Jordan - Walk Over Roman Path towards Petra Treasury

    The City of Petra was hidden in the mountains of Jordan for thousands of years when a young Swiss explorer Johan Ludwig Burckhardt rediscovered it in 1812. Temples, tombs, and other buildings are all carved out of the sandstone cliffs, which also gives it the name the "rose red city"

    You reach the ancient city of Petra it by going through a narrow corridor in a mountain of rock. This corridor is about a mile long and just wide enough to fit a small truck - although most people go through on horseback or on foot. When you emerge, you enter a little hidden valley, which is mountain-locked. Petra was a perfect location for Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, in part because of its rich sense of history. It was famous around the time of Christ for being the only way through those mountains, and traders bringing back silk from China to Europe often traveled through there. Back then, the people of Petra charged a fee-and of course became quite rich. The valley is a mile long, and more than thirty temples line the canyon sides. The temple that was used was right opposite the narrow opening. Many of these temples or tombs go back to about 600 B.C., but the particular one they used was built around the time of Christ. Nobody knows for sure what it was used for. Behind the temple face are a few small, square rooms, which are completely empty. Whatever they held was stolen long ago. It's quite an incredible place - like a tenth wonder of the world." The Siq twists and turns, the high walls all but shutting out the early morning sunlight, until abruptly, through a cleft in the rock , the first glimpse of the city of Petra can be seen.

    The Shiq is a great cleft in the earth, formed in the hazy depths of the geological past by the same earthquake activity that has plagued the area ever since. Its narrow, winding route through the lofty cliffs which protect the site on the east remains one of the great experiences for the visitor today, and is probably responsible for the belief that it was here that Moses struck the rock to secure water for his wandering people after the flight from Egypt - the first of the Moses-linked stories now associated with the whole Petra Basin.

    To visit Petra during daylight is an awe-inspiring experience, to experience it at night by the light of 1,800 candles is truly an out-of-this-world experience! Walk through the Siq to the Khazneh following a candle-lit path and enjoy the haunting music of the Bedouin at the Treasury. Tours start at 8.30pm and finish at 10.00pm. Tickets can be purchased from the Petra Site Office at the entrance to the site. It was only my third visit to Petra that I had chance to experience it. The show is only 3 times a week, not every night. First time I visied Petra I had no idea there is something like this. Last year I was there at "wrong" day, so this time I made sure I wont miss it. It was absolutely magical !

    Canon 5D Mark II, f/10.0, 100 sec, ISO 250, 17 mm

    All rights reserved - Copyright © Lucie Debelkova

    All images are exclusive property and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transmitted, manipulated or used in any way without expressed, written permission of the photographer.

    Comments and faves

    1. davidkiene, _Darrel_, Matt Romack Photography, mhels_13, and 104 other people added this photo to their favorites.

    2. J.McPherson (39 months ago | reply)

      woah so cool!

      It has the look of a roman path :P

    3. Justin Smith - Photography (39 months ago | reply)

      Great lighting on this, has that supernatural feel it.

    4. By Chance (39 months ago | reply)

      wow what are those lights tho??? Looks great, great frame.

    5. Tom Eversley (39 months ago | reply)

      Stunning perspective and colour, great shot.

    6. Craig ! (39 months ago | reply)

      Beautiul - I never got out there at night ...

    7. Thunderbolt_TW (39 months ago | reply)

      a historical path

    8. Crooked Hill (39 months ago | reply)

      Fantastic capture! Beautiful and eerie at once!

      --
      Seen in my contacts' photos. (?)

    9. The Wandering Hermit (39 months ago | reply)


      Congratulations! Your photo has been nominated as an "The Unforgettable Picture"
      You are invited to add your wonderful picture to The Unforgettable Pictures Group
      Please
      read the Group Rules and tag your photo TheUnforgettablePictures INVITE only & Comment on 3

    10. arienzackary (39 months ago | reply)

      such an inviting shot!!

    11. alvar astúlez (39 months ago | reply)

      Fantastic Lucie!!!

    12. mhels_13 (39 months ago | reply)

      excellent.

    13. alessandrogiraldi (39 months ago | reply)

      amazing capture of light my dear!!

    14. ico_nico (39 months ago | reply)

      thanks for the idea! i'd love to go there at night...

    15. Ga clicker (39 months ago | reply)

      Awesome shot and commentary

      Your photo deserves a Ruby

      Please add this photo to the The Ruby Awards group
      You can tag your photo RubyPhotographer

    16. nikko1974 (39 months ago | reply)

      Wonderful shot
      Thanks so much for sharing all the info as well

    17. Pur~Ple (39 months ago | reply)

      Excellent!

    18. pongky © (39 months ago | reply)

      wonderful shot, as usual

    19. eltalley (39 months ago | reply)

      This is extraordinary!

    20. Joe Rainbow (39 months ago | reply)

      Just perfect! Congrats.

    21. Osomoso -  (39 months ago | reply)

      Nominated

      I pick this photograph to be on the cover of National Geographic
      National Geographic: Are You Good Enough?

    22. reurinkjan (39 months ago | reply)

      An Awesome ShotAn Awesome Shot Award
      You are invited to add this image to An Awesome Shot!
      ~CONTESTS~ Enter/Vote now

      Please tag the photo with "AnAwesomeShot"

    23. mpalis (39 months ago | reply)

      This is just marvelous.

    24. valeriadalua (39 months ago | reply)

      great atmosphere ...

    25. scott masterton (39 months ago | reply)

      I love the stories that you tell us with your shots but you know, even without the story, you create such beautiful images that they themselves could tell the story.

      --
      Seen on my Flickr home page. (?)

    26. Steffen Jakob (39 months ago | reply)

      Oh, what an amazing place. The light is just perfect. Thanks for sharing this with us.

    27. Craig Robertson (39 months ago | reply)

      Excellent capture.

    28. bcgrote (39 months ago | reply)

      A true Magical, Mystical Tour! Amazing photo!

    29. YYZDez (39 months ago | reply)

      Very amazing and magical shot.

      Nominated

      I pick this photograph to be on the cover of National Geographic
      National Geographic: Are You Good Enough?

    30. freshairsandiego... (39 months ago | reply)

      wonderful place and amazing capture

    31. urbaguilera (39 months ago | reply)

      Beautiful color and light, breathtaking capture!!!

    32. saturn ♄ (39 months ago | reply)

      wow!

      --
      Seen in my contacts' photos. (?)

    33. Pronghorn's (39 months ago | reply)

      great capture and well written :)

    34. maurovacca (39 months ago | reply)

      Excellent! Congratulations.

      MV

    35. Bernie Paras Gan (39 months ago | reply)

      Beautiful! Thank you for the information regarding the night tours. Very well captured here.

    36. * mateja * (39 months ago | reply)

      Beautiful light!


      This photo is a Spirit Of Photography
      Spirit Of Photography,Post 1 & Awards 5

    37. Andy McGowan [deleted] (39 months ago | reply)

      Fantastic shot great stuff and thanks for the info. i always add extra info to my shots as well.

    38. pagano17 (39 months ago | reply)

      great work

    ← prev 1 2 3 4 5
    (209 comments)
    keyboard shortcuts: previous photo next photo L view in light box F favorite < scroll film strip left > scroll film strip right ? show all shortcuts