“Cave with Water”
Roughly 12km east of Burdur is İnsuyu Mağarası, the first showcave to be opened to the public in Turkey in the 1960s. Here a paved path leads 330m into the hillside with low lights illuminating rock formations into which those with vivid imaginations can read mother goddess figures, crouching soldiers etc.
The main sights are the two cave lakes. When I visited in May 2013 the Dilek Gölü (Wishing Lake) had dried up but the Büyük Gölü (Big Lake) still had water. Apparently a further thirteen small lakes lie in the closed caverns deeper into the hillside.
It’s easy to visit İnsuyu on a trip to and from Sagalassos from Burdur even if you’re using public transport. However, I didn’t think it as impressive as the showcaves around Alanya (Damlataş and Dim Mağarları) or even near Tokat (Ballıca Mağarası). There’s a small cafe at the site.
Transport info
İnsuyu is one km from the main Burdur–Bucak road which makes it easy to visit even without a private car; buses from Burdur to Ağlasun (Sagalassos) also pass this way. The walk from the road is flat and there are fine mountain views to keep you company.
