Hitting Rock High in Goreme
Whimsical rock formations are the first thing that captivate visitors in Goreme, a quaint village nestled in the heart of Cappadocia in Turkey. These mammoth rocks, born from ancient volcanic eruptions, rise across the entire Goreme National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Their hues shift from golden to orange, peach, and grey as the sun weaves its way across the sky.
This Turkish village, home to around 2,000 residents, is a tableau of innumerable mystical caves and towering rocks. The Open-Air Museum, the park’s crown jewel, houses around 30 rock-hewn churches adorned with frescoes, painted between the 12th and 15th centuries during the Byzantine era.
Just beyond Goreme lies Pasabag, also called Monk Valley, renowned for its mushroom-shaped rock formations known as fairy chimneys. These centuries-old formations, which served as monastic retreats for monks, add a layer of mystique to the enchanting landscape.
Walking through this valley, with white powdery sand beneath your feet, offers a window to the ancient civilisations. Goreme’s magic extends underground to the ancient city of Derinkuyu, one of the 200 underground cities in Cappadocia. Dating back 3,000 years, with 18-story labyrinthine tunnels and rooms carved 280-ft deep into the earth, housing up to 20,000 people and livestock, Crouching down and slithering through some of the sections with damp walls is a surreal journey back in time. Interestingly this underground city was discovered by chance when a neighbouring building was excavating to renovate a basement.
Ihlara Valley adds another dimension to the mystical experience. Descending 100 metres into the canyon via a stairway of nearly 400 steps, visitors are greeted by a hiking trail alongside a gently flowing river. After soaking in the beauty of the valley, as you transcend in the vans with a guide, keep an eye out for the large expanse of pumpkin fields grown on ash-coloured soil on either side of the road.
For adrenalin junkies, the surrounding landscape offers ample opportunities for exploration via ATV bikes. Hiking through the Rose and Red Valleys, you will discover hidden cave dwellings and tunnels carved from the soft volcanic rocks.
No visit to Goreme is complete without a hot air balloon ride. The journey begins under the cover of darkness, headlights piercing through the morning fog as vehicles ferry passengers to the launch site. Witnessing the balloons inflate, their burners roaring and flames lighting up the pre-dawn sky, is a spectacle in itself.
As the balloon ascends, carrying seven passengers alongside the pilot, below the landscape unfolds like a dream to offer a mesmerizing view of the region -undulating valleys, ancient caves that people call home, and the fairy chimneys bathed in the shades of orange. The gentle swaying of the basket, adds a sense of tranquillity to the awe-inspiring views, the silence broken only by the occasional roar of the balloon’s burners. The sight of hundreds of colourful balloons dotting the sky is a memory etched in the heart forever.
In a snapshot
● The closest airport is NevşehirKapadokya Airport, about 40 minutes by car from the towns of Goreme and Urgup. You can also fly into Kayseri Erkilet Airport, which is about an hour’s drive from Cappadocia
● To roam around Cappadocia, bus, cabs and rental cars are recommended
● To fully understand Cappadocia’s cultural and natural heritage, guided tours are most popular
● Best months to travel to Turkey are April to June, September and October as the weather is pleasant, and ideal for outdoor activities and hot air ballooning