Located 240 kilometers south of Amman, it can be approached by the Desert Highway or by taking the King’s Highway scenic route, which goes through Madaba, Mount Nebo, Kerak and Shobak. The Nabatean Arabic nomads built this whole city in these mountains over 2000 years ago. Petra is a site of global importance according to UNESCO for its outstanding universal historical and cultural value.
Petra: The Fortress City of Trade Routes
This ancient fortress city was aimed at controlling trade routes in the area including the renowned Silk Road. It wasn’t until it was rediscovered that this archaeological wonder got an only entrance via Al Siq, a narrow passage flanked by towering cliffs.
Starting Your Journey to Petra’s Archaeological Wonders
Start your journey into the archeology of Petra from Wadi Moussa (Moses Valley) village nearby with hotels and serves as a gateway to this archeological city. Besides being just 10 kilometers away from Petra, you can also explore Beida and Basta ancient Stone Age villages dating back more than 8000 years.
Entering Petra: A Walk Through Al Siq to The Treasury
To enter into Petra‘s Nabatean archaeological city hire a local guide that offers you three-hour tour services where tourists may book horse rides. Visitors walk down through Al Siq, a rock fissure which is about one point two kilometers long winding between cliffs towering at one hundred meters high. At first sight of Al Khaznah (The Treasury), one will be astounded by its beauty since it is considered as one among many landmarks in all of Jordan.
Exploring Petra’s Hidden Archaeological Treasures
Al Khaznah stands on an area measuring about forty five meters wide by thirty meters long (140x90ft.), having been chiselled out directly from the cliff face. However, this amazing carving by man is just a small part of Petra’s numerous other archeological sites including temples, tombs for the royals, Roman theater with capacity to hold three thousand people in audience, houses of the commoners, graves or burial rooms for families, dining areas for communal meals, water channels underneath the ground level that supply water throughout Petra city and beyond as well as markets for selling goods and services with arches leading into them.
Climbing to Petra’s High Place of Sacrifice and Monastery
Those who spend longer at Petra must ensure they ascend until they reach the High Place of Sacrifice plus the Monastery. The Monastery which is larger than The Treasury with dimensions 45 meters wide by 50 meters long (140 x 160ft.), provides a unique viewpoint over Petra Nabatean archaeological city. This can be done over two days bestowing one with time to leisurely ascend up long stairways onto mountain tops where one will have had an engaging yet challenging experience from start to finish.
Jordan can be an excellent place to visit!
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If desired, any details could be altered according to one’s tastes or peculiarities they wish to add. Have safe travels!
