Journey through Al-Siq: The Gateway to Petra

Extraordinary masterpiece of nature. Worth to visit at least once in your life ❤️❤️❤️

You must have walked and seen it. The golf carts are actually overpriced in relation to the rather hefty entrance prices, but whatever.

Nice walking between the 2 high column of cliff in the canyon. Lucky enough to spot 3 goats .

The Siq is a narrow natural passage leading to the Al-Khazna façade, resulting from the formation of a natural fissure in the mountain, and its length is about 1 kilometre. Before the entrance to the Siq, the Nabataeans dug a tunnel to divert the torrential waters coming from Wadi Musa to Wadi Al-Muzhilm, and then Wadi Al-Matah. This 88-meter-long tunnel was dug into the rock for this purpose. An arch was also built at the entrance to the Siq, but it fell in 1895. On both sides of the Siq, two canals were carved to draw water into the city. In addition to being a beautiful entrance to Petra, the Siq also contains many ancient ruins, which include the paved road, Sabinus Alexandros Station, and some monuments to other Nabataean gods (sacred stones). The paved road was originally built by the Nabataeans at the lowest level, then the Romans re-paved it after their annexation to the Nabatean Kingdom in 106 AD. Walking through the Siq is like stepping back in time, surrounded by history and the stunning natural beauty of the rock formations. It is truly a unique and unforgettable experience for visitors who come to explore the ancient city of Petra. When visitors walk through this narrow corridor, they can imagine what life was like in Petra thousands of years ago. It is the main road leading to the city of Petra. It is a winding rock crevice about 1,200 meters long and 3-12 meters wide, and reaches about 80 meters in height. The majority of it is considered natural, in addition to another part carved by the Nabataeans. The Siq ends opposite the Treasury. Remnants of an arch representing the city gate can be seen at the beginning of the Siq, on both sides of which there are water channels extending from the springs of Wadi Musa on the outside to the city on the inside. It is also possible to see the side dams, which were built in place of the original Nabataean dams, to prevent the flow of water into the Siq, reserve it and benefit from it. The floor of the Siq was paved with stone tiles, part of which can be seen in its original place. The sides of the Siq are decorated with Nabataean sculptures, most of which represent gods. There are statues of the gods and their niches very close to these canals, and sometimes even adjacent to them, due to the Nabataeans’ belief and strong belief that water is sacred. You can also see a group of sculptures on the left side of the Siq known as the “Idols of Sabinus.” This group was given this name due to the presence of an inscription in Greek under the second apse on the visitor’s left as it heads to the end of the Siq. The inscription indicates that Sabinus, son of Alexander the Great, who came from Daraa, ordered the carving of these squinches or niches to glorify the Nabataean gods. Among the important sculptures are also the remains of sculptures of a camel and a man representing a trade caravan, as the Nabataeans were famous for trade, and this was one of the reasons for their vast wealth.

The road through the canyon is easy and picturesque. You can get there by golf cart, but it costs a lot of money. The fault itself and the red walls are impressive.