Carved out of the dry desert mountains of Jordan some three thousand years ago, Petra is one of the great wonders of the world.
Petra, Jordan - The Beginning
On endless desert plains and in an arid valley, a tribe of Bedouins, the Nabateans, managed to build an extraordinary city. Since the first Westerner stumbled across it in 1812, it has become a Mecca for travellers - a ‘must see’ for the thousands of people who visit Jordan every year. Often they come for the specific purpose of seeing Petra, although the whole country is a treasure trove of antiquities.
Some three thousand years ago the Nabateans were clever enough to tap into the nearest water supply, the springs at Wadi Moussa, where Moses is said to have drawn water by striking a rock.. An elaborate system of dams and aquaducts was created to provide the pools and fountains of their city.
Petra, Jordan - The Siq - Entrance to the city
You have to walk about 3 kilometres from the gateway to the Siq - a narrow winding path flanked by huge rocks and crags curved into wonderful colours and shapes by centuries of desert winds - one of the most dramatic approaches to a city in the world. A slit in the rock appears ahead and as you approach it you see beyond your first glimpse of the ‘rose-red city’ - the famed Treasury, a 40-metre-high facade carved into the rock . For Indiana Jones fans, this is where he found the holy grail in 'The Last Crusade'.
Petra, Jordan - The Treasury
The true reason for the building of the Treasure is not known as it mainly consists of its magnificent facade. If you climb up the stairway and enter the building, what you will find is basically an empty square room with a few smaller rooms leading off it.
A small clue to the function of the Treasury is a washbasin on the threshold,, thought to be designed for ritual washing, suggesting the Treasury may have been a place of worship.
The Monastery
Reached only by an hour’s climb up well-worn steps (you can also hire a donkey), the Monastery is a huge tomb from which there are fabulous views over the surrounding landscape.
You really have to see the Monastery to realise just how big it is - the doorway alone is larger than the average house.
Unlike the elaborately decorated facade of the Treasury, the Monastery is fairly plain and again, like the Treasury it seems to have been incorrectly named. It is thought to have been a temple, dedicated to a Nabatean king who reigned in the 1st century BC and the huge outside plaza was a place for crowds to gather for religious ceremonies.
Petra, Jordan - Other Things To See
There are 800 or so monuments at Petra, including Royal tombs carved out of a cliff - the supposed resting place of Moses’ brother, at Jebel Haroun, on one of Petra’s highest peaks. Try not to miss the High Place of Sacrifice, a mountain-top altar with wonderful views over Petra. There is much more to see than the major highlights. If possible, give yourself time to explore. There are ancient paths, shrines, houses and signposts all over the place.
You can see the major monuments in one (intensive) day but there is so much more to see, so try to stay longer. There is no accommodation at Petra. Visitors stay at the nearby town of Wadi Moussa.
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