Petra is one of the most striking and memorable locations that I have ever visited.
The capital of the Nabatean Kingdom, Petra is over 2,000 years old. The city buildings have all disappeared except for a few remains of large temples. However the Nabateans buried their dead in ever more elaborate wall tombs and it is the facades of these tombs that make Petra unique and why tourists flock here to see them. There is nothing behind the facades but a single plain burial chamber. The sheer number of tombs and they way they blend into the rock faces is breath-taking.
We spent just over 2 full days in Petra and I could easily have spent more time exploring the area.
The Siq
The main way in to Petra is through a long narrow gorge, the Siq, at the end of which is the most elaborately carved of all the tombs, The Treasury. Passing The Treasury leads into an area called The Street of Facades which opens out onto an area called the Colonnaded Street at the start of which are some elaborate tombs called The Royal Tombs. Beyond the Colonnaded Street a climb leads to the largest tomb, The Monastery. From the area known as the Street of Facades there are trails leading to The High Place of Sacrifice and the Jabal al-Khubtha cliff, both with spectacular views over Petra.
The Nabateans hedged their bets for the after-life by honouring different deities, sometimes from different religions. The Treasury is a good example.
The Street of Facades is a an area with a large number of simpler wall tombs. The amphitheatre is also in this area.
This would have been the centre of life for the original city with shops and dwellings on either side of this wide thoroughfare. However over time most traces of the buildings have disappeared.
The largest of the tombs, the Monastery is in splendid isolation overlooking a wide courtyard.
Several tombs on the East face of the cliff facing the Colonnaded Street are particularly grand and are collectively known as the Royal Tombs.
There is little evidence of any sacrifices here (but it is a catchy name!). However the views over Petra are splendid.
Across the way from the High Place of Sacrifice is the Jabal al-Khutbtha with its complementary views of Petra.
