How to get there?

Located in Antalya Beydağları National Park, Chimera is on the hills of Çıralı and Olympos, 230 metres above the sea. You need to go to Çıralı in order to get to Chimera. There is 3 kms between Çıralı and Yanartaş National Park, which is pretty close. After you walk past the bridge in the entrance of Çıralı, and the pensions and orange gardens on the left side of the road, you reach the starting point of the path to Chimera (3,5 kms). From here, it takes around 30 minutes to walk up there.

Open Hours and the Fee

Opening : 09.00 am

Closing 09.00 pm

Entrance fee : 12 TL

CHIMERA IN MYTHOLOGY

These rocks, where the flames are burning a sort of methane gas that has been emerging from the earth on this rocky slope for millions of years, have been subject to many mythological stories.

According to Greek mythology, Ephyra king, Glaukos’s son Hipponoes killed his brother Bellaros at a hunting party and was named Bellarophontes, which means the one who has eaten Bellaros. Then he was exiled from Ephyra and took refuge under the wing of Argos king. The king did not want to kill him as he was a desperate young refugee and he sent him to Lycia king. Lycia king was not eager to kill him either. He sent him to fight Chimera, the beast spreading flames out of his mouth with a lion head, goat body, and snake tail living on the mount Olympos. Getting on his winged horse Pegassos, Bellarophontes went to fight with Chimera. After Chimera attacked wildly, Pegassos flew above him and Bellarophontes managed to thrust his spear into his mouth, and sent him to the deep under the ground. However, Chimera still continues to spread flames from there. The flames on the rocks are the flames of the monster Chimera, according to mythology.

And the Olympic Flame (torch) that is still lit today is a symbolic expression of the eternal flames of Chimera.

THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT CHIMERA VISIT:

People who accommodate in Çıralı can walk to Chimera

It is recommended to visit in the evening

A torch, hat, sneakers and plenty of water will be very helpful

The monumental antique Byzantian church located nearby can be visited