FOLLOWING INDIANA JONES TO PETRA

Once upon a time there was the majestic capital of the Nabataean Kingdom, Petra. Does this name sound familiar to you? Surely yes, especially if you have ever seen the adventure films about the famous archaeologist Indiana Jones, who supposedly found the Holy Grail in this wonderful city that has thousands of years of history, and whose name, by the way, does reference to stone, although the reason for this lies not so much in the fact that architectural constructions are made with this material, but rather that temples and other buildings are literally carved out of the rock. It is an admirable place without a doubt that hides within its walls the history of the peoples who lived there, I am going to tell you a story about Petra…

FORGOTTEN CITY OF PETRA

Petra is located east of the Arava Valley, which stretches between the Gulf of Aqaba and the Dead Sea, which by the way, is not really a sea, but a large, very salty lake, located at the lowest point on earth at be up to 400 meters below sea level. In fact, when you go down to the Dead Sea, you may feel a little dizzy, since you are changing your pressure. The water there is warm, even during the winter months, however, what visitors look for the most is the fascinating fact that it is impossible to sink in its waters, since the salt keeps the body afloat. The experience is really funny!

The ancient city of Petra was created as early as the 7th century BC by the Edomites and it soon prospered due to its ideal geographical position through which passed numerous trade routes linking Asia and the Middle East with Europe. The Edomites, also known as Semites, were a people originating in the eastern Mediterranean and much of the information about them comes from the Bible itself. However, in the 6th century BC the Nabataeans occupied the city. It is another nomadic people from nearby areas, of Arab origin. Also, the area was under the control of the Roman Empire that endowed the city with elegance through numerous architectural constructions that can be visited today. Even the emperor Hadrian came to visit the city and gave it the name of Petra Hadriana. Unfortunately, in the 4th century the place was gradually abandoned and was forgotten until the 19th century, when a Swiss adventurer and historian, of course not Indiana Jones, but Johann Ludwig Burkhardt, posing as an Arab merchant, what he was able to do because of his good knowledge of the Arabic language, traveled the Middle East and in 1812 discovered the prodigious capital of the Nabataean Kingdom, forgotten for such a long time. The Swiss was also one of the first Europeans to visit the cities of Mecca and Medina.

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HOW TO VISIST PETRA

To visit this beautiful city, I recommend buying Jordan Pass in advance. It is a document that includes the visa to Jordan, the entrance to Petra and other important monuments of this country. The price changes based on the days you plan to spend visiting Petra. Personally, I recommend that it be at least two days, because it is a great city with many monuments to see, many mountains to climb and the truth is that I do not think you will be able to cover it all in a single day, knowing the history of what you have the opportunity to contemplate with greater detail. If you finally decide to visit this wonder for more than one day, you should spend the night in Wadi Musa, there are many hotels in the area and restaurants where they serve the typical and delicious Jordanian food. I spend my visit in Jordan eating all the time, especially I love halavh. To get to Wadi Musa it is better to rent a car, in fact, with my partner we have rented the car for our entire stay in this stunning country, since it is the most comfortable way to move and the fastest too. You can also create your own route and see the tourist sites and not so touristic places if you wish. It is not difficult to drive in Jordan, in fact, unlike other Asian countries, Jordanians drive very correctly and there is hardly any traffic on the highways. The only thing you should be aware of is the fact that perhaps camels may suddenly appear on the road, so drive carefully!

THE MUST VISIT PLACES IN PETRA

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At the heart of Petra, where you arrive from the main entrance through a great gorge of high rocks that will make you feel very insignificant. At the end of this walk a huge space opens up and in front of you appears one of the most precious and well-known monuments of the architectural complex, the Treasury, also called Al-Jazneh. It measures 40 meters high and 28 meters wide and was ordered to be built in the 1st century BC by the Nabatean monarch Aretas III. During night visits in the square in front of the Treasury, candles are placed that illuminate it with their light, highlighting its reddish tone even more. It is an impressive show that is worth seeing. According to the beliefs of the Bedouin, the building must have contained a treasure, hidden there by pirates and hence its name. On the other hand, taking a quite effortless walk, by the way, for people with mobility problems, donkeys are available, which I believe are included in the price of admission, you get to the Deir Monastery. Built in honor of Obodas I, it is 50 meters high and 45 meters wide. Around it there are several options of small routes with views of the mountains, I recommend you to get know this area a little more although you may be tired, since the mountainous landscapes are really spectacular, as if it were a dream. In addition, another architectural construction of great interest is the Roman Theater, built in the 1st century by the Nabataeans, which could hold up to 8,500 spectators after its remodeling. From the Byzantine era there is a church decorated in its time with much opulence, of which the splendid mosaics remain in good condition today.

Also, throughout the archaeological site you will have the opportunity to ride on a camel, which seemed much taller than the camels from the Sahara. I did not ride them, because I still can remember my painful experience in Sahara precisely. You’ll see how your legs hurt if you ride the camel. There are also kiosks with food and drinks, souvenirs … etc. Many of the Bedouins live in areas near Petra, it is curious that even in modern times they follow many ancient customs, such as painting their eyes with charcoal to repel the bright sunlight.

TIPS:

• Always bring comfortable shoes, even if you are a girl and you wear a nice dress. Petra is a great city not only for its architectural beauty, but also for its enormous size.
• The entrance for Petra is included in Jordan Pass, it is better that you buy the tickets for two days.
• Rent a car in Jordan and make your own road, it’s easy and fast.