WhereIsAtlas · Jordan

Where Is the Lost City of Petra?

The ancient Nabataean capital carved into Jordan's rose-red cliffs — 'lost' to the West for centuries, now a wonder of the world.

Petra is an ancient Nabataean city carved into sandstone cliffs in southern Jordan. Known to local tribes but unknown to the West for centuries, it was rediscovered in 1812 and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

The rose-red city

Petra is one of the most spectacular archaeological sites on Earth — an entire city carved directly into rose-red sandstone cliffs in southern Jordan, about 150 miles south of Amman. It was built by the Nabataeans, an ancient trading people.

At its height around 2,000 years ago, Petra housed up to 30,000 people and served as a crucial hub for the caravan routes linking Arabia, Egypt and Syria, controlling the lucrative trade in frankincense and myrrh.

The 'lost' city

Petra was never truly lost — the local Bedouin tribes knew it well. But it was unknown to the Western world from the time of the Crusades. In 1812, a Swiss explorer named Johann Ludwig Burckhardt rediscovered it, disguising himself as a pilgrim to gain access to the site.

His account introduced the rose-red city to the world, and it became one of the great archaeological discoveries.

The Treasury and the city

Petra's rock-cut architecture is breathtaking, most famously the Treasury, a massive facade carved into the cliff face, reached through the dramatic Siq canyon. The city's engineering — its water-management systems and monumental tomb facades — testifies to the skill of the Nabataean civilization.

Where Petra is now

Today Petra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, drawing visitors from around the globe. It is a symbol of Jordan and of the extraordinary achievement of the people who carved a capital city out of living stone. For a 'where is it' answer, the lost city of Petra is no longer lost — it is one of the most visited and celebrated ancient sites on Earth.

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