THE LOST CITY OF PETRA
One of the seven new wonders of the world, the ancient city of Petra in Jordan has many secrets to reveal. Lost to the western world for hundreds of years, the city is reclaiming its position on the tourist circuit. By Supriya Aggarwal
Carved out of giant pink and red coloured mountains, Petra comes from the Latin word which means rock. It is one of the most celebrated places in Jordan, and the sites are an impressive example of the Middle-eastern culture. Located at the edge of the Arabian Desert, Petra was once the glittering capital of the Arab Nabataean Empire of King Aretas IV and dates back to more than 2,000 years.
Older than the history itself, the city of Petra remained cut off from the world for centuries. Around the early 1800s, a European traveller disguised himself in a Bedouin costume and entered the mysterious city.
Petra was once an important trading centre for silk, spice and other trade routes linking India, China and southern Arabia with Egypt, Greece, Rome and Syria. The city is half-built, half-carved into the rock, and is surrounded by mountains riddled with passages and gorges making it an exotic and unique destination.
To enter the city, one has to pass through a narrow gorge called Siq. It is a 1km long passage flanked by high cliffs on either side. The colours and formations of the rock will undoubtedly mesmerise you. To keep the environment clean and save this prehistoric city from carbon emission, motorised vehicles are not permitted here, but one can take a camel ride as they are the only source of transport in Petra.
As soon as you enter the valley, you will be overwhelmed by the natural beauty and its excellent architectural achievements. The city has hundreds of elaborate rock-cut tombs with intricate carvings to last throughout the afterlife, and 500 have survived the test of time.
Here are some of the places one must see while in Petra.
Al Khazneh (The Treasury)
If one can fall in love with the Jordanian city of Petra, it is at this place only. A rock-cut tomb, with a beautiful Hellenistic façade, is an astonishing piece of craftsmanship. The Treasury famously featured as the Holy Grail’s last resting place in the film ‘Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade’. Right opposite the Treasury is a Sacred Hall, which historians believe may have had ritual connections with the Treasury.
Al-Deir, the monastery
Camouflaged in the hills, the Monastery is one of the legendary monuments of Petra. Similar in design to the Treasury but far bigger (50m wide and 45m high), it was built in the 3rd century BC as a Nabataean tomb. It derives its name from the crosses carved on the inside walls, suggestive of its use as a church in Byzantine times. Not only will you be treated to this majestic structure while here, but you will also get to see the magnificent panoramic views of the valleys and rocky landscape of the area of Wadi Araba nearby.
Petra Archaeological Park
The Petra Archaeological Park (PAP) covers an area of about 264,000 square metres and is located within the region of Wadi Musa, which is regarded as a tourism and archaeological site, and a World Heritage Site registered on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1985. The area encompasses a breathtaking landscape of pink-hued rock mountains, the focus of which is the amazing ancient Nabataean city of Petra, which was carved into the rock more than 2,000 years ago.
Museums
Within the city, there are also two museums one is the Petra Archaeological Museum, and other is the Petra Nabataean Museum. Both the museums represent finds from excavations in the Petra region and an insight into Petra’s colourful past.
