In fact, it is just a small portion of the city. Petra itself covers approximately 23 square miles (60 square kilometers) with hundreds of carved buildings just as impressive, if not more impressive, than The Treasury.
Petra (originally known as Raqmu) is located in the southern part of Jordan and is one of the top tourist destinations in this area. The most common ports of entry for visitors are the international airport located in the capital city of Amman or through cruise liners coming into Aqaba via the Red Sea/Gulf of Aqaba. Naturally, some people prefer to make a "round robin" style trip where they visit multiple places within Jordan (Jerash, Dead Sea, Mount Nebo, Baptism Site, etc) or do what I call, "the loop" which consists of Lebanon, Isreal, Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. Each country has separate sites that, due to ancient trade routes and other migrational movements, all |
*three adults standing near a ledge.
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*circled area of where they were standing in the first picture.
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The Siq, which translates into "the shaft" is a narrow walkway/roadway through the rocks which spans approximately 3/4 of a mile. In some places of the Siq, the pathway is only about 10 feet (3 meters) wide and stands more than 300 feet (91 meters) tall. The Siq has the ability to make anything and anyone feel small, to include the horse and donkey carts moving up and down the roadway.
As you walk through, you can see channels carved into the natural stone walls which are believed to be part of the aqueduct system where they brought water into the city using pipes. If you look closely in a few areas, you can see remnants of pottery embedded into the channels along with stone covers protecting it. Continuing down you will occasionally see stone-block walls in key locations which are believed to be part of the dam system. |
I wish someone told me what I am about to tell you. You only ever experience this unique view for the first time once, so enjoy the moment, take it all in, and don't rush it. When you step out from the narrow void and experience the sites, sounds, culture, smells, and acoustics; it feels like you went back to another era and the Siq was your time machine.
Although you may have encountered Bedouins or horse and carts already at this point, this is where the Petra experience really begins. As you move towards The Treasury, you will have the opportunity to ride a camel, buy old coins, pick up some jewelry, or line up a tour guide. The opportunities to make these kinds of deals will continue throughout your journey, so no need committing to anything yet. |
It is believed the majority of what you see in this area are tombs, which seems to be a common assumption across the world when talking about structures or areas whose history and relevance is not well known. Again, depending on what you read or who you speak with, some people believed this particular area was a bustling part of the city filled mostly with dwellings and storefronts, not just tombs.
There are several buildings here and other areas throughout Petra, which have body sized carvings in the |
Ground level views are great, but the truly spectacular views come from high above on the opposite side or even the same side looking directly in. Although there is no charge for the higher views, they definitely do not come free, you earn those through climbing.
I prefer the higher view from the same side because it provides a better look deep inside the theater. It also allows for a greater appreciation of just how large the theater area is. In order to take advantage of the angle view inside, it |
As you continue your adventure from The Royal Tombs to The Monastery, you will find yourself walking down an ancient road known as The Colonnade Street. This whole area, to include the road, is badly damaged from centuries of natural disasters, but it is still possible to imagine how impressive this street would have been during its prime.
The first noticeable part of this area is the massive stone blocks making up the street. Here, the majority of the road is missing, but as you continue your walk, you will |
One of the final structures you will encounter is known as The Temple of Dushares. This solitary building is located on the left directly off of The Colonnade Street before making the turn towards The Monastery. Pictures do not do this building justice.
Most of the exterior walls are still in place but are badly damaged. This is another restricted area that is fenced off to the public. I would imagine this is in part due to restoration efforts and the potential for falling debris. |
Below one of the viewpoints, is a set of ruins which has a large visible room exposed. This is known as Room 468 and located inside is one of the most well preserved (in terms of erosion, not vandalism) carvings within Petra. The room itself is not all that impressive (compared to other sites here), but the detail within this niche is amazing. The cuts into the stone are very precise.
Let's rewind for a minute. You may remember me briefly mentioning donkeys on the stairs. They are used to carry people all around Petra, to include, the steps leading up to The Monastery. Typically the donkeys are escorted by a handler who has made the trip hundreds of times. |