|
Click above to open interactive map
|
Idea Description
General Information
Description
Petra is an ancient city in Jordan, Middle East located 163 miles (262 km) south of Amman, the capital of Jordan, and 83 miles (133 km) north of town Aqaba. It was built by the Nabataeans, ancient Arabs who inhabited Canaan and the northern part of Arabia.
Petra was the capital of the Nabataeans and the center of their commerce network (the main occupation of the Nabataeans was caravan trade). It lies on the slope of Mount Hor in a basin among the mountains forming the eastern flank of Arabah (Wadi Araba), the large valley running from the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Aqabaand and watered by a perennial streams. Established around the 6th century BC as the capital city of the Nabataeans, Petra was hidden among towering mountains and due to its location was a natural fortress playing important role in defending the Nabataeans from their enemies. It is not accidental that Petra was discovered to the Western world only in 1812 (by Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt).
On the other hand, Petra enjoyed a strategic location as a convenient place for trade. In particular, it was close to the two important trade routes supplying a vast territory from Persian Golf to Red sea with silks and spices from China and India. One of the routes connected the Persian Gulf with the Mediterranean Sea and the empires of the Greeks and Romans, the other - Syria with the Red Sea.
The existence of this beautiful city carved from pink-red sandstone in a desert became possible only because of the Nabataeans knowledge how to control water supply. Living in a desert and not having water wells or other permanent water sources, the Nabataeans used dams, cisterns and water aqueducts to control flash floods happening in the area. Irrigation systems engineered by the Nabataeans helped store water for long periods of drought making the prosperity of the city possible.
Arabia under the rule of Petra was conquered in 106 AD by Roman Empire and absorbed as part of Arabia Petraea. The native dynasty came to an end. But the city continued to flourish. A century later, Petra started losing its trade domination to Palmyra, an ancient city in Syria. This shift in trade routs away from Petra caused its final decline. The city continue to exist for some time as a religious center before vanishing into oblivion.
back to top
What Makes It Special
Petra is a historical city and archaeological site in the Jordanian governorate (muhafazah) of Maan. It is a symbol of Jordan as well as its most visited tourist attraction. This ancient city has been on a UNESCO World Heritage Site list since 1985. Petra is referred as "one of the most precious cultural properties of man's cultural heritage."
This spectacular Nabatean city in western Jordan with intricate building facades carved out of the local red sandstone, magnificent temples and tombs, sanctuaries and altars to Nabatean gods Petra has been a city of great religious significance since ancient times. As described in the Old Testament, the Spring of Moses (Ain Mousa) near Petra is where Moses struck a rock with his cane to extract water. Mount Aaron ( or Jabal Haroun - the highest peak in the area) is the place where Aaron, a brother of Moses, was buried. At the top of the mountain there is a small church and the tomb of Aaron. There is also a Byzantine church in Petra which belongs to later Christian history.
back to top
Directions To Destination
To travel to Petra, international visitors fly to Amman, the capital of Jordan. Amman's main airport is Queen Alia International Airport. It is located 20 miles (32 km) south of the city. There are scheduled international flights from all over the world to Queen Alia. From the airport you can take a taxi or an Airport Express bus to Amman. Taxi can cost you around $30 (20 JOD). Airport taxi fares are fixed. The Airport Express bus runs every 30 minutes between 6 am and 11 PM and costs $4.20 (3 JOD) - all prices here and below are 2011. The trip from the airport to Tabarbour, the bus station in Amman, usually takes from 45 minutes to an hour.
To reach Petra from Amman you can use bus, minibus and taxi.
- By bus and minibus: JETT buses connect Amman and Aqaba to Petra via Desert Highway. It would cost about $34 (24 JOD) for two persons to travel by JETT bus. There are also minibuses from Amman departing from the Wihdat bus station - the price of the ticket is 5 JOD - the cost of the luggage included. It takes about three hours to get to Petra from Amman.
- By taxi: for about $106 (75 JOD) or less you can get a taxi from Amman to Petra and back, including the driver waiting you at the site for 6 hours.
Another way to travel to Petra is by taxi from the Eilat border crossing (Israel). As of Jan 2010 a day trip to Petra and back via this route costs $70 (50 JOD) for 3 people. The driver will wait for you in Petra.
back to top
Best Time To Go
Spring or fall are the best. Spring is mild and lasts less than a month, from April to May, with rain during mornings and afternoons. Day time temperatures are around 57 °F (14 °C); night temperatures are around 45 °F (7 °C). It can be freezing at night - around 32 F (0°C). Fall is usually mild, and lasts from October to late November - mid-December. It can be rainy and snowy. The summers are long - starting from late May to early October. Summer high temperatures are from 77 °F (25 °C) to 91 °F (33 °C), usually with very low humidity and frequent cool breezes.
back to top
Where To Stay
- Mövenpick Resort Petra (Tourism Street, Wadi Musa), five-star hotel. Rates are from $270(190 JOD) to $1665 (1175 JOD) per room, per night. 8% city tax and 10% service charge are not included in price. There are 183 rooms in the hotel. Every room has a private outdoor balcony. Mövenpick Resort Petra is located directly at the entrance to the ancient city of Petra. It offers a wellness center with an outdoor swimming pool and a steam bath.
- Petra Guesthouse (Main entrance of Petra, 71810 Wadi Musa), three-star hotel. Rates are from $145 (100 JOD) per room, per night. 8% city tax and 10% service charge are not included in price. There are 72 rooms in the hotel. The hotel has outdoor swimming pool and jacuzzi and overlooks Wadi Musa mountains. It is located at the entrance to ancient Petra.
- Sunset Hotel (Tourist Street, Wadi Musa), one-star hotel. Rates are from $35 (25 JOD) to $110 (75 JOD) per room, per night, 16% city tax not included in the price. There are 40 rooms in the hotel.
Hotel prices are 2011.
Research and book hotels in or near Wadi Musa, Jordan
back to top
Activities
Sightseeing, walking, camel/donkey/horse riding.
back to top
Useful Visitor Information and Tips
Visitors can purchase tickets at the Visitor's Center. As of Nov 2010, if you stay in Jordan overnight pass fees per person are:
- one-day pass: $70 (50 JOD)
- two-day pass: $77 (55 JOD)
- three-day pass: $ 84 (60 JOD)
If you do not stay overnight in Jordan, you are charged $140 (100 JOD) per person.
At the Visitors Center you can hire a guide; prices start from $14 (10 JOD).
You can only walk in the ancient town of Petra or move around on the back of a camel, donkey, or horse.
The only entrance to the ancient city is through a mile-long (1.7 km) narrow gorge in the mountains. It is called al-Siq (meaning "the shaft"). The dim, narrow gorge, in some places no more than 3 meters wide ends at Petra's most famous ruin, Al Khazneh (The Treasury), intricately carved in pink sandstone.
To reach al-Siq entrance, visitors have first to walk about half a mile along the wide valley called Bab As-Siq ("the gates of al-Siq"). If you are reasonably fit, it does not represent much difficultly. If you don't feel like walking, horses are available for travel to the entrance of the Siq. You can also take a horse-drawn carriage which will take you through the Siq to the ruins of Al Khazneh - the point from where the city of Petra begins. Along the way through the Bab as-Siq valley you can encounter interesting sights such as Obelisk Tomb and Bab As-Siq Triclinium (a funerary dining hall).
At the Treasury, there are many camel and donkey owners offering the service. Price for a ride is around $4 (3 JOD) per person. You may be asked more: be prepared to bargain. Our advice to consider: if you are planning to get to the High Place or the Monastery, use donkey. The hike there may be difficult on a hot day in desert.
back to top
Additional Information
|
|
