Petra: A World Wonder

July 9, 2007 - 4:00 PM by

I hang my head in shame while admitting that I have not yet been to Jordan’s ancient city Petra.
And now I can doubly hang my head in shame because Petra was named one of the 7 Wonders of the New World over the weekend by Switzerland’s New Open World Foundation. It came in second after China’s Great Wall.

Petra is known for dramatic tombs and temple facades carved by Nabatean nomads into sandstone thousands of years ago. The rose-red rock city was hidden behind an almost impenetrable barrier of rugged mountains for centuries until it was rediscovered by Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt in 1812.

All sorts of official celebrations, fireworks displays and parties in the streets marked the announcement which is expected to boost the country’s tourism industry.

Other “New Wonders” include Brazil’s Statue of Christ the Redeemer, Peru’s Machu Picchu, the Chichen Itza Pyramid in Mexico, Rome’s Colosseum and Taj Mahal in India.

THIS YEAR I’ll get down there!

Tags: • Category: A New Reality, History and Culture, Travel 

Comments

5 Comments on Petra: A World Wonder

  1. Global Voices Online » Israel: Petra Shame on Mon, Jul 9th 2007 5:39 PM

    2. [...] Stephanie from Israel hangs her head in shame that she hasn’t been to world wonder Petra, Jordan, yet. Share This [...]

  2. Yitzchak Teitelbaum on Thu, Aug 9th 2007 1:01 AM

    3. My wife and I will be visiting Israel again around New Year’s. We’d like to take a side trip to see Petra, but… My wife cannot walk very well or far. Is Petra accessible by horse-drawn wagon? Do you happen to know we’d arrange that?

    Thanks very much,

    Yitzchak

    My email- in case the above info doesn’t get to you- is: isaac.teitelbaum@uchsc.edu

  3. Stephanie on Thu, Aug 9th 2007 1:22 AM

    4. Yitzchak:

    Horse drawn wagon I don’t know about. However, there are numerous tour agencies that take you to Jordan’s border where you hook up with a jeep or van or taxi or whatever else you arrange beforehand to take you directly to Petra. Google “Negev Israel Jeep Petra” and you’ll come up with tour operators. Call or email them and you’ll be on your way…GOOD LUCK! slf

  4. Amy on Thu, Jun 4th 2009 1:24 PM

    5. Petra is a wonderful place with great views, there are local guides there so they are a big help to get around, don’t forget to do the Petra by Night it is awesome.

  5. anwar on Thu, Feb 4th 2010 10:09 AM

    6. iam anew i want to get more information about wonder of world

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