The ancient city of Petra is a must-see sight. While it looks incredible in photos, nothing can compare to the magical and otherworldly beauty of this incredible city when seen with one's own eyes.
When IndigoKashmir visited Petra, we immediately took out our camera, and our jaws dropped at the sheer magnificence before us. Our guide chuckled and said, "Wait until you go deeper into the city," and he was absolutely right. The further we ventured into this wonderfully stunning city, the more our cameras clicked away.
Jordanians have meticulously cared for this place; it's clean, and there's not a trace of graffiti on the beautiful stone structures. It's best to arrive as early as possible because the desert sun can be scorching.
Petra resembles a place straight out of this world - a scene from planet Mars! It boasts intricately carved monuments, tombs, mysterious stories, and labyrinthine passageways. You'll truly feel like Indiana Jones while exploring here.
And now, here are some fascinating facts about Petra (although this city is so rich in history, it's impossible to summarise it in just one post so we recommend delving deeper into its incredible story):
- Petra is over 2300 years old, making it one of the oldest cities globally and a true marvel to behold. It served as the capital of the Nabatean Empire.
- Discovered in 1812 by a Swiss traveller named Johann Ludwig Burckhardt, who disguised himself as a Bedouin, Petra was aptly called 'The Lost City of Petra.'
- Interestingly, local Bedouins speak English with a distinct Kiwi accent, thanks to Marguerite van Geldermalsen, a New Zealander who married a Bedouin and taught English in the community.
- Petra is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, joining prestigious sites like the Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal, Machu Picchu, the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Brazil, the Colosseum, and Chichén Itzá.
- The name 'Petra' simply means 'rocks.'
- IIt's a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- The inscriptions on Petra's walls suggest that it was originally called 'Raqēmō' by the Nabatean inhabitants.
- It also serves as the resting place for Nabatean royalty, with monuments carved between the 1st and 2nd centuries BC.
- Petra boasts one of the world's largest collections of royal tombs, with approximately 1,000 individual tombs identified to date, surpassing even the Valley of the Kings in Luxor, which has 63 carved tombs and mausoleums.
- The Treasury, also known as al-Khazneh, is a mausoleum and one of Petra's most photographed sites. It features intricate carvings set into a steep rock face and is the final resting place of the Nabatean king Aretas IV Philopatris, named 'Treasury' by local Bedouin tribes who believed it contained riches.
- Several movies have been filmed in Petra, including 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,' 'Aladdin,' and 'The Mummy Returns.
Surprisingly, 85% of the site remains undiscovered. Despite its vastness, we only get to explore around 15% of Petra. There's still much history to uncover, shedding light on Petra's origins and its Greek and Byzantine periods.
- Legend has it that Moses struck a rock at Petra, miraculously causing water to spout from the ground.
- During the Middle Ages, Western Crusaders also made Petra their base, constructing the 12th-century Wu’ayra Castle, which can still be visited today.
- When you visit, wear comfortable shoes because cars are not allowed in Petra. Donkeys, camels, and horse-drawn carriages are the only alternative modes of transportation.
- The Nabateans meticulously aligned their architecture with solar patterns, with a particular emphasis on the summer and winter solstices. They revered the sun as a source of life and light.
