Main Attractions

The entrance to Petra, a deep, picturesque valley (called “Siq”) curving and finding its way into the city, bordered by towering vivid cliffs, is in itself a sight that will leave you awe-struck. Gear up because that’s just the beginning of a magical journey to the scenic, enchanting city!

And the LORD spoke unto Moses and Aaron in mount Hor, by the border of the land of Edom.. (Numbers 20:23)

The Treasury

The ending of the Siq reveals an impressive edifice, the Treasury. This ravishing structure was delicately sculpted out of vibrant sandstone and appears especially stunning at night.

Fun fact: It has been featured in a number of Hollywood movies owing to its scenic charm, including Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and Transformers 2!

The Street of Facades

After passing through the Treasury, you enter the Outer Siq, in which lies the Street of Facades, lined by a multitude of easily accessible tombs on both sides, displaying complexly carved facades frequently arranged in tiers.

The Theatre

Dating back to the 1^st century A.D., this theatre was sculpted onto a mountainside and has been set on a wall of caves which are thought to be old tombs demolished to make way for the theater seats. It was built in a Hellenistic style with a large capacity of over 4000 people so that it could bring into sight a maximum number of tombs. 

The Royal Tombs

These Tombs have been so called on the basis of their grandeur structure. It is believed that they may be the tombs of the monarchs of Petra. These are four in number:

• The Urn Tomb

This tomb adorns a pot on the top of its façade. It was later transformed into a Byzantine church.

• The Silk Tomb

It’s one of the most vividly colored Tombs in Petra and dates back to the 1^st century A.D.

• The Corinthian Tomb

Also built in the 1^st century A.D., this tomb has four rooms and four washbasins.

• The Palace Tomb

This grand tomb resembles a palace with four doorways and 12 ornamented pillars.

The Dam

This dam was built to shield the city from floods. It is proof of the genius infrastructure designed by the Nabataens as it saved the city from floods even in those early times.

 The High Place of Sacrifice

The view at the top of this place is worth it even for those who don’t enjoy the hike up there. For most tourists, this is usually the highlight of their trip owing to the breathtaking view from atop! Please don’t miss out on it just because you’re too lazy to work your leg muscles!

 Nabatean Museum

This museum was constructed in 1994 and has three major halls, each displaying a specific category of chronologically arranged articles, with a rich, magnificent interior.

This magical place will leave you awe-struck from the moment you set foot on the Siq. Even the most basic object here, the sandstone, is so vividly colored and artistically textured that you will not help but carefully gaze at it every now and then. If you do visit this place, stay past sunset because the beautifully lit tombs and streets at night accentuate the magical effect of the colorful sandstones.

References:

https://www.allaboutarchaeology.org/is-the-city-of-petra-in-the-bible-faq.htm

http://www.visitpetra.jo/Pages/viewpage.aspx?pageID=157

https://www.roughguides.com/destinations/middle-east/jordan/petra/ancient-city/high-place-sacrifice-route/

https://www.roughguides.com/destinations/middle-east/jordan/petra/ancient-city/theatre/

http://insearchoflostplaces.com/2016/12/petra-jordan-royal-tombs/

https://www.zigzagonearth.com/lower-road-petra-jordan/