Wadi Rum — the desert trail

Wadi Rum (Wadi is loosely translated into valley; Rum is either indicative of the height of the valley, or because Roman ruins were in it) or valley of the moon is a protected area in Jordan that boasts spectacular views of the desert.

Eons ago, this area was under the sea due to which there are many petrified sandstone rock formations. Now, it’s a fascinating desert.

We went on a jeep ride into the Wadi, and did some exploring around. It was cloudy, and that long with a dust storm lent a surreal backdrop to the desert.

Jordan was under the Ottoman rule for a few centuries till the end of World War I. During this time, the Turks had setup a railway system connecting Jordan and Syria for transporting minerals mined from the regions. The train now sits as a showpiece near the Wadi Rum desert.

A dust storm at a distance

Wadi Rum also has early rock carvings depicting humans and animals

Left: Outline of a camel; Center: a woman; Right: a man’s outline

Jeep safari within Wadi Rum