The Magnificient Petra..... Subhanallah!

We woke up at around 05:45 hours. After performing our Fajr prayers, we went to the upper floor of the hotel for breakfast, enthusiastically ready for our next main agenda – exploring the national park of Petra.
At around 07:05 hours, we started our trip by foot to the gate of the Petra National Park, which was just merely 5 minutes walk from our hotel – the Sun Set Hotel. It was based on Harir’s advice to go there as early as possible to catch the sunrise and the ‘rush hour’. He was right…
I thought the ticket is available at the gate. I asked the security officer where to obtain the ticket, he politely replied me to buy it at the Visitor’s Information Center, which was about 40 meters from the entrance. I went to the Center, joint the queue and bought 5 pieces of tickets with a total amount of 105 JD, i.e. 21 JD for 1 day; 26 JD for 2 days and 31 JD for 3 days, while children below 15 years old was free of charge.
Fortunate us, around that time, i.e. 7:25 hours, there were only 3 big groups of visitors and some couples entering the Park. Wow…the first impression was amazing; the gate was very cleaned, the staffs were very helpful, and weather, somehow or rather was awesome! Alhamdullillah. 20 meters after passing through the gate, a man with full Arabic dress, spoke very fluent English with his American accent graciously offered us horse ride for 2 JD each – a special offer. We politely replied him that we would like to explore the Park on foot – a preferred option after the ‘Fatty, Salty, Carbohydrate, and Cholesterol’ fiesta that we had last night.
About 150 meters from the main entrance, is the ‘Main Entrance’ to the Park – the Red-Rose city as some people called it, through the Siq. The Siq is a narrow gorge, about 1.2 kilometers, flanked by soaring, 80 meters high cliffs. The colors of the rocks formation, naturally curved in most scenes were dazzling. Walking through the Siq was a memorable indescribable experience in itself.
About 150 meters from the main entrance, is the ‘Main Entrance’ to the Park – the Red-Rose city as some people called it, through the Siq. The Siq is a narrow gorge, about 1.2 kilometers, flanked by soaring, 80 meters high cliffs. The colors of the rocks formation, naturally carved in most scenes were dazzling. Walking through the Siq was a memorable indescribable experience in itself.
It took us about 30 minutes to reach the first part of the Park. As we excitingly reached the end of the Siq, we were astonished by the first glimpse of Al-Khazneh – The Treasury.
Upon exiting the Siq, at the entrance of the Al-Khazneh, it was just like a dream come true! Stunned and amazed by the massive façade right in front of us The 30m wide and 43m high, carved out of the sheer, dusky pink, rock-face dwarfed everything around it. It is said that, Al Khazneh was carved in the early 1st century as the tomb of an important Nabataean king, which represented the engineering genius of these ancient people.
Really, I was speechless!, with my lethal weapon – the D90 and the Manfrotto stand, I decided to stand down. I set my D90 down, took my deep breath, and snapped my first ‘setting’ shot of the Treasury. Afi, Afiq and Asri were 2 minutes in front of me. They were at the right corner of the area, busy sketching whatever they thought interesting, while testing their skills. Used in the final sequence of the film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, this towering façade is one of the Petra’s secrets.

Petra is the legacy of the Nabataeans, an industrious Arab people who settled in south Jordan more than 2,000 years ago. From a remote staging post, they dominated the trade routes of ancient Arabia, levying tolls and sheltering caravans laden with Indian spices and silks, African ivory and animal hides.
The Nabataean Kingdom endured for centuries, and Petra became widely admired for its refined culture, massive architecture and ingenious complex of dams and water channels. Ultimately, however, the Roman Emperor Trajan annexed the Kingdom.

Petra is sometimes called the ‘Lost City’. After the 14th century AD, Petra was completely lost to the western world. It was rediscovered in 1812 by the Swiss traveler, Johann Ludwig Burckhardt, who tricked his way, persuaded his guide to take him into the fiercely guarded site of the rumored lost city, by pretending to be an Arab from India wishing to make a sacrifice at the tomb of the Prophet Harun a.s.
Secretly making notes and sketches, he wrote, “it seems very probable that the ruins at Wadi Musa are those of the ancient Petra”.

A modest shrine commemorating the death of Prophet Harun a.s., was built in the 13th century by the Sultan Al Nasir Mohammad , high atop Mount Harun in the Sharah range. Harir told us that one would take about 6 hours to reach the shrine on foot. It could be sighted from south side of Wadi Musa.

Wandering inside the Petra National Park while admiring and enjoying the live abstract wonders was actually experiencing the greatness of Allah swt,. Hence, reminded us about the story of the Thamud people and Prophet Salih a.s.

In the holy Qur'an El Kareem, it is mentioned that Prophet Salih a.s was sent to Thamud to warn them. He was a recognized person within Thamud society. His people, who did not expect him to proclaim the religion of truth, were surprised by his calling on them to abandon their deviation. Their first reaction was to slander and condemn him.

In Chapter 7, Al A’raf – The Heights, Verses 73-79, Allah the Exalted said: “To Thamud people We sent their brother Salih. He said: "O my people! Worship Allah, you have no other Ilah (god) but Him (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah). Indeed there has come to you a clear sign ( the miracle of the coming out of a huge she camel from the midst of a rock) from your Lord. This she camel of Allah is a sign unto you so you leave her to graze in Allah's earth, and touch her not with harm, lest a painful torment should size you. Remember when He made you successors after Ad people and gave you habitations in the land, you build for yourselves palaces in plains and carve out homes in the mountains. So remember the graces bestowed upon you from Allah, and do not go about making mischief on the earth."
The leaders of those who were arrogant among his people said to those who were counted weak to such of them as believed: "Know you that Salih is one sent from his Lord." They said: "We indeed believe in that with which he has been sent." Those who were arrogant said: "Verily, we disbelieve in that which you believe in."

So they killed the she camel and insolently defied the Commandment of their Lord, and said: "O Salih! Bring about your threats if you are indeed one of the Messengers (of Allah)." So the earthquakes seized them and they lay dead, prostrate in their homes. Then he (Salih) turned from them, and said: "O my people! I have indeed conveyed to you the Message of my Lord, and have give you good advice but you like not good advisers."

Inside the site, there were several artisans from the town of Wadi Musa and a nearby Bedouin settlement set up small stalls selling local handicrafts, such as pottery and Bedouin jewelleries and bottles of striated multi-colored sands from the area. We spent around 15 minutes at one of the Bedouin operated restaurants. His English was superb and the service was very efficient. Surprised me, the kitchen was managed by her charming daughter. Her natural beauty attracted me to capture one group shot for remembrance.

In Chapter 11, Hud, Verse 65; “When he heard of their horrible crime, Prophet Saleh warned them saying: "Enjoy yourselves in your homes for three days. This is a promise that will not be belied!". This warning was an occasion for them to repent to Allah, but to the contrary, they not only disbelieved in the threat but also decided to kill Prophet Saleh a.s well.
Chapter 27, An-Naml, Verse 49, “They said: ‘Swear one to another by Allah that we shall make a secret night attack on him and his household, and afterwards we will surely say to his near relatives: We witnessed not the destruction of his household, and verily! We are telling the truth,"
But Allah did not allow them to carry on their plot. A shower of rocks from the sky fell on them and killed them on their way to committing the crime. The nine men were the first among their people to meet their punishment.

The people of Thamud waited for three days not believing that Allah's punishment would strike them. On the third day, when the sun rose above the horizon, a mighty blast overtook them, followed by a terrible earthquake that left them lying dead prostrate in their homes. The area was left barren as if nobody had lived there before! Prophet Saleh a.s was saved from this torment along with those who believed.

In Chapter 7, Al A’Raf – The Heights, Verse 79: “He turned away from the dead disbelievers saying: "O my people! I have indeed conveyed to you the Message of my Lord, and have given you good advice but you like not good advisers!" Sadaqallah hul ‘Adzim.

In the above photo, I called it the Bedouin ‘4X4’ vehicles, well, it has 4 masculine legs, used by the Bedouin to transport their stuff. But here, it main task is to transport visitors. It was from the eastern part of the Park, passed us and went straight to its ‘house’. After happily settled down inside his naturally painted red-rose villa, it peeped through one of the ‘windows’ spying onto us!

The giant red-rose mountains and vast mausoleums of a departed race (the Nabatean, an industrious Arab people who had settled here more than 2000 years ago) have nothing in common with modern civilization, and ask nothing of it except to be appreciated at their true value - as one of the greatest wonders ever wrought by Nature and Man. Although much has been written about Petra, nothing really prepares you for this amazing place. It has to be seen to be believed. Petra the world wonder, is without doubt Jordan’s most valuable treasure and greatest tourist attraction.

One must spend at least 3 days to explore the whole area of the Park. For us, due to limited time that we had and the objective of our trip, we adjourned at around 11:30 hours.