The Carp Fish At This Holy Sight In Urfa Are Sacred And Heres Why

Urfa’s Balıklıgöl (Pool of Sacred Fish), in the courtyard of the Halil-ur-Rahman Mosque, has become the stuff of legends and involved the Prophet Abraham himself. Check out the story that has made the many carp fish in the pool so sacred.

You definitely can’t go swimming at Balıklıgöl in Urfa because it’s quite the sacred place that has also become a favorite sight for many visitors. Located by the stunning Halil-ur-Rahman Mosque, the legend revolves around the story of Abraham and King Nimrod. Born and raised in Urfa, Abraham ended up making King Nimrod quite mad by not only declaring war against idol worship but also stealing the heart of Zeliha, the king’s daughter. It was at this point that the king sentenced Abraham to death by being burned on a huge pyre, which was promptly built in the city center.

However, when Abraham was thrown into the fire, the flames turned into water, and the wooden logs transformed into fish. As such, the pool and its many fish are very sacred due to this story, and Balıklıgöl is also known as the Pool of Abraham. Of course, with such a sacred status, leaving them untouched, the carp have really thrived, and they depend on tourists and other visitors to feed them. You’ll quickly see a wild whirlwind of fish disrupt the surface when people throw in some fish feed, which guests can purchase on-site.

Nowadays, visitors touch or drink from the fountain that springs up inside the mosque, a practice that has been happening for centuries. The complex also houses the Rizvaniye Mosque, built much later in 1736 by the Ottoman governor Rizvan (hence the name).

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.