The Red Rose city – PETRA

“A rose-red city half as old as time.” from John William Burgon’s sonnet.”

Petra is listed one of the New7Wonders of the World in 2007 and has been the UNESCOWorld Heritage Site since 1985. It is famous for it’s beautifully rock carved structures and also known as the “Rose City” because of it’s stone color. It was built by Arab Nabateans then once occupied by Romans back in the third century BC.

… be with me and let’s talk about Petra! 🙂 Let’s start from the very beginning of our trip – but unluckily we didn’t gone to all sites. You can see also my video HERE.

1. ENTRANCE TO VISITOR’S CENTRE IN WADI MUSA

Wadi Musa is the closest town and called as the “Guardian of Petra”. Here where we got our tickets, there are shops for souveniers and some staffs needed for the Petra trip.

2. RIDING A HORSE ON OUR WAY TO PETRA

After all the details and tickets from the visitor’s centre, we met this Bedouin man (owner of the horse). While walking he (and some friends) offered us to ride the horse (their horses) to get there earlier. This is my horse I rode. I like this fella and as you can see he likes me too! 😀 Look at the smile while we met – that big teeth! haha! 😀 This guy (the owner) earn tips from tourists who ride his horse (tips will depend on the person but some said the minimum would be 5dinar that time).

3. THE OBELISK TOMB

On our way while riding my lovely horse we passed this tomb called “Obelisk Tomb”. There were people visited inside – they just walked so they had time to see inside of the tomb.

4. BAB AL-SIQ

Here we stopped riding the horse and start our walk. It was hot that time but our concerned the most was those amazing rock formation. Really beautiful work of ancient Nabataeans. That is why this is one of the  New7Wonders of the World. 

5. AL-SIQ

We walked through this Siq or the narrow passage and had fun while seeing those beautifully shaped rocks. There were lots of tourists that time as well as expat or citizens in the country because it was a holiday season (Eid Al Adha).

6. END OF SIQ AND THE VIEW OF AL KHAZNEH

This photo for me is beautiful! Taken from my video while walking until I saw this magnificent treasury.

7. AL KHAZNEH ALSO CALLED AS THE TREASURY

This is one of the most detailed temples in the city of Petra or in ancient Arab Nabateans kingdom. It is carved out of rock sandstone by Arab Nabateans and so has with classical Greek-influence architecture.

8. STREET OF FACADES

In southern part, these are row of monumental Nabatean tombs after the Treasury. Tombs with large facades or false faces on the fronts.

9. WAY TO THE HIGH PLACE OF SACRIFICE

Set of steps that leads south of Petra and a rocky slope to the Sacrifice at the highest part. It is a diversion to the main path to the monastery. We didn’t reach the top, in this photo we went back down and head to the main path to see more of the other sites.

10. THIS CUTE LITTLE JENNET

This made me happy! 🙂 The cute female donkey on our way to the top didn’t move away from her place. Looks like she was observing us and other people walked back and forth in this area.

11. NABATEAN THEATRE

This Arab Nabatean Theatre can accomodate of about 4,000 specatators. This was carved on the mountain side and at the foot of the high place – the sacrifice.

12. THESE ARE THE ROYAL TOMBS

These tombs located in the southern part of Petra after the Nabatean Theatre. They are very close to each other.

13. THE JORDANIAN BEDOUINS

Al B’doul or Bedouins said to be the descendants of Nabateans. They lived among the tombs and caves for over 170 years. Now, because Petra is a tourist site they were transferred to Umm Sayhoun (Bedouin village). They come to Petra everyday and become some tourists’ guides.

14. I LOVE THIS FOOD

This was our lunch after a long walk at Petra. I love it!

For our 3 days visit itinerary to Jordan click here: A Trip to Jordan

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*References and information sources – Wikipedia