Attractions
Petra
The ancient city of Petra is one of Jordan’s national treasures and by far its best known tourist attraction. Petra is the legacy of the Nabataeans, an industrious Arab people who settled in southern Jordan more than 2,000 years ago.
Admired then for its refined culture, massive architecture and ingenious complex of dams and water channels, Petra is a UNESCO World Heritages Site and one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. Inhabited by the Nabateans, Edomites and Romans, Petra brought together the knowledge and skill of these civilizations to create this world wonder. Caravans laden with incense, silks, spices and other exotic goods would rest at Petra.
THE TREASURY (AL KHAZNA)
The siq opens up onto Petra’s most magnificent façade; the Treasury, or Al Khazna. It is almost 40 meters high and intricately decorated with Corinthian capitals, friezes, figures and more. The Treasury is crowned by a funerary urn, which according to local legend conceals a pharaoh’s treasure. The Treasury was probably constructed in the 1st century BC.
The purpose of the Treasury is unclear: some archaeologists believed it to be a temple, while others thought it was a place to store documents. However, the most recent excavation here has unearthed a graveyard beneath the Treasury.
The Treasury comprises three chambers, a middle chamber with one on either side, the elaborately carved facade represents the nabataean engineering genius.
AL- SIQ
It is the ancient main entrance leading to the city of Petra, starts at the Dam and ends at the opposite side of the vault, a split rock with a length of about 1200m and a width of 3 to 12m, and height up to about 80m; most of the rock is natural and another part was sculptured by the Nabataeans.
At the beginning of the Siq, one can still view the remains of the city’s gate. On both sides of the Siq, there are channels to draw water from Wadi Musa (the Valley of Moses), from outside the city to the inside.
Aspects of the Siq were decorated with Nabataean sculptures, mostly representing gods. It is believed that the statues of gods and their sculptures were situated very close and even adjacent to the channels due to the Nabataean belief that water was sacred. In addition, on the left side there are idols called Sabinos Statues.
THE ROYAL TOMBS
Overlooking the center of Petra rise majestically the so-called “Royal Tombs,” a series of large mausoleums with impressive facades hewn from the western slope of the Jabal al-Khubtha rock massif.
It is not possible to associate them to particular Nabataean rulers, due to the lack archaeological evidence. But recent research seems to confirm their royal context.
For the Corinthian Tomb right beside of it, Al-Khazneh (Treasury) obviously served as model: Crowned by a large tholos framed by a broken pediment, it has Corinthian capitals enriched with floral decoration.
While the less royal Silk Tomb attracts by the iridescent colors of its eroded façade, the magnificent Urn Tomb stands out in the mausoleums’ row. Among its peculiarities, it has a two-story substructure of arched vaults, and a large colonnaded courtyard in front of it, from which you can enjoy a spectacular view over the city. The complex was converted into a Byzantine church in 446 AD.
THE STREET OF FACADES
It is a name given to the row of monumental Nabataean tombs carved in the southern cliff face that lies past the Treasury and adjacent to the outer Siq., that when you pass the Treasury, the Siq begins to widen gradually as it reaches into an open area. On both sides, there are a number of Nabataean burial interfaces decorated with grindstones along with other decorations; and some of these interfaces were destroyed by natural factors, it is believed that these interfaces represents some of the senior officials in the city or princes.
The tomb Anesho is located in the far south of this group and overlooks the external Siq. Anesho was the Minister of Queen Nabatiyeh Shaqilh II, who ruled between 70 and 76 AD as guardians of the throne of her son, Rabil II. These tombs represent courtier in the middle of the first century AD.
AD DEIR (THE MONASTERY)
Ad deir (The Monastery) is one of the most fascinating landmarks of Petra. The mountain plateau, dominated by the monumental rock façade, can be reached from the ancient city center on an old processional path.
It is one of the largest monuments in Petra, measuring 47m wide by 48.3m high. It was built on the model of the Khazna but here the bas- reliefs are replaced by niches to house sculptures. A columned portico extends of the façade; the interior is occupied by two side benches and altar against the rear wall. It was used as a biclinium for the meetings of religious associations. And dates to the early 2nd century AD, during the reign of King Rabel II. In the hall was reused as a Christian chapel and crosses were carved in the rear wall thus the name “Monastery” (Dayr in Arabic).
LITTLE PETRA (BEIDHA)
The Neolithic village of Beidha (Little petra) It is thought to have been occupied from 7200BC to 6500BC, which makes it one of the first settled villages in human history. Around that time the settlement burned down, and was rebuild. After its reconstruction, it was only inhabited for a short while, before being totally abandonned. Remains of the houses and a retaining wall are still visible today.
They are remnants of one of the first transitions from semi-settled nomads to settled villagers and the start of an agrarian economy. At the Beidha Neolithic site, you can view scientific reconstructions of what the Neolithic dwellings may have looked like.
THINGS TO DO/ PLACES TO VISIT
- AL-SIQ TO TREASURY TRAIL (MAIN TRAIL)
Duration: This depends on the pace of the tourist but can take up to an hour from the visitors’ center to the Treasury.
Level: Easy
- AL-KHUBTHA TRAIL
The trail takes around 4 -5 hours to complete
Difficulty: Hard
- AD-DEIR MAIN TRAIL
This trail can be self-guided.
Difficulty: Moderate
- AD-DEIR BACK ROUTE
Duration: 4-5 hours
Level: Hard. Guided only
- AD-DEIR TO KHARUBAT AL-FAJJAH
Duration: 7-8 hours
Level: Hard. Guided only
- BEIDHA – THE FIRST TRAIL
Duration: 2.5 – 3 hours
Level: Moderate. Guided Only
- BEIDHA – THE SECOND TRAIL
Duration: 4 – 4.5 hours
Level: Moderate. Guided Only
- PETRA MUSEUM
- HENNA FANTASIA SHOW
The Jordan Trail
DANA TO PETRA
A truly awe-inspiring section of the Jordan Train and named by National Geographic as one of the 15 best hikes in the world. The trail descends the hilltop village of Dana into Wadi Feynan and onto the dramatic mountain plateaus of Wadi Araba. This region crosses several climate zones, diverse ecosystems, hidden canyons, and dramatic labyrinths of hills and valleys displaying the full spectrum of the region’s geology. The scenery spans from majestic and epic mountaintops to peaceful, fertile farmlands with new landscapes presenting themselves every few kilometres. This section’s most dramatic and memorable aspect is the departure at the Nabatean masterpiece, Petra. A chance to enter the city through the ‘back door’ to walk in the footsteps of ancient traders. Few other trails can boast a site as spectacular as Petra.
Total Length: 72.6 KM
Days: 4 Hiking days
Main sites in the region:
– Dana Biosphere Reserve
– Feynan ruins and ancient copper mines
– Feynan ecolodge
– Hidden stream and waterfall in Wadi Feid
-Little Petra
-Petra, Nabatean capital and wonder of the world
PETRA TO WADI RUM
Connecting the two legendary sites of Petra and Wadi Rum is a week-long trek across one of the longest stretches of wilderness on the Jordan Trail. Here in the empty but striking desert, with its dramatic rock formations, stargazing and peace are found at their best. Starting with deep, rugged wadis and moving into open, sandy plains, this section of the trail takes you deep into the places where humans seldom go. Finishing at Wadi Rum village offers a taste of Bedouin life after the remoteness of this section.
Total Length: 125.4 KM
Days: 6 Hiking days
Main sites in the region:
-Petra
– Jabal Haroun (mountaintop burial place of Aaron, off-route)
– Humeima, ancient and Umayyad ruins
– Sandstone mountain “islands” in a sea of sand
– Wadi Rum, Jabal Rum, and Jabal Um Ishrin
