A look inside Ikogosi warm springs in Ekiti State.

By Talatu Kwasu

03 February 2014

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The Ikogosi warm spring, located in the rural and calm town of Ikogosi-Ekiti, is one of the most prestigious tourist attractions that this country can boast of today. This warm spring is made more popular by the myths and mysteries surrounding it.

What is mysterious about the Ikogosi Warm Spring is the fact that, flowing side by side the warm spring, is another spring, a cold one. This means a hot spring naturally flows side-by-side with a cold spring from nearly the same source. The warm and cold springs of Ikogosi originate from two close sources; they come to a meeting point, and flow onward together with each spring retaining its temperature. The point where the two springs meet is the major tourist attraction of the Ikogosi warm spring.

The meeting of the warm and cold water is a tourist attraction for tourists who visit for different reasons. Some tourists come to Ikogosi Warm Spring for the fun of watching the meeting points while others come for spiritual reasons following the myths connected to the popular spring.

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There are several age-long myths and beliefs surrounding this popular spring, and these legends have survived different generations and have continued to pass from one generation to the other. One of such beliefs is that the two springs were the two wives of one great hunter. One of the wives was believed to be very quiet while the other was very hot-tempered. One day, the two wives had a big fight. The hunter reprimanded and rebuked them for fighting, after which they both turned into springs. The quiet wife turned into a cold spring while the hot tempered wife turned into the warm spring.

Another story has it that the hunter, while on a hunting expedition in the thick forest, found the warm spring first. He went to town with the story of his great discovery and this prompted the villagers to worship the spring due to its curative powers.

Whatever the true story about the Ikogosi spring may be, the fact remains that it is better experienced than imagined. A trip to the serene site of these two wives-turned springs is all you need to be convinced about the fact that it is one of the most breathtaking tourist sites in Nigeria. It was always difficult for people who wanted to get to the tourist site to get there because the road was in a very sorry state.

But the effort of the state government to transform the spring into a major tourist attraction has lead to the construction of durable roads, making the spring easily accessible to both the natives and foreigners who troop to Ikogosi to have a firsthand experience of its serenity. Patterned after the entrance of the popular Obudu Ranch Resort in Cross River State, you will be treated to a very warm reception by the security orderlies.

A modern resort has been erected for your accommodation with very exotic landscaping accentuated by expertly manicured flowers tended by professional gardeners. Behind the reception building stands the newly built amphitheatre, arts and craft centre said to have a capacity of 1000. You won’t have to walk through mud and dirty paths as was obtainable in the past. As you get close to the meeting point of the two springs, you will be amazed at how technology has been brought into play as a modern trail has been constructed to and around the meeting point and two sources.

At Ikogosi warm spring, you will witness a rare combination of nature and modern technology. You will find very cozy relaxation spots, bars and restaurants for you to chill out after sightseeing with birds humming all around you.

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