Petra (red rock city) is the most stunning archeological site in Jordan. The rock- carved- red city of Petra is blessed with mysterious and wonderful attractions which spell bound the visitors as they enter it. It is said, “Perhaps there is nothing in the world that resembles it (Petra)” and after my trip I agree with it. Enclosed by rugged mountains and towering rocks, Petra is now inscribed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It is considered to be a legacy of the Nabataeans, a nomadic tribe who inhabited the region of southern Jordan for industrial and ceremonial purposes. They founded the city in the 6th century BC and reined it until 100 AD.
The wonderful journey to Petra begins from a dusty trail along Wadi Musa or the Valley of Moses. You can enter the city through the Siq or the shaft. It is a narrow passage of about 1 km in length and is flanked with soaring cliffs from both the sides. Walking through this long narrow Siq is an amazing and thrilling experience where you will see the different colored rocks. As you come to the end of the Siq, you will see the most famous monument of Petra known as El-Khazneh or the Treasury. It is a massive façade of 43 m height and is intricately carved out of sheer sandstone cliff. Though some of the people believed that the Nabataeans used to store their treasure in this place but actually it was carved as the tomb of a Nabataean king in the early first century. The exquisite interior and the exterior of the tomb display splendid Nabataeans architecture.
Apart from El Khazneh, Petra houses hundreds of marvelous rock-cut tombs that you will be overwhelmed by the sheer beauty of the place and the creativity and outstanding craftsmanship of the Nabataeans. To the left of the Treasury is a Roman style amphitheater which can accommodate 3000 people. High above the Petra valley is the impressive monastery known as Ad-Deir Monastery. It is carved out of stone. Inside Ad-Dier, there are two interesting museums. One is the Archaeological Museum of Petra and the other is the Nabataean Museum. Both of them exhibit the archeological excavations from the colorful past of Petra.
The fascinating city of Petra boasts of more than 800 rock cut monuments which include tombs, baths, temples, funerary halls, museums,colonnaded streets and much more which beckons the tourists to explore this undulated land from all the corners of the world. The best time to visit Petra is early morning or late afternoon when the angled sun adds to the beauty of the multi colored sandstone rocks and offers a dazzling and beautiful sight to witness the glow and charm of Petra. But while planning to unfold the mysteries of this beautiful ancient city, take a couple of days to explore this adventurous tourist destination of Jordan.
