Being chosen as one of the Seven Wonders of the World seems to have left Petra with a rising influx of tourists whose presence might damage this spectacular, ancient rose-red city.
Narrow gorge called the Siq
Jordanians celebrated Petra’s selection with fireworks in the capital and dancing in the ancient city, but now they must come up with a plan to save this grand historic and cultural site.
The building boom taking place in Petra and other archaeological sites in the region needs to be monitored .Even now extensive archaeological excavations to uncover more of the long-lost city are carrying on.Hopefully the Petra Action Plan will some what mitigate the ill effects of over tourism!.
Entrance to Petra
Petra, which means ’stone’ in Greek, is nestled between in a great rift valley south of the Dead Sea. It is a two- to three-hour drive from Jordan’s modern-day capital, Amman. Its repute grew after the movie ‘Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,’ in which it is portrayed as the Holy Temple where the Holy Grail is located.Many people travel to Petra to see the gorgeous Royal Treasury building seen in the movie.
Lost city of Petra, Image credit
The site is known for its dramatic tombs and temple facades, including one that served as a church during Byzantine times. The city’s inhabitants Nabateans Arab nomads (400 BC) built elaborate temples, tombs and buildings carved into the walls of a red, solid sandstone canyon some 2,000 years ago.
Petra: Ancient City of Stone, Image credit: National Geographic
The ability of the Nabataeans to control the water supply led to the rise of the desert city, in effect creating an artificial oasis. The area is visited by flash floods and archaeological evidence demonstrates the Nabataeans controlled these floods by the use of dams, cisterns and water conduits. Thus, stored water could be employed even during prolonged periods of drought, and the city prospered from its sale
Lookouts on a ledge, Bedouins watch as a group of tourists admire Al Khazneh
, Image credit: National Geographic
The entryway to the city center is known as the Siq (pronounced seek). This winding narrow cleft in the mountain forms a dusty, milelong hike to the most impressive of sites, the El-Khazneh (treasury).
Petra Treasury
Nestled in the mountains, the city hand-carved by the Nabataeans offered natural protection against rogue invaders. Petra’s location at the crossroads of ancient trade routes allowed the city — with a population of anywhere from 10,000 to 20,000 — to flourish as a commercial center.
Petra monastery, Image credit
According to Arab tradition, it is the place where Moses struck a rock with his staff and water came forth, and where his sister, Miriam, is buried. After the crusades ended in about 1200, the trade routes relocated and Petra was abandoned, and eventually only local Bedouins knew about the lost city. Petra was put back on the map when the ruins were found in 1812 by a Swiss explorer.
Reclining on a rooftop carved two millennia ago, a Bedouin surveys the realm of the Nabataeans, Image credit: National Geographic
Well if you do plan a visit here remember that the best time to visit is this historical marvel is during the early morning and late afternoon when the sandstone rock glows red. In addition, the trail to the top to see the ancient mosaics was very steep so if you are not fit enough to walk do hire a camel ride. And do try not to damage this ancient marvel in any way.
Image credit for first Image
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