Where is the City of Petra

QUESTION: Where is the City of Petra?

ANSWER:

The City of Petra is located in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan near the southwest corner just east of the Israeli border within the Jordan Rift Valley. The city is near Mount Hor (the location in scripture, Numbers 20:23-28, where the brother of Moses -- Aaron -- passed away) as well as the modern day city of Wadi Musa (Arabic for Valley of Moses) -- built primarily to host visitors of the ancient city.

The city is not easily located or entered. Jordan roadways only bring travelers within walking distance of the city (and that may being putting it lightly). Once one gets within walking distance they must course through a narrow road/pathway built between large sandstone rocks named the Siq or al-Siq (Arabic for The Shaft). Riding camels or horses is not uncommon for this trek as vehicle are not permitted (nor would they fit through most portions of the Siq). However, once the hike is over, one enters the city through a large opening that gives site to the most popular attraction of the city -- the Treasury (seen in many media outlets including the 1989 film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.)

Once inside the city, one can walk freely and view the many incredible architectural sites, paintings and sandstone carvings. Many travelers believe the opportunity to visit the city and witness its ancient history is worth every step of the long journey one must take to get there.