Little Petra

When visiting Petra most people do not know about going to visit Little Petra which is just 17 min away. Known as Siq al-Barid or the cold canyon, Little Petra was on our list of things to do very early in our planning. Like the name suggests it's similar to the famous Petra in that structure but it is believed to of been an important suburb during the time, and was built sometime between 7200BC to 6500BC when the village of Beidha thrived. Entering into a narrow opening smaller and tighter to the Siq, this site includes tombs, temples, and water channels just like Petra does. The Nabateans invented an irrigation system carved into the limestone that filters the water as it flows down, giving water to the inhabitants.

Walking through Little Petra has a different feeling to it than Petra does by far, we went to the cold canyon right after arriving in Wadi Musa at about 3 pm. This site though much smaller than Petra is an amazing site to see, and being a free site makes it all the better. With around 20 cars in the parking lot we didn't have to worry much about sharing this site with many other people. However, there was a time or two when we had to wait for others to be done before we could get pictures with no one in them.

There are less side shops along Little Petra as well, and no one is trying to force themselves on you as soon as you walk past them either. A couple of the little shops have solar panels also to have some power for coolers and to offer nice cold drinks to hikers. There was also a tea/ coffee shop inside one of the tombs that seemed to side as part of a smoke shop, we didn't go in because of this but it looked like a cute spot to get out of the heat. At the very end of the trail, there is a long staircase that leads to "the best view" and apparently after a bit of a hike a free way to get into Petra via the trails that also go behind the Monistary.

Little Petra also houses remains of a ancient frescoes painted on a plastered ceiling of the Biclinium tumb, we sadly didn't do much research before coming here and missed being able to see this. Yarmouk University (Irbid, Jordan) dates its origin between 40BC and 25AD. This painting has immense historical meaning for it is believed to be the largest Napatian mural to have survived. The painting has helped with providing information on what the reign was like during its reign. When the king of the Nabateans hosted celebrations, such as religious activities and the Feast of Drink he provided drinks for his guests. This with the painting including grape vines confirms that Bedia was an area that produced wine.

Websites that helped with information

https://www.visitpetra.jo/

https://universes.art/en/art-destinations/jordan/petra/siq-al-barid-little-petra/painted-biclinium-5