al Ramla Trail

Trail overview

A captivating journey begins at Umm Sayhun Gate and winds 1.5 km to Urn Tomb. This trail stands out for traversing Petra's northern entrance—an ancient rock-carved passageway linking Bayda suburb to Petra via Mughur al Nasara Necropolis. The weathered path, mostly consisting of steps, diverts towards Wadi al Ramla before reaching Mughur al Nasara, featuring a horizontal wall believed to be remnants of a Nabatean water dam or city fortifications. Amidst vibrant sandstone formations like Disi and Umm Ishrin, hikers encounter the Nasara Necropolis, showcasing rock-cut tombs such as Armours Tomb No. 649 and Tomb No. 676. The suburb, potentially Petra's Christian quarter, houses small Nabataean-style tombs akin to those in Hegra. En route to the Royal Tombs, the trail meanders past shrubs like retama and sea squills. It culminates on Khubtha Mountain's western slope, offering vistas of renowned tombs such as the Palace Tomb, Corinthian Tomb, Silk Tomb, and Urn Tomb, spanning north to south. Open for exploration at all times, afternoon visits are recommended. Ensure comfort with appropriate attire, sturdy footwear, and sufficient water for an enriching trek through Petra's historical and natural wonders.

Trail Details

Starting Point: Umm Sayhun Gate/Mughur al Nasara/Wadi al Ramla

Endpoint: Petra/Urn Tomb

Category: Heritage/Environmental/Geological

Distance: 1.5 Km/1969 Steps

Calories Burn: 79 Calories

Duration: 0.30 - 0.45 Hours/Non-stop

Grade: Easy

Tour: One-way

al Najr Quarry at Umm Sayhun   

After passing through Umm Sahyun Gate and looking towards the west, you will encounter one of the Nabataean quarries, commonly known as Najr Quarry. It is situated approximately 200 meters west of the main road and faces south. The top of the quarry spans about one thousand square meters, where one can still observe the un extracted blocks and their trenches. The front of the quarry measures about 120 meters in length and 28 meters in height, boasting high-quality stone that was likely utilized in the construction of major buildings. Within many quarries, pairs of slots or footholds (resembling ladders) are often visible. These features, designed to aid workers descending and ascending to the quarrying area, are prominently found at Al-Najr Quarry. Geologically, most of the quarries in Petra, including Al-Najr quarry, are situated within the upper layers of the Umm Ishrin sandstone formation, also known as honeycomb sandstone. This sandstone is characterized by its white and mauve-red color, coarse to medium grain size, and was commonly used by the ancient inhabitants of Petra for constructing their buildings. It is likely that a significant amount of fine sand was piled in front of the quarries to facilitate the safe dropping of extracted blocks from the quarry's top without causing damage. The sand extracted from the quarry was dumped in the lower southwestern area of it, later used as a graveyard for the inhabitants of Petra.

Nabataean Pottery  

Pottery was among the Nabataeans' most notable products, with two main types crafted: ordinary coarse ware (kitchenware) and painted fine ware. Excavations near the entrance of Petra at the ancient Zurrabah pottery kilns revealed the city's significance as a major center of pottery production. Pottery played a crucial role in daily life, as archaeologists have unearthed numerous artifacts, including bowls, plates, jugs, and oil lamps, at various sites within the ancient city. Nabataean pottery was renowned for its exceptional craftsmanship and intricate decoration. Typically adorned with floral motifs, geometric patterns, and leaf designs in a darker red or brown hues, domestic pottery showcased superb craftsmanship. Some pieces featured depictions of fruits like pomegranates, figs, olives, and grapes, while others depicted animals and birds.

Rainwater collection cisterns in Petra: Masterpieces of Nabataean water engineering 

The Nabataeans' invention of water cisterns carved into the rock in Petra demonstrates their superior capacity to distribute and manage water throughout the city. They developed terraces to minimize soil erosion and built 188 cisterns to collect rainwater. These cisterns have a variety of designs: some are square, some are rectangular, and some are shaped like pears to maximize water retention; others are cut into natural caves or partially made with ashlars; and many are roofed for water protection. These cisterns varied greatly in size and construction method. Some functioned as large reservoirs, while others were strategically buried underground to maintain cooler water temperatures. A few were engineered with dams to regulate water flow. To ensure durability, the Nabataeans lined the cisterns with robust materials that prevented leaks. The Nabataeans' adaptability and skill in managing scarce water resources, as demonstrated by the cisterns in Petra, were crucial in sustaining life and thriving in arid environments. The cisterns in Petra encompass a variety of types and functions. This includes thirty-one piriform cisterns designed for maximum storage, thirty-seven integrated into natural caves, and sixty simple cisterns, with thirty-four uncovered and twenty roofed. Additionally, twenty-seven larger reservoirs exceeding forty-eight square meters’ highlight Nabataean engineering diversity, with twenty-two structures being open and five roofed. Seven cisterns were strategically placed behind dams to control water flow; seventeen were built underground to preserve water quality; and six had unique and distinctive designs.The structure here is believed to be remnants of a Nabataean water dam or city fortifications.

The Palace Monument 

The Palace monument is one of the most prominent monuments in Petra, sculpted out of the western slope of the Jabal al-Hubta rock massif, overlooking the city center. It is so named because its exterior is believed to resemble the façade of a palace from the Roman era, hence its name. This monument is a grandiose five-story façade (49 m wide and approx. 46 m high). Five doors on the first lower level are crowned with triangular or semi-circular gables and framed by engaged columns. Four internal chambers are accessible through the doors. A narrow passage connects the two central ones. On the second level, there are 18 columns that support the third storey, which was partially built with ashlar blocks. The fourth and fifth storeys are adorned with short pilasters and are partially damaged by erosion. A dam and a water reservoir behind the monument drain rainwater to a pool cut to the north of the monument podium. The monument was probably used for banqueting or funerary ceremonies. The Palace Tomb was probably built toward the end of the first century AD, or the early 2nd century AD.

Corinthian Tomb   

When Leon de Laborde visited Petra in 1828, he named it the Corinthian Tomb because of its Greek Corinthian-style capitals on its upper story, closely resembling those of the Khazna.

Its heavily weathered facade, measuring 27.55 meters wide by 28 meters high, consists of three levels. The lowest level is structured by eight half-columns. The middle level, especially on the left side, is also heavily eroded. It includes eight dwarf pilasters aligned with the level below. The upper level, featuring six columns, strongly resembles the Khazna. Despite its weathered condition, the intricate details and similarities to other well-known structures suggest a high level of craftsmanship and design. The facade is believed to have been constructed in the 1st century AD and is thought to have been part of a larger complex. Inside, there are four chambers. The three on the left are nearly square and without ornamentation. The primary chamber, larger in size, contains three spacious recesses in the back wall, while the right side wall hosts four recesses of varying sizes, including a loculus. Traces of four water basins are visible in front of the tomb.

The Silk Tomb   

The Silk Tomb, or streaked tomb, named for the rich colors of its facade resembling an iridescent piece of silk draped on the rock, is one of the Royal Tombs renowned for its striking façade, characterized by swirls of differently colored rock and adorned with horizontal stripes of red, pink, white, brown, black, yellow, and orange. The width of the façade spans 10.8 meters, and its height reaches 19 meters. The monument is probably dated to the first half of the 1st century AD. Immediately on either side of the façade, there are chambers. Within the façade itself, the loculus is carved high up, flanked by two pilasters on each side of the rock face. These loculi were usually used to hold deceased individuals in ancient Nabataean times. The pilasters served as decorative elements to enhance the overall appearance of the façade.

The Urn Tomb  

Similar to its adjacent tombs, this graceful monument is carved deeply into the cliff face at the foot of the Khubtha Ridge, and it is most likely dated to the first half of the first century AD.

This tomb derives its name from the jar that crowns the pediment. It is also sometimes called "the Court" or "Al Mahkama" by the Bedouin community, which thought the underground vaults served as prisons and the building served as a courthouse. It is actually a Nabataean tomb. The tall façade is decorated with engaged columns between pilasters. It has three niches: the central one is close by a human bust. From the courtyard, two doorways open onto an interior large hall (18.95 x 17.15 m), which was remodeled with the carving of three apses. A Greek Byzantine inscription records that the hall, which was originally a royal tomb, was converted into a church by Bishop Jason in AD 447. A monumental stairway built over vaults gave easy access to the church.