Ayn Zeliha Lake: The Second Sacred Pool of Şanlıurfa

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1. What is Ayn Zeliha Lake?
2. How do you get to Ayn Zeliha Lake?
3. When is the best time to visit Ayn Zeliha Lake?
4. What is the history of Ayn Zeliha Lake?
5. What is Ayn Zeliha Lake famous for?
6. What can you do at Ayn Zeliha Lake?
7. Frequently asked questions about Ayn Zeliha Lake
8. What do the official records say about Ayn Zeliha Lake?

What is Ayn Zeliha Lake?

Ayn Zeliha (Ayn-ı Zeliha, “Zeliha’s spring”) is the second sacred pool of Şanlıurfa, a short walk from the main pool of Balıklıgöl in the Gölbaşı park. Like its larger neighbour it is fed by springs and full of carp that are never caught. It is a calmer, greener spot than the main pool, edged with tea gardens and trees, with a fountain playing in the water.

Its name comes from the legend of Abraham and Nimrod. The two pools together are the heart of the old city and the first stop for most visitors.

How do you get to Ayn Zeliha Lake?

Ayn Zeliha is in the Gölbaşı park, next to Balıklıgöl, in the old city. Walk from the old-town hotels or take a taxi or city bus to Balıklıgöl and follow the paths through the park. The Archaeology and Mosaic Museum is nearby, and the castle rises above the park.

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When is the best time to visit Ayn Zeliha Lake?

Late afternoon and evening are best, when the heat fades and families gather in the tea gardens. Early morning is quiet. In spring the trees are fresh and the gardens are at their best; in summer the shade makes it one of the most comfortable places in the city. There is no entry fee.

What is the history of Ayn Zeliha Lake?

In the story told in Urfa, Zeliha was the daughter of King Nimrod (the Ministry of Culture and Tourism calls her his stepdaughter) and had come to believe in Abraham’s God. When Nimrod ordered Abraham thrown into the fire from the castle hill, Zeliha begged for his life. Believing he had fallen into the flames, she threw herself after him. The fire turned to water, and the place where she fell became the Ayn Zeliha Lake.

The pool was historically separate from Balıklıgöl. Between 1924 and 1958 buildings between them were cleared and a canal with a bridge was cut to link the two. According to the Şanlıurfa Municipality, a tunnel known as the Aynzeliha Tunnel connects the castle with the lake.

In the late 20th century the area was turned into the Gölbaşı park, and excavations nearby at Haleplibahçe revealed the Roman and Byzantine villas whose mosaics are now shown in the museum complex.

What is Ayn Zeliha Lake famous for?

• The legend of Zeliha. The princess who followed Abraham into the fire.
• Sacred fish. Carp that, as at Balıklıgöl, are fed by visitors and never caught.
• Tea gardens. Shady terraces at the water’s edge, among the favourite places to sit in the city.
• Views of the castle. The two columns on the castle rock stand above the park.

What can you do at Ayn Zeliha Lake?

Feed the fish. Buy fish food from the stalls and watch the carp crowd to the edge.

Drink tea by the water. Sit in one of the tea gardens with a glass of tea or mırra, the region’s bitter coffee.

Walk the canal to Balıklıgöl. Follow the water to the main pool, the Halil-ür Rahman Mosque and the Rızvaniye Mosque.

Visit the museums. The Haleplibahçe Mosaic Museum and the Archaeology Museum are a short walk west.

Photograph the castle. The view from the park towards the castle columns is especially good in late afternoon light.

What is around Ayn Zeliha?

Haleplibahçe. West of the park, the remains of Roman and Byzantine villas and a 6th-century bath lie beside the mosaic museum, which was built over the floors where they were found.

Kızılkoyun rock tombs. About 59 rock-cut tomb chambers of the Osroene, Roman and Byzantine periods, some with mosaic floors, in the hillside nearby.

Rızvaniye Mosque. The early 18th-century mosque and madrasa on the north side of Balıklıgöl, with its long arcade facing the water.

Tips for your visit

• Bring small change for fish food and tea.
• Dress modestly. The park is part of a pilgrimage area, and the mosques are close by.
• Come back at night. The pools and the castle are lit and the park stays busy until late in summer.
• Combine it. Ayn Zeliha, Balıklıgöl, the Cave of Abraham and the museum make a natural half-day walk.

Frequently asked questions about Ayn Zeliha Lake

What do the official records say about Ayn Zeliha Lake?

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism records that Balıklıgöl consists of two lakes, Ayn-ı Zeliha and Halil-ür Rahman. According to the legend, Zeliha, Nimrod’s stepdaughter, begged for Abraham’s life. Believing that he had fallen into the fire, she threw herself in after him. The place where she fell is the Ayn-ı Zeliha Lake. (Ministry of Culture and Tourism, “Şanlıurfa”, ktb.gov.tr)