The 11 Most Beautiful Places In Jordan

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The 11 Most Beautiful Places In Jordan
Barring a small 26km stretch of coastline to the
south, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is a
landlocked country with some of the most
contentious nations at its borders. Despite the
turbulence that surrounds it, Jordan has remained
an oasis of calm and is one of the safest
countries in the Middle East, Asia. Renowned for
its hospitality, Jordan has had many different
nationalities pass through its lands, leaving
behind a substantial mark of their culture on the
land. The country is home to over 100,000
archaeological and tourist sites including
Biblical and Islamic sites and those left behind
by the Romans. It is also home to one of the
amazing Seven Wonders of the World, the pink-hued
necropolis of Petra as well as other fascinating
natural sites like the Wadi Rum. There is much
about the beauty of Jordan that will leave a
visitor awestruck.
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1. Petra
One of the most spectacular sites in the world
and Jordans most impressive landmark is the
ancient city of Petra, hidden from the world for
several centuries till it was rediscovered in
1812. The earliest historical mention of the
ancient city recorded by various Greek historians
was in 312 BC, although Petra is believed to have
been settled as early as 9,000 BC. The Nabataean
kingdom eventually fell to the Romans and its
importance gradually declined. This Wonder of the
World is also one of the most important cultural
heritage sites of UNESCO. There is much that will
leave visitors to the site enthralled.
From the royal tombs that are carved into the
rock face to the easily accessed High Place of
Sacrifice, the theater, the monastery, and the
treasury, the sheer scale of excavation and skill
involved in creating this magnificent rose city
will leave one spellbound.
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2. Al Siq
Al Siq is a canyon and the most ancient entrance
to the world heritage site of Petra. It is a
narrow 1.2km long and narrow canyon with stunning
walls as high as 200 meters that end at the
Treasury of Petra. Its fascinating to observe
how the canyon was pulled apart by tectonic
forces as the two matching parts of rock on
either side are clearly visible in many places.
One can also see the original channels that were
used to bring water into Petra. In fact, the
2000-year-old terracotta pipes are still visible
in some places.
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3. Wadi Rum
One of Jordans significant tourist destinations
is the Wadi Rum, a valley that has been eroded
into sandstone and granite rock. The area is
everything youd expect a desert to be with its
extreme climatic conditions and stretches of
sands, but what sets Wadi Rum apart is the
chiseled canyons, natural caverns, and beautiful
sandstone arches. Many visitors choose to stay
overnight to experience the novelty of sleeping
under the stars in this beautiful barren
landscape.
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4. The Dead Sea
An intense blue color gradually fading into an
emerald green at the shore is what greets
visitors to the lowest point on earth, the Dead
Sea. This salt lake bordered by Jordan, Israel,
and the West Bank is devoid of any form of marine
life due to the extremely high salt content.
Besides itself being quite a spectacle, the Dead
is a great place to catch a stunning sunset.
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5. Mount Nebo
This elevated ridge of the Abarim mountain range
is believed to be the place where Moses saw the
Promised Land that he was forbidden to enter. A
church was built on Mount Nebo in the 4th century
to honor Moses who is also thought to have been
buried here. The original church was later
converted into a Byzantine monastery in the 6th
century AD. Although the original building did
not stand the test of time, the beautiful mosaics
from this period are still visible inside the
Moses Memorial Church on the summit. Besides the
Biblical history associated with the site, the
views from the top of the Dead Sea, West Bank and
the River Jordan are quite spectacular.
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6. Amman
Jordans capital may seem like any other urban
city with its flashy buildings, traffic, and
people but interspersed with modern architecture
are quite a few of the most spectacular
historical sites. East Amman is where most of the
historical sites are located. Some of the most
stunning sites to visit are the 6,000 seats Roman
theater built in 100 AD, the Temple of Hercules
at the Citadel, and the Umayyad Palace.
Modern-day Amman too has its attractions like the
famous Rainbow Street and Souk Jara.
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7. Jerash
The largest and most alluring Roman site in
Jordan is the ruined city of Jerash about 50km
from the capital city Aman. What makes Jerash
even more special than most other ancient Roman
sites in the Middle East is how remarkably well
it has been preserved. The site can be quite
overwhelming as it is spread out over a huge area
but it should definitely make it to your
itinerary. Some of the main attractions here are
Hadrians Arch at the extreme south of the site,
the hippodrome, and the Temple of Zeus built
around 162 AD. Also noteworthy is the huge forum
with fifty-six columns around the paved
limestone, the Temple of Artemis and the two
amphitheaters.
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8. Umm Qais
The town of Umm Qais located in the northwest of
the country near the border of Syria and Israel
was once known as the ancient city of Gadara.
Perched on a hill at a height of 378m above sea
level, the town has magnificent views of the
Golan Heights, the Yarmouk River, and Lake
Tiberias. It is one of the most spectacular of
the ancient Greco-Roman cities of the Decapolis
and also supposed to be the place where Jesus
performed the miracle of the Gadarene swine. The
West Theater constructed from black basalt is one
of the more striking structures of the ruins.
Rather interestingly, the ancient Roman ruins are
juxtaposed with an abandoned Ottoman-era village.
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9. Aqaba
With only 27km of coastline, Jordans seaside is
obviously a big draw for visitors. The 13th
century Red Sea resort of Aqaba is worth visiting
to discover some of the most spectacular coral
reefs in the world without the crowds that
descend on Eilat. The town is a popular stopover
for people on their way to Petra or Wadi Rum but
it is also renowned for its water sports and
great scuba diving. The sixth tallest flagpole in
the world standing at 137m is also clearly
visible on its shores.
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10. Wadi Mujib
This breathtakingly beautiful canyon which
extends for 70 kilometers is often referred to as
the Grand Canyon of Jordan. The Wadi Mujib
towers over the Mujib River, which flows into the
Dead Sea. It is believed to be the path that
Moses walked through when it was known as the
Arnon Valley. The canyon forms part of the Mujib
Biosphere Reserve which is characterized by
hidden pathways, rugged gorges, and sculpted
valleys. Visitors can also walk along the Mujib
River straight to the Dead Sea.
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11. Dana Nature Reserve
The largest nature reserve of Jordan is a hidden
gem with its diverse terrain and spectacular
landscapes. The diverse terrain of the region
ranges from an elevation of 1700m sandstone
cliffs to protected valleys and a low lying
desert area of Wadi Araba. Sandstone, granite,
and limestone that make up the geology of the
region add to its beauty. One of the best times
to visit the reserve is in spring when the
hillsides are blooming with flowers.