Baniyas Favorites

Favorite thing: This is the altar area the actual Shrine itself. Much of the area was destroyed by an earthquake, which they also say shifted the waterway...when the shire was built it is thought that the source of the spring came directly out of the mountain side at the alter area, today it no longer does.

Favorite thing: The path leading to the shrine was designed to lead you over and through the spring waters of the Baniyas Spring, it is a refreshing way to tour, you just step across the small cuts in the stone through which water is being channeled.

Favorite thing: The national park of Baniyas takes it name from the the Hellenistic God PAN, the name Pan is difficult to pronounce in semetic language (Arabic) so got distorted to Ban, thereby the name Baniyas. The approach to the shrine itself is over a series of stone channels where water is made to flow to provide a serene setting stuitable for the god.

Favorite thing: The Baniyas waterfall is the largest waterfall in Israel, both in terms of height and quantity. The water is snow melt from the Golan Heights between Israel and Syria. But when I say "largest", I mean largest in Israel, and in international terms it is small, no, not small, TINY...the waterfall is only a few meters wide and not much higher..and the amount of water that runs through here perd DAY is maybe what runs over Niagara Falls in 1 minute. Sorry don't know exact figures but the beauty of the place speaks much louder than those figures.

Favorite thing: Here is the spot to place yourself on the nearest rock, take off your shoes and dip your toes in the waters of Baniyas. Be prepared for a shock, the water really is ice cold. Do not attempt to swim here, not only is it forbidden but the water is very swift and full of dangerous hidden boulders.

Favorite thing: This is almost as close as you can get to the falls, more than 30 years ago when I first began going here there were no fences and the "pool" just below the waterfall was open and you could swim here. Today it is forbidden.

Favorite thing: This is the final approach to the waterfall, at this point you can contiune on to the waterfall itself or turn toward the trail that takes you to the Pan Shrine in the neighbouring nature reserve. There is also a roman villa on the way to the Pan Shrine.