Banyas

Banyas is a nature reserve in the northeastern Golan Heights where the river flows from a spring and drops through limestone cliffs in a series of waterfalls. Several trails wind through the site passing archaeological remains and converging at a viewing platform overlooking the main cascade falling into a green pool.

The site was known in antiquity as Caesarea Philippi and developed into a religious center with temples where the god Pan was worshipped. Over time, different cultures—Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines—left their marks in structures and inscriptions that remain visible today.

The sanctuary served for centuries as a place of worship where people left offerings and connected the power of nature with the divine. Today, visitors can see traces of these practices in the rock faces and archaeological remains that reflect the spiritual lives of ancient peoples.

Visitors should know that paths can become slippery after rain and sturdy footwear is essential, especially when descending to lower levels. The morning hours offer better light on the waterfalls and fewer crowds at the site.

The spring is fed by underground water from the mountain, maintaining a constant flow year-round that powers the waterfalls. This is unusual for the region and makes the site an oasis with rare vegetation and wildlife in an otherwise arid landscape.