Kingdom of treasures

A traditional land in tune in with modern times, Jordan’s natural beauty combines spectacularly with historical and cultural legacies

Jerash was an important Roman era city, and a considerable extent of the ancient monuments survive.
Here the Cardo Maxiumus, a long colonnaded street

Place: JORDAN
It’s a destination that catches you by surprise. The West may have been charmed by Petra and the Dead Sea for a long time now, for most Indians, Jordan has been an unknown chapter in the book of West Asia. However the reverse is not true, and the immediate connect that makes the Indians feel at home is the familiarity the average Jordanian citizen has with India, or at least Bollywood. In markets, streets and restaurants, the realization that you are from the land of Amitabh Bachchan and Mithun Chakravarty can immediately create that bond of friendship so needed to make the tourist feel welcomed. 

Well, there is much more that will not only make the Indian traveller feel at home, but feel enriched by the experience. For such a small country – most of its six million people live in a narrow strip along the western border of the country, it has a plethora of riches that satiates even the most demanding of tourists.

Jordan sits at a crossroads of history – and the land is littered with architectural marvels from different eras in history. Cradling the Fertile Cresent, the region was important from before the Greco Roman times. Among the legacies the ancient Nabatean rulers bestowed were the ruins of Petra, today one of the most visited places in the world. Petra’s long lost rock-cut buildings, dating back from the 6thcentury BC, and rediscovered only in the 19th century, still evoke awe and most visitors spend an entire day rediscovering the extents of city once at the centre of human civilization for themselves. Its pink, or more romantically, rose-red monuments figure on most ‘must places to see’ lists, and deservingly so. It is amazing to reflect not just on the technological and architectural skills in building such a massive complex, but also the aesthetics imbued in these buildings, whether a library or an amphitheatre for about 10,000 peple, still in almost perfect condition.

The Madaba Map, a mosiac map made in the floor of the
church in Madaba. This is the oldest surviving map of
the Holy Land

As the birthplace some major revealed religions, Jordan today attracts numerous religious tourists, who have circuits that they can follow. Largely Islamic today, Jordan is also home a number of Biblical sites, including Mount Nebo, from where Moses is said to have shown his followers the promised land. The ancient city of Madaba is home to a famous map, a 6th century mosaic depiction that showed the earliest cartographic locations of the Holy Land. Do not be surprised to see busload of American and European tourists do Christianity related tours.

Nature’s bounty

One of Jordan’s best kept secrets is the dramatic natural landscape, which could well entitle it to be called the Switzerland of the Middle East. Most of the country is desert, but in combination with rocky hills, these deserts, especially Wadi Rum and desert castles to the east of the country, are today tourist magnets. For a true experience, stay at one of the many tented luxury hotels in the desert a reality. Lawrence of Arabia frequented these deserts, without the luxuries, almost a century ago.

Unlike its name, the Dead Sea's azure, sparkling waters a
favourite rejuvenation destination for the entire region

Another great draw is the Dead Sea, which far from being dead or grey, as the name might suggest, is actually an inviting blue sea where visitors love to get mud packs and float on its azure waters. Most of the Jordanian side of the sea is dotted with beaches and hotels, including the top luxury ones, and relaxation and rejuvenation are the main activities provided by a plethora of top global hospitality chains.

The river Jordan connects the Dead Sea to its other sea, the Red Sea. A contrast again, this reddish hued sea is another favourite tourist haunt for its glass bottomed boats, which allow you to marvel at the teeming sea life without getting your feet wet. Of course there are enough pools for you to do that all over the city. South of the Dead Sea is the Rift Valley, whose top is permanently unexpectedly snow covered!

Unexpected is perhaps the best way to describe Jordan. In an area of geopolitical sensitivity, Jordan has consciously striven to modernize itself over the last few decades. Bereft of major oil revenues, tourism instead has become an important contributor to its GDP, contributing well over 10 per cent. Creditably, all the attendant infrastructure required for it – good connectivity, rule of law, security, great hotels, extensive retail, including traditional crafts, finger licking mezzes and kabab platters – and other global cuisines as well, helpful people, are all in place, making it already the place where the entire Middle east is holidaying. And it’s ready for the rest of the world to join the party. As noted, Indians seem to be specially welcome. If you seen a few Mithun movies, your shopping might just get free in local markets!