Hegra

Built amid rugged desert canyons and mountainous terrain , Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, lies in the most stunning setting that bears testimony to the Nabataean civilization. With roots tracing back to the middle of the first century BCE, the Hegra site gives visitors a good indication of what the Nabataean city looked like back then. Strategically positioned south of its famous sister site of Petra, in Jordan, this archaeological gem of the kingdom was also once an important trade route between the Arabian Peninsula, the Mediterranean world and Asia. After the desertion of the Nabataean city, the route continued to play its role as a bustling trade route as well as for caravans heading towards Makkah for pilgrimage until the 20th century when the Hijaz railway was constructed. Journeying through Hegra can be an adventure in and of itself, a dramatic stone city with more than hundreds of artistically hewn well-preserved tombs that enliven the sandstone outcrops. Creating an enthralling mix of structures, these sheer cliffs lined with artistic carvings and inscriptions reminiscent of ancient architecture. Within these cliffs are borrowed some of the most elite burial places of the ancient society that symbolizes the extensive history of the region. In addition to the monumental tombs with decorated facades, the large number of artificial wells in Hegra, also bear witness to the Nabatean agricultural techniques.