Petra
The ancient Jordanian city of Petra is one of the new wonders of the world. This archaeological marvel lies near the slope of the Jordanian mountain Hor, very close to the Dead Sea. It was discovered in 1812 by a Swiss man called Johann Ludwig Burckhardt, and it has been described as “a rose red city, half as old as time” by the poet John William Burgon. UNESCO named Petra a World Heritage Site in the year 1985.
History of the City
The history of Petra can be traced back to a few thousand years ago. It served as the capital city in the Nabataean empire during the 6th century BC. The Nabataeans were an ancient clan of Arabs who settled in Arabia, Canaan, and the southern part of Jordan . In about 100 AD, the Roman Empire brought the city under its control. During the Roman rule, Petra became a hub for trade and commerce. At the height of its success as a major commercial city, disaster struck Petra in the form of a terrible earthquake , destroying many of its breathtaking buildings and killing numerous people. This earthquake took place in the year 363 AD, and it ruined the important water management system of the city. This made Petra inhospitable, and its popularity began to decline.
In 1189, a major part of the Middle East, including Petra, came under the rule of Saladin. From this time onwards, Petra was no longer an important city, and many of its buildings were further damaged and its tombs were looted by thieves. The first true excavations were carried out in 1929, and after that, it did not take long for Petra to become Jordan’s primary tourist attraction. The Hollywood movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, which was directed by Steven Spielberg in 1989, was filmed in Petra, and this further boosted the tourism and travel insurance industry of Jordan.
Architecture of the City
The Siq is a long and winding canyon that is covered in sandstone, and it acts as the entrance to the wonderful city. Visitors will get to see some fantastic sandstone patterns here, and the remnants of terracotta pipes that were used during the Roman era are visible too. At the entrance of the city, visitors will be greeted by the spectacular Treasury structure. The Treasury is rumored to contain hidden treasures of a pharaoh. Nearby, there is the Street of Facades, which is another canyon. This canyon is skirted by a number of tombs, and it is where the Roman Theatre is located. It was originally built by the Nabataean, but the Romans expanded it later. The High Place of Sacrifice is another must-see attraction of Petra. It is located at the mountain top, and it contains detailed rock altars that were used for sacrifice rituals. The largest carved structure in Petra is called the Ad Deir Monastery . Tourists can take a donkey ride to get to the monastery, since going up by foot will take about an hour. Inside the premises of the breathtaking Petra, walking will be one of the best options. There are also camels, donkeys, and horses for traveling around Petra. Horse drawn buggies are also available.
Surrounding Sites
Apart from these attractions in Petra, there are several nearby attractions that tourists can visit. Siq al-Barid is one of them. Located 6 km north of Petra, the mausoleum is an archaeological wonder that contains horned columns. Another close by attraction is the Umm Al Biyara, a mountain near Petra that offers amazing views from the summit.