Historic Route of Ethiopia

Ethiopia, the oldest independent nation in Africa, is a country of endless diversity and heritage, among this endless diversity and heritage, the historical sites of Ethiopia is one of the prominent and major tourist attraction areas which encompass the ancient capital of Ethiopia; such as Yeha, Axum, Lalibela, Bahir Dar, Gondar, as well as Tigrai region.

YEHA

Ethiopia’s earliest, Pre-Axumite known capital, situated at less than two hours’ drive from Axum through some dramatic highland scenery. As the birthplace of the country’s earliest high civilization, it is well worth visiting. The ruins of this large, Pre-Christian temple, erected around the fifth century BC, consist of a single roofless oblong chamber 20meters (66 feet) along by 15 meters (50 feet) wide. The windowless 10 meters high walls are built of smoothly polished stones, some of them more than 3meters long, carefully placed one atop the other without the use of mortar.

AXUM

Ethiopia’s, most ancient city and the capital of the Axumite state, which was founded about 1000BC, is the site of many remarkable monolithic stone stelae, or obelisks. The three most important being decorated to represent multi storied building, complete with doors and windows. The largest obelisk, which was 35 meters long and weighed 500 tons, is the biggest piece of stone ever cut by humanity anywhere in the world but today it lies broken on the ground. Near it stands a smaller but nevertheless most impressive 24 meter high obelisk, the pride of Ethiopia. A somewhat larger obelisk was taken to Rome, on the order of the Italian warrior Bento Mussolini in 1937, but it is returned to its homeland and being erected on August 2008.

Axum, in its day, was a great commercial center, issuing its own currency and trading with Egypt, Arabia, Persia, India and even Ceylon. The settlement was also the site of Ethiopian’s oldest church, which dates back to the coming of Christianity as the state religion, early in the 4^th Century. The original building has long since disappeared but a structure erected on it site by Emperor Fasildas in the early 17^th century is still there. A nearby outhouse is the reputed repository of the biblical Ark of the Covenant, however except one guardian (priest) no one is allowed to enter in to the sanctuary.

LALIBELA

This medieval city, which was briefly become the capital city of Ethiopia after the fallen down of the Axumite kingdom in the 10^th Century. Lalibela, a medieval settlement, is the site of eleven rock hewn churches believed to have been built in the late 12^th and early 13^th century by one of its king called Lalibela. These remarkable edifices, which were carved inside and outside of solid rock, are of eighth ranked among the wonders of the world. Each building is architecturally unique, all are finely carved and several are decorated with beautiful paintings that remain well preserved. A visit to this ancient setting is particularly worthwhile during the colorful Ethiopian Christmas on January 7 and Epiphany in January 19, just two weeks after the Christmas.

GONDER

Located north of Lake Tana, which was the capital city of Ethiopia during 17^th and 18^th century and home for a number of emperors and warlords who built the oldest and the most impressive several castles and palaces around the area which is reflect the Gondrian structure built of a roughly hewn brown basalt stone held together with mortar, the open air bath of king Fasiladas, now baptismal place during the Ethiopian Epiphany, at January 19^th, the ruined palace of empress Mintewab where the Scottish explorer James Bruce reside for sometime and the famous church of Debre Birhan Selassie (Light of Trinity) with its wonderful murals.

BAHIR DAR AND LAKE TANA’S ISLAND MONASTERIES

Bahir Dar located on the southern shores of Lake Tana, the largest lake in Ethiopia and the source of Blue Nile River is a center for boating excursion to the lake’s islands and Blue Nile falls, the most spectacular waterfalls. There are 31 islands that are dotted on the lake; those are the home for the most interesting island churches and monasteries including the monasteries of Kibran Gebriel, Ura Kidane Mihret, Azwa Mariam, Dega Estifanose, Tana Cherkos, and Narga Sellasie . . . and more are among the monasteries inhabited the island of Lake Tana and also a Boat Cruise on Lake Tana is one of the most scenic and mind blowing excursion for visitors. A spectacular Blue Nile falls or Tis Issat, meaning, “Water that Smoke” is located 32km from the town of Bahir Dar. The Blue Nile Falls plunges 45m below and 400m wide giving rise to steam cloud, smoke like fire, which is locally known as Tis Issat.

HARAR

Ethiopia’s historic route does not end at Addis Ababa, it continue some  535 km to the east of the capital, perched at the end of a spur projecting from the central plateau, to the old romantic walled city of Harar stands amid green mountains on the eastern wall of the Great Rift Valley near the Somalian border, the historical city dating back to medieval time.

Harar, the holy Muslim city with its 99 mosques, regarded as the fourth holiest city after Jerusalem, Mecca and Medina, has been one of the major centers of trade and Islamic learning in the horn of Africa and also famous for its ancient buildings, great city walls, the 19^th century French Poet Rimbaud’s house; who lived and treaded in the city and the Hyena man performance every evening outside the gates, while he feed the hyenas by using his mouth. Through centuries of its existence, the city has developed high quality craft industry such as basketry, colorful woven cloths, silver wear and ancient books binding . . . and others.

Other Historical Attraction