If you enjoy visiting historic destinations, then Jordan might be a possible location for you. Why not go to a side trip to the Desert Castles situated near the capital Amman? The Desert Castles are marvelous for sight seeing and on the architectural aspect, it represents the impressive style of Islamic architecture and art. Thus, the tour will certainly make you appreciate the beauty and charm of Islamic art through the castle structures.

If you wonder what the Desert Castles of Jordan where built for, scholars say that these castles where probably constructed for agricultural, defensive and trading reasons. The castles where built between the 7th and 8th century. Although many of the castles have already been destroyed through time and the difficult desert conditions, there are still many well preserved and restored castles which you can visit. Some of these include Qasr Al Castal, Qsar Mshatta, Qasr al Hallabat, Qasr ‘Amra and other castles scattered throughout the area.

One of the most popular among the castles is the Qasr Azraq also known as the blue fortress. Its charm to visitors is probably because it was T.E. Lawrence’s headquarters during his campaign in 1917-1918 and the fact that it became known in his book the Seven Pillars of Wisdom as well as his popular nickname Lawrence of Arabia.

The Qasr Amra is the best preserved and the most eye catching among the castles. The castle is built to serve as bath house for important people. Another interesting attribute of the castle is the mosaic art on the walls and the intriguing art depicting important people despite the fact that Islamic art prohibits depicting humans.

So if you would like to travel to a new destination, include the Desert Castles in Jordan to your list and you would surely have an enjoyable experience.

Aside from the popular Desert Castles, the country of Jordan has many other structures and historical sites. One of these is the Jerash site in Jordan which is also known as the “Pompeii of Asia.” Jerash is located 48 km on the northern part of Amman and is situated on the valley of Gilead. The Jerash site boasts of being one of the most preserved and largest Roman architecture built outside Italy where the Romans created a great civilization. Until today, the grand structures such as streets, temples, public plazas, squares, baths, walls and fountains are in good condition.

The place has been created during the Neolithic age some 6500 years ago. Traveling to the Jerash is ideal during the spring since the climate is good and the wild flowers in the area are in bloom providing a nice vibe and ambiance for visitors. Also, the view contrasting the old city to the modern structures of Jerash is outstanding.

For visitors, there are many places worth touring in the area such as Hadrian’s arch, the Corunthium column, circus, temples dedicated to Artemis and Zeus, the Forum, the South Theatre and the North Theater and many other well preserved buildings displaying great architecture and art.

A contrasting cathedral was built during the 4th century with an ancient synagogue which has marvelous mosaics can also be found in the area alongside some thirteen churches which were built by the Christian community who settled in Jerash during 400 to 600 AD.

For those who are really interested in ancient art and history, the Madaba Mosaics in Jordan is simply an irresistible place to visit. The Madaba Mosaic Map is significant because it is the oldest surviving depiction of the Holy Land which includes Jerusalem that dates back to the 6th Century AD. Also in art history, the mosaic map is considered the oldest known floor mosaic of geographic significance. Because of the existence of the Mosaic Map in Madaba, the identification as well as verification of many biblical sites was facilitated.

The scholars who studied the floor mosaic were able to determine the location of the site Askalon. Excavations in 1967 have also proven the accuracy of the depiction of the Cardio Maximus and Nea Church in the map.

Artists who worked on the map remain a mystery and some have suggested that the genius behind the mosaics were probably Christians who were commissioned to make the map during that time. The artwork was originally 21 by 7 meters, but at present, it is only 16 by 5 meters. It includes about 2 million tesserae. The factors that led to the destruction of some parts of the mosaic map are damages caused by fire, moisture and activities on the site by different visitors to the church. The church was used frequently and the people who neglected the mosaic might have added to destruction of some parts.

Thanks to many people and foundations as well as private companies who have donated and contributed for its restoration, the mosaics in Madaba have become well taken care of and its total destruction was hindered. A visit in Jordan will not be complete without seeing the map which will tell you what many parts of the Middle East looked like thousands of years ago. If you are in Jordan or you plan to visit fascinating places, travel back in time and don’t forget to include the Madaba Mosaics in your destination.

The Quseir Amra is one of the many Desert Castles in Jordan. The Castle is considered as the best known among the desert castles in the country. The Quseir Amra was built during the early 8th century by the caliph Walid I. Quaseir. Amra’s significance is due to the fact that it depicts the best example of early Islamic architecture and art. The person who discovered the ruins was Alois Musil when he found it in 1898. An Austrian illustrator who sketched the frescoes for a book has even popularized the artwork of the structure to the West.

Only the foundation of the building remains as of today and the larger complex which contains an actual castle is gone. A country cabin which serve as retreat place for the royals still stand in the area. If you pay a visit to the place, you will be able to see the notable frescoes on the ceiling. An interesting and intriguing art work of a naked woman on a bath chamber can be seen as well. Above the area is a piece of art accurately illustrating the zodiac. These are just some of the reasons why the Quesier Amra is considered as a UNESCO world heritage site. This makes the Amra as one of the three recognized by UNESCO in the country.

Aside from the great remnants, its strategic area which is close to the highway and near the city makes it a frequent tourist attraction. Its status as a world heritage site has even generated more and more visits for the place from people all over the world.

Don’t miss the Quiseir Amra if you happen to tour the country or if you are really interested in early art or archaeological treasures of the past. It will surely give you a taste of history as well as a panoramic view of the legendary Sand Castles of Jordan.

The Wadi Rum of Jordan is a valley which has been cut and shaped from the granite and sandstone in the southwest area in the country. It is also the largest one in Jordan and accordingly the name Rum comes from an Aramaic word which means elevated or high. Historically, the place has also become the base for the campaigns of British adventurer T.E. Lawrence, also known in popular culture as Lawrence of Arabia. Incidentally, many Hollywood films have also been filmed in the area.

At present the moment, the place has been considered as one of Jordan’s key tourist attractions and gets increased numbers of tourist annually. Most people who visit the wadi are trekkers, mountain climbers, and day trippers, as well as people who have arranged for horse and camel safaris. If you plan to visit the area, the activities which you can opt to do include hiking, challenging yourself to difficult rock climbing in the unfamiliar trek, and camping during the night for thrill seekers. A high peak in the area is popular for mountain climbers because it is so high it can be covered by snow. The highest peak in Jordan is also in the area where the Saudi border and the Red Sea can be seen during a sunny day when the sky is clear.

The place has generally become wealthy and access to modern equipments such as wi-fi, mobile phones and other communication tools are available. Four wheel drives can also be rented to explore the place. Because of the influx of tourism, the place has become fairly developed and can supply modest necessities for tourists and visitors. For people who would like to arrange their visit, the locals are readily equipped to give the best service they can provide.
So if you plan to embark on another adventure, don’t forget to visit the Wadi Rum and you will surely have an experience of a lifetime.

The Dead Sea is also known as the Sea of Salt. This massive salt lake is spread between Israel and the west bank on the west and Jordan on the east. The Dead Sea is 1,385 feet below sea level. It is also said that the shores of the salt lake are the lowest point in the entire surface of earth. The salt lake is 1,240 feet deep, which makes it the deepest hyper saline lake in the world. The total salinity of the ocean is 33.7 percent. So for a common man, it is easier to know that the sea is eight times more salty than the ocean. The Dead Sea is 67 kilometer long and 18 kilometer wide. The main tributary of the sea is the Jordan River as it lies in the Jordan Rift Valley.

Visitors from all over the world are attracted to the Dead Sea, especially the ones who come from the Mediterranean basis. For more thousands of years, visitors have been paying their visit to the Dead Sea. In the older days, the place was a refugee camp for King David. The Dead Sea is also considered to be the first health resorts in the world as it supplies variety of products likes potash for fertilizers and balms. Moreover, the salt from the sea is used to create cosmetic and herbal packets.

The Dead Sea is very low polluted place and all year round faces sunny skies and dry air. The place has now become famous for a lot of therapies. Some of them are the Climatotherapy, Heliotherapy (which is the exploitation of sun radiations) and the Thalassotherapy (which mean bathing in the sea water.)

Petra is a site in the Arabah, Jordan that was discovered by a Swiss explorer called Johann Ludwig Burckhardt in 1812 and is considered to be, yet another splendid beauty in the history of mankind. Arabah is a section of the Great Rift Valley and it is located between the Dead Sea (north) and the Gulf of Aqaba (south) forming part of the border between Jordan (east) and Israel (west).

Petra represents the ancient world’s heritage culture. It is a beauty hidden behind layers of mountain. The ones who have seen it say it is a treasure beyond comparison. It is now said to be one of the seventh wonder of the world and it belongs to the UNESCO world heritage site. The entire red rose city of Petra has such a charismatic appeal that it attracts anyone & everyone who enters the city, taking them to a different world of divine beauty and mystery. Petra mainly is admired because of its picture perfect architecture, its complex structure, quality and the non mentionable mere size.

Petra is said to have its origin before 106 AD; its culture is said to have been flourished in almost 400 years old. The one’s who visited it say that it is a site that can never be forgotten. The city of Petra takes its name, which is the Greek word for “rock”, from the fact that it is most notable for its buildings and tombs that are carved directly into the red sandstone that serves as the city’s natural protection from invaders. Its popularity with tourists may also have a connection to the city’s Biblical significance. It is here where King Aretas called for the arrest of the Apostle Paul at the time of his conversion.

Location & How to Get to Petra

This historical fortress is located 170 miles southwest of Amman, Jordan on the edges of the Wadi Araba desert. It is also 50 miles south of the Dead Sea and the only way to enter the city is through a narrow crevice called the Siq. One has to uncover a very narrow path of mountains, kilometer by kilometer before they get to see the majestic beauty of Petra.This path is only about five meters wide, with sandstone walls towering up hundreds of meters high on both sides. This long, narrow & not very well lighted gorge is very cool & soothes the visitors before it unfolds the mystery step by step.

A taxi is the best means of transportation to get from the Queen Alia International Airport to Amman. Remember to ask the driver to take you to the Wahdat bus terminal, since there are two major bus stations in Amman. Destinations are usually printed in Arabic on the respective buses, so if you do not read Arabic, ask to be shown to the bus that will take you to Petra.

Pictures & Photos

El Deir Petra by David Roberts, created in 8 March 1839

Souq at Petra
Photo by: colhou

Narrow View of Treasury
Photo by: bachmont

Monastery at Petra
Photo by: gusjer

Beautiful Color and Composition Seen at Petra
Photo by: bachmont

Narrow View of Treasury at Petra
Photo by: nonmipare

Beautiful Monastery View at Petra
Photo by: wikicommons

Twisting Road Through The Sandstone Canyon to Petra
Photo by: st33vo

Belisk Tomb at Petra
Photo by: argenberg

Direct View of Monastery at Petra
Photo by: jordanklein

Monument gate, this is the gate to the Collonade Street
Photo by: amanderson

Urn Tomb at the Wall of the King
Photo by: byronandtamara

Wadi musa, closest town to petra, Amphitheatre
Photo by: argenberg

Entrance to petra
Photo by: argenberg

Roman Theater at Petra
Photo by: douglaspperkins

Tomb of Kings
Photo by: tomb of kings

Tomb of Sextius Florentinus
Photo by: wikicommons

Cooling Looking Rocks at Petra
Photo by: amerune