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Petra, the lost city, as the name suggests was once lost and literally carved from the sandstones of southern Jordan. The place enthralls its visitors with some awe-inspiring agricultural, engineering and architectural stone carving skills of the early nomadic Arab tribe, ‘the Nabataeans’. Located at about 3 hours south of Amman, the capital of Jordan, with amazing tombs, amphitheatre, fountains and sacrifice altar, you find mysticism and history in the same place! Petra means ‘rock’ in Greek is apt for a city carved out of sandstone desert cliffs remained unknown to the world until 1812. At its peak, Petra is home to some 20,000 Nabataeans, who created an artificial oasis amidst the vast desert! Archeological evidences reveal that they even constructed dams, cisterns and water conduits to store water for prolonged periods of drought. All the buildings were cut out inside the earth material. Gradually the city lost its commercial importance and finally decayed. The place was rediscovered by the Swiss explorer, Johann Ludwig Burckhardt in 1812. The stone carvings are just unbelievable that it was made by people 2000 years ago! The place got some magical, mysterious and beautiful charm with myriad spots to leave visitors in awe. Only a walking tour can really give you the idea of what really is this mysterious town built inside huge stones. Stepping inside through narrow and curving passages, the contrast, impressions and shock were significant. It is a fantastic experience to walk across the pink town and explore Siq, Al-Khazneh, Royal Tomb, Al Dier and Roman ruins. Byzantine Church, a famous monument is quite fascinating. Though destroyed by earthquakes and major fires, visitors can marvel at the significant remains of this three-aisled basilica. Explore ‘The Great Temple’, the largest free standing building uncovered in Petra. On climbing the steep staircases of the temple, feel like you are on the stairway to heaven! Astonishing views await you at ‘the Treasury’. One of the most elegant remains of the ancient world, the Treasury is probably a temple or tomb. The dramatic glimpses of the Treasury are something that will never erase from memory. Step out to ‘Monstery’, yet another impressive monument beautifully carved and less decorated. The steep pathways here are often the hiker’s paradise. Crave for adventure; try to go down to Petra through tunnel. Squeeze through narrow bit and scramble down rocky slopes. Climb all the way up; to admire the Monastery! On the way you can also have a glimpse of interesting spots like Lion Triclinium, Stone Circle etc. You can also check out small niches, shrines and carvings. The Spectacular ruins of Petra are the real testimony to Nabataean engineering and artistic skills. The lost city is being unearthed today and the modern world got a chance to see how Petra looked like 2,000 years ago. A day tour is not enough; spend at least two to three days to explore the wonders of Petra. Still largely undeveloped it is easy for a visitor to reach into the sand and stones to experience this mysterious city. In 1985, the Petra Archeological Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site and now the place is added in the list of the new Seven Wonders of the World.
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Petra, city carved in rock, The Great Temple, Lion Triclinium Stone Circle,
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