Petra is a historic and archaeological city in Jordan, is half built, half carved in Sandstone rock. The awe-inspiring monuments of Petra are carved into cobblestone cliffs and mountains. Located amid rugged desert topography and mountains in what is now the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Petra was once a thriving trading center and the capital of the Nabataean empire between 400 B.C. and A.D. 106. The city is accessed through a 1.2-kilometre long gorge called the Siq, which leads directly to the Khazneh. Petra is also known as the “Rose City” because of the colour of the rock from which it is carved. The monument showing a whole spectrum of colors at the rising and setting of the sun. It has been declared as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985. UNESCO has described Petra as “one of the most precious cultural properties of man’s cultural heritage.” In 2007, Al-Khazneh was voted one of the New 7 Wonders of the World.
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Petra is adjacent to the mountain of Jabal Al-Madbah, in a basin surrounded by mountains forming the eastern flank of the Arabah valley running from the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Aqaba. Petra Carved into vibrant red, white, pink, and sandstone cliff. The area around Petra has been inhabited from as early as 7000 BC, and the Nabataeans might have settled in kingdom as early as the 4th century BC. Petra’s importance declined as sea trade routes emerged and the city is destroyed due to an earthquake in 363. In the Byzantine era several Christian churches were built, but the city continued to decline. By the early Islamic era it was abandoned and remained unknown until it was rediscovered in 1812 by Johann Ludwig Burckhardt. Today, local Bedouins still inhabit the magnificent city, making their own living by guiding tourists and selling local etinary.
History and Structure
Petra was an important crossroads between Arabia, Egypt and Syria and major caravan and trade centre in Roman times for the incense of Arabia, the silks of China and the spices of India. The water management system allowed extensive settlement in this arid area during the Nabataean, Roman and Byzantine periods. It is one of the world’s richest and most famous archaeological sites set in a red sandstone landscape.
The Outstanding Universal Value of Petra resides in the vast extent of elaborate tomb and temple architecture, religious places, the remnant channels, tunnels and diversion dams that combined with a vast network of cisterns and reservoirs which controlled and conserved seasonal rains. The extensive archaeological remains also including of copper mining, temples, churches and other public buildings. The fusion of Hellenistic architecture with traditional Nabataean rock-cut temple including the Khasneh, the Urn Tomb, the Palace Tomb, the Corinthian Tomb and the monaster represents a unique artistic achievement and an outstanding architectural ensemble of the first centuries BC to AD.
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The numerous rock-cut tombs reflecting architectural grandeaur of Petra. The sacrificial and religious places including on Jebels Madbah, M’eisrah, Khubtha, Habis and Al Madras, the remains of the extensive water engineering system, city walls and freestanding temples, garden terraces, funerary stelae and inscriptions and outlying caravan.
The Area also included remains of the Neolithic settlement at Beidha, the Iron Age settlement on Umm al Biyara, the Chalcolithic mining sites at Umm al Amad, the remains of Graeco-Roman civic planning including street, triple-arched entrance gate, theatre, Byzantine remains including the basilica church and the church created in the Urn Tomb, the remnant Crusader fortresses of Habis and Wueira, and the foundation of the mosque on Jebel Haroun, traditionally the burial place of the Prophet Aaron, all bear exceptional testimony and past civilizations in the Petra area.
The Petra city is Outstanding example of Human mastary in Engineering and management. The Umm al Amad copper mines and underground galleries are an outstanding example of mining methedology dating from the fourth centuary BC. The remnants of the diversion dam, Muthlim tunnel, water channels, aqueducts, reservoirs and cisterns are an best example of water engineering dating from the first centuries BC to AD.
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All the monuments and extensive archaeological remains within the arid landscape of red sandstone cliffs and gorges lie within the boundaries of the Petra National Park. The monuments area are eroding due to wind and rain, by windblown sand and grazing animals reducing ground cover.
Filming Area
Several Hollywood blockbuster film like Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade was filmed in Petra. The movie’s fictional Canyon of the Crescent Moon was modeled on the eastern entrance to Petra, a 76-meter-high sandstone slot canyon known as the Siq that leads directly to Al Khazneh. it is the most stunning of Petra’s dozens of breathtaking features.
Places to visit in Petra Jordan
Petra is a symbol of Jordan, as well as Jordan’s most-visited tourist destination. here are some Spectacular places to visit in Petra.
Petra Theater
Petra theater Built-in the 1st Century AD by the Nabateans. It is made out of rock and had the capacity to hold 3,000 people. The Romans expanded the theater when they came into power and the capacity of the theater increased to 7000. However, an earthquake in 363 BC damaged the theater, and was then further dismantled to build other structures. It still remains one of the most important places to visit in Petra.
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High Place Of Sacrifice
High Place of Sacrifice is the one place in Petra from where one can get the best views of Jordan. It is one of the most approachable and accessible high places to visit in Petra. The place was built atop Jebel Madbah back in the day when animal sacrifices happen. The High Place of Sacrifice is a place you can reach by hiking or visitors can also take a donkey ride.
The Al Khazneh
The Al Khazneh is believed to be the most elaborate and extravagant treasury in Petra. It is one of the most famous Petra attractions, Al Khazneh means ‘The Treasury’, and is one of the most beautiful and peaceful places to visit in Petra. The structure is believed to have been the mausoleum of the Nabatean King Aretas IV in the 1st century AD. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Jordan.
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Royal Tombs
Royal tombs were burial places in ancient times and are the best place to visit. Time and erosion have affected it severely and the place has somewhat lost its charm. Originally the structure is built by Nabatean King Malichus-II in the 1st century AD, this place was made into a church some 400 years later and then into a tomb.
Ad-Deir
Hike to Al-Deir Monastery in Petra is one of the most phenomenal places to visit in Petra. It is most beautiful in the mild light of the late afternoon. The area has numerous rock-cut halls, cult niches, sacrificial places, and cisterns. The rocks at the edge of the western cliff offer awesome views of the mountain scenery of Wadi Araba.
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Colonnaded Street
Colonnaded Street is one of the important places to go in Petra. It is built around 106 AD the street depicts the Roman influence on the city. Following the standard pattern of the typical east-west oriented decamanus, Colonnaded Street has shops on both sides.
Siq
As-Siq or Siq is a mystical corridor that leads to Petra. Siq translated to ‘shaft’ and was formed when a mountain broke into two due to tectonic forces. A walk through this corridor is a magical experience with walls towering over your head. As-Siq is one of the most important and best attractions in Petra.
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Best time to visit petra Jordan
You wouldn’t want to visit Petra during summer unless you want to explore some of the best places to visit in Petra in the stifling heat. The best time to visit Petra is during Spring which is from May- September or during the Autumn months from September to November in petra. in these months the temperatures range between 18 -25 degrees Celsius and the weather is very pleasant.
