Banias Nature Reserve

Attractions in the Golan

Banias Nature Reserve houses an ancient city named Banias that developed around a spring once associated with the Greek god Pan. It had been inhabited for 2,000 years, until its destruction in 1967. It is located at the foot of Mount Hermon, of the Golan Heights. The spring is the source of the Banias (Hermon) River, one of the main tributaries of the Jordan River. Archaeologists uncovered a shrine dedicated to Pan and related deities, and the remains of an ancient city founded sometime after the conquest by Alexander the Great and inhabited until 1967; the ancient city was mentioned in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark by the name of Caesarea Philippi.



The spring at Banias initially originated in a large cave carved out of a sheer cliff face which was gradually lined with a series of shrines. The temenos (sacred precinct) included in its final phase a temple placed at the mouth of the cave, courtyards for rituals, and niches for statues. It was constructed on an elevated, 80m long natural terrace along the cliff which towered over the north of the city. A four-line inscription at the base of one of the niches relates to Pan and Echo, the mountain nymph, and was dated to 87 BCE.

The once very large spring gushed from the limestone cave, but an earthquake moved it to the foot of the natural terrace where it now seeps quietly from the bedrock, with a greatly reduced flow. From here the stream, called Nahal Hermon in Hebrew, flows towards Hula Lake. The pre-Hellenistic, Canaanite deity associated with the spring of Banias was variously called Ba’al-gad or Ba’al-Hermon.

Banias Nature Reserve – Things to Do

So which activities you can do in the park? So you can hike the amazing trails in the park. These trails are super easy and almost anyone can hike there. In fact, Banis Nature Reserve connects to Hermon Stream Nature Reserve which together forms one big park. Also, there is lots of archaeology to see like a Herodian Palace the holy precinct of the city Banias. In short lots of fun, you squeeze into just a short couple of hours. Trust me you won’t need more!



The banks of the river abound in willow trees, oriental planes, silver-leaf poplars, Tabor oaks, Palestine oaks, Mt. Atlas mastics, terebinths, carobs, ferns, giant canes, and various vines.

The stream is home to a variety of fluvial fish, including longhead barbel, large-scale barbel, Damascus barbel, and tilapia. Living and roaming around the stream or in it are wild boars, Syrian rock hyrax, swamp cats, nutria, and Indian porcupines.

Birds that frequent the vicinity of the stream include rock doves and Western rock nuthatch.



Banias Nature Reserve Opening Hours:

Last entry to the site: one hour before cited closing time

Summer Hours:

Sunday–Thursday and Saturday: 08:00-17:00

Friday and holiday eves: 08:00-16:00

Winter Hours:

Sunday–Thursday and Saturday: 08:00-16:00

Friday and holiday eves: 08:00-15:00

Holiday eves: 08:00-13:00

Yom Kippur eve: 08:00-13:00

On holidays and Saturdays, I recommend arriving early, entry is based on the availability of space.

Phone: ‎+(00)972-(0)4-6902577



apt-stamp-white@2x
arik-about

Hi! My name is Arik Haglili, an Israeli native who decided to dedicate his life to share my knowledge about the Holy Land to those that are interested to know more about this amazing piece of land. My career as a private tour guide started at the International School For the Studying of the Holocaust and the rest is history.

Did you know the Hoopoe is Israel's national bird?! For more cool info about Israel, join our ever growing community and get exclusive travel tips, and giveaways!

Caesarea Philippi

RELATED POSTS

Damascus Gate

Damascus Gate is one of the main Gates of the Old City of Jerusalem. It is located in the wall on the city's northwest side.

Ilana Goor Museum

The Ilana Goor Museum is an art museum located in Old Jaffa. The museum was founded in 1995 by the artist, designer, and sculptor Ilana ...

Lake Ram

Lake Ram is a crater lake (maar) in the northeastern Golan Heights, near Mount Hermon, in Israel. Also, Josephus knew it by the name Lake ...

Museum of Italian Jewish Art

The Museum of Italian Jewish Art is dedicated to telling the story of Jewish life in Italy from the Renaissance to the present.

Stone of Unction

The Stone of Unction, also known as the Stone of Anointing, is where he was anointed and wrapped in shrouds before his burial.

Saint Nicholas Monastery Jaffa

Saint Nicholas Monastery Jaffa is the setting of the Bonaparte Visiting the Plague Victims of Jaffa painting by Antoine-Jean Gros.

First Station Jerusalem

The First Station in Jerusalem is a famous cultural and entertainment center in the city's heart. It was once a bustling railway station

Zedekiah’s Cave

Zedekiah’s Cave (also known as Solomon’s Quarries) is the largest artificial cave in Israel. It is located under the houses of the Muslim Quarter in ...

Negev Brigade Monument

The Negev Brigade Monument is a monument in memory of the members of the Palmach Negev Brigade who fell fighting on the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.

Ammunition Hill Museum

Ammunition Hill is a memorial commemorating the Battle of Ammunition Hill. Now there is a nice museum and you can walk the actual trenches.

Need help?