Petra is a famous archaeological site in Jordan's
southwestern desert. Dating to around 300 B.C., it was the capital of
the Nabatean Kingdom. Accessed via a narrow canyon called Al Siq, it
contains tombs and temples carved into pink sandstone cliffs, earning
its nickname, the "Rose City." Perhaps its most famous structure is
45m-high Al Khazneh, a temple with an ornate, Greek-style facade, and
known as The Treasury. In the desert canyons of Jordan lies a rose-hued rock-cut beauty called
Petra, a heritage site that has been around the 4th century BCE. One
look at Petra and it feels as if time stood still, preserving
everything, from the architectural brilliance of the rock-cut monuments
to the intangible history and culture of the region.
For several centuries, Petra has captivated the imaginations of
travelers and historians alike. Also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Petra
is more than the symbol of Jordan’s rich cultural heritage. Today,
Petra is one of the most well-known and most visited tourist
destinations in Jordan.
Main attractions in Petra
The Siq
It won’t be wrong to say that things are a bit dramatic in Petra. Take
the entrance for instance. Before you even get to see the ancient city
of Petra, there’s a dramatic entrance called the Siq. The Siq is a
narrow and winding passage with towering sandstone cliffs on either
side. At the end of this mesmerising walk is Petra’s iconic monument
Al-Khazneh.
The Treasury in Petra, Jordan
At the end of the 30-minute walk through the Siq Gorge, an unreal
40-meter-high structure appears from behind the rocks. The Treasury is
the most beautiful and well-known sight in Petra, and it is believed to
have got its name because of the ‘treasure pot’ at the top.
In fact, over the years, the mystery of this pot has made it the setting
for many famous movies, and people have even attempted to shoot at the
pot to see if any gold would fall out! If you look closely, you can see
the gunshot marks.
High Place of Sacrifice
The High Place of Sacrifice is located on a mountain top in Petra.
The start of the walk to this location is just before the start of the
amphitheater. There are about 800 steps to get to the top over there.
As the name suggests, High Place of Sacrifice is where they used to
carry out sacrifices. These sacrifices entailed libations, animal
sacrifices and smoking of frankincense.
The famous biblical passage where Abraham, as a proof of devotion to
God, almost sacrificed his son, who was saved by an angel, happened in
the mountains of Petra.
The tomb of the prophet Aaron, a sacred site for Muslims, is
preserved today also in the region of Petra. In honor of the prophet, a
goat is sacrificed annually, as many pilgrims believe that the Tomb
carries the spirit of the prophet Araão (brother of the Prophet Moses).
Colonnaded Street
You have to see it to believe it. If that is how you roll then the
Colonnaded Street is one of the places to go in Petra. Built somewhere
around 106 AD the street depicts the Roman influence on the city.
Following the standard pattern of the typical east-west oriented
decamanus, the Colonnaded Street has shops on both sides and you can’t
miss this one.
Royal Tombs
Ever heard of interesting burial places? If you have, great! If not,
then Petra has one and you should visit it as soon as you can. Time and
erosion has affected it severely and the place has somewhat lost its
charm but the place is still an important site. Built originally for
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.
Should you visit Petra?
Petra is truly amazing. Despite all of this unpleasantness, I would
still recommend seeing it if you are a lover of ancient ruins and
beautiful sandstone cliffs. Just know what you will be dealing with and
that your day will be filled with a lot of unpleasant encounters. I
would personally only plan one day in Petra. We had tentatively planned
to spend a second half day there but going back didn’t seem worth
tolerating the harassment two days in a row and we changed our plans.
We love Amman and were all ready to get back to Amman rather than
enduring more tourist torture in Petra. I’m happy to have seen it once,
but I can confidently say that I won’t be going back.
Petra Opening Hours
It is best to visit Petra, Jordan, during the morning and late afternoon for fewer crowds and lower temperatures. The entrance opens every morning at 6 AM, and there won’t be any big tour groups before 8 AM. Petra closes at 6 PM in the summer and 4 PM in the winter.
Tip: A great moment to have the Treasury to yourself is to wait until about 30 minutes before closing time. You might even catch a beautiful sunset!
Final Thoughts on Petra
I want to conclude by saying that we have loved Jordan as a country
overall. Amman is surprisingly modern and feels a lot more diverse and
open-minded than I expected. The mix of ancient and modern creates a
beautiful canvas for life and the vast majority of people we have
encountered have been very friendly and helpful. The sheer antiquity of
the place makes it special and I love contemplating the fact that some
of the earliest foundations of human civilization developed here. Petra
was the exception to the rule in Jordan and the consequence of
mismanagement or lack of management of an amazing and highly visited
wonder of the world in an area that is otherwise resource poor. It
reminded me a lot of the effects of tourism that we saw in Nepal and
conjured up many of the same questions and internal dilemmas, the
primary one being “am I making this place better or worse by visiting
here?” The question remains unanswered.
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