Petra is one of the most impressive attractions in the Middle East & the world,
one of the 7 wonders of the world.
Although Petra is the Jewel in the crown of Jordan, the Kingdom has much more to
offer both business & leisure travelers.
Situated in the heart of the Middle-East, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is a land
of mesmerizing beauty and contrasts. It has been home to some of mankind's earliest
settlements and villages, and monuments of many of the world's great civilizations
can still be seen today.
Jordan's attractions are spread all over the Kingdom. In the north you will find
the Roman City of Jerash, Umm Qays & Pella among other exciting sites, while in
the center is Amman the capital city of Jordan with its Citadel & Roman Theatre.
To the west you will dive 400 meters below sea level to the lowest point on earth;
the Dead Sea, Bethany & River Jordan. Close by to the South is Ma'in Hot Springs,
Madaba; the city of mosaics and Mount Nebo overlooking the Jordan Valley.
To the East of Amman Desert Castles are spread over the golden deserts of Jordan,
while in the South of the Kingdom are Kerak, Petra, Wadi Rum & the Red Sea Resort
of Aqaba.
Amman
Amman is the capital city of Jordan. In the thirteenth century Amman was called
Rabbath Ammon by the Ammonites. The Greeks called it Philadelphia.
It got its present name Amman in the Ghasanaian era. King Abdullah the 1st chose
Amman as his seat of government. This date marks the beginning of the modern history
of Amman and Jordan.
Amman’s main
attractions are:
Roman Amphitheatre:
Is considered one of the largest in the Middle East. Its construction dates back
to the beginning of the second century AD. It is carved into the mountain and its
seats are built in a way to keep people away from the direct sunlight most of the
day.
The castle (Al-
Qalah):
Is located 132 meter of the level of the city centre. South of the castle we can
still see the ruins of Hercules temple. Also there is an Umayyad palace.
Amman offers a wide range of hotels in all categories including almost all worldwide
hotel chains. Restaurants shopping malls and entertainment centers are all over
the city. Old Amman is only 10 minutes from where you stay where you will find the
old markets, the gold market and the antique shops.
Petra
Petra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of the 7 wonders of the world, is the legacy
of the Nabateans, an industrious Arab people who settled in south Jordan more than
2000 years ago.
Much of Petra's appeal comes from its spectacular setting deep inside a narrow desert
gorge. From the main entrance, the visitor travels on foot through the awesome "SIQ",
an immense crack in the sandstone that winds for one kilometer between overhanging
cliffs.
Petra's most famous monument, the Treasury, appears dramatically at the end of the
Siq and various walks and climbs reveal literally hundreds of buildings, facades,
tombs, baths, funerary halls, temples and a 3000 seat theater from the lst Century
AD. The sheer size of the city and the quality of beautifully carved facades is
staggering and leads one to reflect on the creativity and industry of the Nabateans
who made Petra their capital more than 2,000 years ago. From their capital at Petra
the Nabateans had established an elaborate network of caravan routes which brought
spices, incense, myrrh, gold, silver and precious stones from India and Arabia,
to be traded onto the west. From the wealth they acquired, they adorned their city
with palaces, temples and arches.
Many that were freestanding have largely disappeared but many were carved into the
rock i.e. the treasury, the monumental tombs and the high place of sacrifice. These
still remain today in a condition of perfection so staggering that you feel you
must have entered a time wrap.
Dead Sea
The Dead Sea eastern coast in Jordan is one of the most spectacular natural and
spiritual landscapes in the whole world.
Series of new hotels and archeological discoveries are converging to make this region,
the lowest spot on earth at 410 meters below sea level, as enticing to international
visitors today as it was to kings, traders and prophets in antiquity.
The leading attraction at the Dead Sea is the hot, soothing super-salty seawater,
which is four times saltier than normal seawater.
It is rich in chloride salts of magnesium, sodium, potassium, bromine and several
others. This unusually salty, buoyant and mineral-rich water has attracted visitors
since ancient times, all of whom have floated effortlessly on their backs while
soaking up the waters healthy minerals along with the gently defused rays of the
Jordanian sun.
The Dead Sea's total attraction is due to its unique combination of several factors:
the chemical composition of its water, the filtered sunrays and oxygen-rich air,
the mineral-rich black mud along the shoreline, and the adjacent fresh water and
thermal mineral springs. The opening of the new 5-star Hotels and Resorts, allows
visitors to stay in the valley while exploring its many attractions.
Jerash
Only a short hour's drive north of Amman is the Graeco -Roman city of Jerash (Gerasa
in ancient times). This ancient city of Jerash is remarkable for its unbroken chain
of human occupation.
The city's golden age came under Roman rule and the site is now generally acknowledged
to be one of the best preserved Roman provincial towns in the world.
Jerash reveals a fine example of the grand, formal provincial Roman urbanism that
is found throughout the Middle East, comprising paved and colonnaded streets, soaring
hilltop temples, handsome theatres, spacious public squares and plazas, baths, fountains
and city walls pierced by towers and gates.
Wadi Rum
Wadi Rum, the largest and most magnificent of Jordan's desert landscapes; In these
ancient valleys, the elements of nature have modeled and carved out this panorama
and have left us strips of scorched earth, sides of carved mountains and stretches
of sand which have the ability to change into shades of yellow, red find orange.
This is a stupendous, timeless place, virtually untouched by humanity and its destructive
forces. Here, it is the weather and winds that have carved the imposing, towering
skyscrapers, so elegantly described by T.E. Lawrence as “vast, echoing and god-like”..
A maze of monolithic rockscapes rise up from the desert floor to heights of 1,750
metres creating a natural challenge for serious mountaineers. Hikers can enjoy the
tranquility of the boundless empty spaces, explore the canyons and water holes to
discover 4000 year old rock drawings and the many other spectacular treasures this
vast wilderness holds in store.
There are several options for exploring Wadi Rum. Hire a 4x4 vehicle, together with
driver/guide, and then drive for two or three hours into the Wadi system to explore
some of the best known sites. Or hire a camel and guide. The duration of the trip
can be arranged beforehand, as can a stay under the stars in a Bedouin tent, where
they can enjoy a traditional campfire meal accompanied by Arabic music.
Once transport has been arranged, there are various excursions available - for example,
a trip to Burdah Rock Bridge, the highest in Wadi Rum, via the Seven Pillars of
Wisdom and many other interesting sights, is a full day by car or an overnight trip
by camel.
Aqaba
Aqaba is Jordan's Resort on the Red Sea. Its sandy beaches and coral reefs are the
most pristine. It is the resort where fantasy, sun and sea meet the charms and atmosphere
of antiquity.
For water sports and winter warmth, Aqaba is mild, sunny and inviting, fringed with
palm trees, lapped by the crystal clear waters of the gulf, cooled by a steady northerly
breeze and ringed by mountains that change in color with the change of hours.
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