such a place when I entered. An extraordinary place. I am entering for the first time, I recommend it to everyone.’ Veysel Şimşek, who emphasized the temperature difference between the inside and outside of the cave and felt refreshed when entering the cave, said, ‘I am coming from Izmir. I come to Denizli regularly. Today we came to Kaklık Cave. It was our chance to come today. I recommend it to everyone. I am coming for the first time. I know Denizli very well; it gets very hot in summers. I recommend everyone to come to Kaklık Cave. There is a coolness when we enter inside. I invite everyone with heartiness to come. There is a temperature difference between the outside and the inside of the cave. Everything is beautiful, I recommend everyone to come’.