Jordan Journal | The Fascinating PETRA

Magnificent, wonderful, amazing, awesome, incredible, astounding, bewildering, breathtaking, impressive, marvelous, miraculous,spectacular, staggering, startling, striking,stunning, stupefying, stupendous, wonderful, wondrous...
Can't think of the best word that would describe Petra when you see it live!
The pictures in the internet are awesome, but being there, walking along the Siq and standing in front of the Treasury is another experience.

Few days before we leave for the Jordan, I have checked all the possible Jordan / Petra blogs that I can review so I would know what to do and what to expect... but its far from reality.

You can imagine the most amazing things but when your feet stepped upon the entrance, it was a totally an indescribable feeling... (more than Aladdin and Princess Jasmin's carpet ride, I guess!)

Are you ready for the fascinating Petra experience? Come and travel with me...

It's about 2 hours from Amman Jordan to reach Wadi Musa, where Petra Archeological Park is located.

Town of Wadi Musa. Petra is located between those mountain rocks - Mount Hor.

The Map

This bench will welcome you as you enter the Petra Archeological Park.

Jabal Haroun
Horse back riding along the plains of Petra

Jabal Haroun 

Jabal Haroun
It is advisable to ride a horse to reach the Siq

Obelisk Tomb and the Triclinium  

Jabal Haroun 

The Dam
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. 

@ the entrance - The SIQ ("the shaft")

The SIQ ("the shaft")

The SIQ ("the shaft")
A natural geological feature formed from a deep split in the sandstone rocks and serving
as a waterway flowing into Wadi Musa.

The SIQ ("the shaft")

The SIQ ("the shaft")

The canal for the water supply.

The SIQ ("the shaft")
The walk along the Siq is one, if not the best walking experience you'll have in your life. 

Tomb

There are many altars that you can see along the Siq

Altar carved on the sandstone rocks

Tired of walking? There is also a carriage ready to tour you around... 

Nabataean Limestone RockCarvings of Human and Camel Figures

Statues of gods and goddess carved on the sandstone rocks along the Siq

More altars along walls of Siq

More altars along walls of Siq

More altars along walls of Siq - this the altar for wedding ceremony

More altars along walls of Siq

More altars along walls of Siq

The narrow gorge -  (in places only 3–4 m (9.8–13 ft) wide)

The narrow gorge -  (in places only 3–4 m (9.8–13 ft) wide)

At the end of the narrow gorge stands Petra's most elaborate ruin, Al Khazneh (popularly known as "the Treasury"), hewn into the sandstone cliff.

Al Khazneh | The Treasury

Al Khazneh | The Treasury

Al Khazneh | The Treasury

Al Khazneh | The Treasury

A-W-E-S-O-M-E

You will be speechless while standing in front of The Treasury... 

The Treasury guard... 

If you think you've seen enough... think again!

The Treasury is only the opening to the Lost City... 

Yes. Behind these rocks is the discovered - "Lost City"

Tomb

Street of Facades

High place for sacrificial offerings 

Inside the tomb

Colorful sand-stone rock 

The Monastery

The Urn Tomb

Petra View from Urn Tomb 

Behind these rocks were hidden untold stories of Nabataeans...
Whole day isn't enough to explore the Archaeological Park, but just merely walking along that Siq is more than enough experience to treasure for a lifetime.

And you can always consider having a NEXT TIME...

Jordan Journal | Day 3: The Fascinating Petra

Travel date: 06 October 2012