Travel Globally

The Beautiful Ancient City of Petra

Filed Under Jordan

Tucked in the southwest side of the Jordan is the ancient city of Petra. One of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites since 1985, it is considered one of the most interesting architectural designs in the world as the structures are built directly on to the stone. Some of the structures were built as early as 6BC but the city was eventually abandoned in 1189. The city was only rediscovered in 1812.
Travelling to Petra is very easy as it’s in the middle of two popular cities in Jordan. Tourists could take a bus or taxi from Amman in the north or Aqaba on the south. Buses and mini-buses will cost travelers the countries standard fare while taxis will require some haggling to reach a good price.
Tourists who wanted to stay closer to Petra should consider lodging near Wadi Rum. This is the closest village to the ancient city and also an attraction in itself. Wadi Rum or the “Valley of the Moon” is known for its remarkable dessert landscape which has made it a popular choice for movies that require a dessert (Lawrence of Arabia) or even a land for Mars (Red Planet).
Petra has more than 800 monuments, the most popular is the Tomb of Aaron believed to be the final resting place of Moses’ brother. Another popular structure is the Treasury which is an amazing structure that houses an urn believed to contain treasures of a Pharaoh.
The best time to visit Petra is early morning or late afternoon since the sun adds beauty to the stones. It’s also important to visit Petra fully hydrated and water bottles are a must to stay cool.