TRAVEL

The Siq — Entryway to Petra

The gorge that needs to be talked about more

The Siq — Note the caravan (legs excavated) in the center bottom third of the photo. Photo by Sandeep Sreedharan

There is a lot of literature about the ancient city of Petra, and justifiably so. There isn’t enough about the Siq — the walkway to Petra. This is a wrong and it needs correcting.

Petra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has captured the imagination of millions of tourists, especially after it was elevated as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. Today it is the face of Jordan and is its most-visited attraction.

Jordan itself is a small, adorable country tucked away in one of the most volatile regions of the world. Russell Peters, the Indo-Canadian comedian once said, it is almost as if Jordan is telling the world, shhh, don’t tell anyone we are here. It has much to offer to the history buff, to the nature lover and to the food-obsessed, to mention but a few of its delights.

I understand why there are so many paeans to Petra. From that first glimpse of the magnificent Treasury to the panoramic view from the heights of the Monastery, Petra will take your breath away several times over. A trip to this ancient city of the Nabateans, despite being hard on your walking shoes, is highly recommended.

However, I would like to see more words devoted to the narrow, winding gorge that takes you…