The Obelisk Tomb tops the Bab al-Siq Triclinium, one of many ancient buildings at Petra.

Photograph by Philippe Poulet, Anzenberger/Redux

Location: The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

Year Designated: 1985
Category: Cultural
Criteria: (i)(iii)(iv)
Reason for Designation: This incredible lost city in stone blends the best of Middle Eastern and Hellenic
influences.
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Jordans incomparable city in stone is a mute monument to the powerful civilization that
blossomed 2,000 years ago in this remote desert locale surrounded by rocky mountains, gorges,
and cliffs.
Petra earned fame as an exotic backdrop in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, but its real
history is as incredible as anything Hollywood could create for the silver screen. And many new
stories are still waiting to be toldarchaeologists have explored only about 15 percent of the
sprawling site.
Petra (rock in Greek) was a bustling caravan hub situated between the Red Sea and the Dead
Sea. The Nabataeans thrived here for about a thousand years, and their metropolis peaked in the
centuries just before and after A.D. 1, when caravan routes from the Levant (Syria-Phoenicia),
Arabia, and Egypt found their way to Petras gates.
Historical information on the Nabataeans themselves is sparse, but these Arab peoples excelled
at trading. It was by commercial acumen, not force of arms, that they became a wealthy and
formidable regional power. The Nabataeans controlled lands stretching from todays Israel and
Jordan into the northern Arabian Peninsula; later they became a part of the Roman Empire.
Petras past wealth is lavishly displayed in its arts and architecture, nowhere more dramatically
than in elaborate buildings, such as the Treasury, which were carved directly into the soft
sandstone cliffs.
The Nabataean capital was also a remarkable feat of urban planning. Some 30,000 people once
lived in this dry desert location, quenching their thirsts by a channel-and-cistern system that
harvested and stored winter rains for future use. The scheme worked well enough to
accommodate many gardens.
Petras decline began when trade routes shifted and moved seaward, and it accelerated after a
devastating A.D. 363 earthquake. The city survived into the seventh century A.D.even
constructing a fifth-century Christian basilicathen lapsed into obscurity and remained largely
unknown to the world at large until the 19th century. Today Petra is Jordans top tourist
attraction, one of 2007s New Seven Wonders of the World, and a must-see standout even
among its World Heritage List peers.
How to Get There
Petra is a three-hour drive from Amman on the Desert Highway. Public and private buses run the route daily. Taxis
may also be hired for the return trip.

How to Visit

Petra is a sprawling site, and hitting even the highlights can easily take more than a single day.
Consider lodging in the area so youll have more time to explore. Long walks and steep climbs
around the ancient city prompt some visitors to avail themselves of beasts of burdenlike
donkeys and camelsavailable for hire on site. Petras guides are licensed by the Jordanian
government and their knowledge adds immense value to any visit.
When to Visit

Petra is worth a trip at any time of year but each season offers a different experience. Summer is
subject to scorching heat while winter can be cold and rainy. The spring and autumn seasons
feature fewer temperature extremes and can be excellent times to enjoy Petra. Because Petra is at
elevation, cooler nights are typically the norm.
For many Petra visitors the time of day may be more important than the time of year. Light early and late in the day
creates the most colorful effects on Petras ubiquitous stone.