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Traveling the route by
air, road, or a combination of both, provides a glimpse into a
remarkable past. The well- trodden path through Ethiopia’s
fascinating historic places takes you through a magnificent,
scenic world of legendary names such as Lalibela, Axum, Gondar,
Debre Damo, Bahir Dar and Harar. The past comes alive in ruins.
Ethiopia is truly a land of discovery – brilliant and beautiful,
secretive, mysterious and extraordinary.
Yeha
 Ethiopia’s
historic route begins with a glance at the tantalizing remains of
Yeha the center of the earliest civilization in northern Ethiopia.
The journey takes you ion rough tracks through the dramatic
highland scenery ending in a serene agricultural hamlet.
Yellow limestone ruins of the “Temple
of the Moon’ date back to the 5th century BC. The edifice with its
precise-fitting blocks of stone was built by the Sabaean
civilization. Yeha is famed for its inscriptions and fine objects
of bronze and other artifacts which have been excavated over the
past century.
Blue Nile falls … Bahir
Dar
 Restorative
work explains the Gondarene Character of some of the paintings
found in the remarkable monasteries and churches on the islands of
Lake Tana. The thirty-seven islands of Lake Tana shelter twenty
monasteries – surviving remnants of an old, contemplative
tradition.
The starting point of any visit to
the Blue Nile falls, or to the islands of Lake Tana, is the
bustling market town of Bahir Dar. The wide, palm-lined avenues
and gardens over flowing with Tropical vegetation, and the variety
of handicrafts and weaving centers make it a comfortable base for
excursions – either by land or by water.
Lake Tana ….
 Considered
one of the most sacred islands on Lake Tana, Dega Estefanos, the
Monastery of eek Stefanos has a priceless collection of paintings,
icons and manuscripts, and the houses the mummified remains of a
number of Ethiopian emperors.
Gondar
 The
graceful city of Gondar was founded by Emperor Fasiledas around
1635, famous of its many medieval castles and the design and
decoration of its churches; Flanked by twin mountain streams
Gondar retains an atmosphere of antique charm mingled with an aura
of mystery. The city was once a vigorous and antique charm mingled
with an aura of mystery.
The city was nice a vigorous and
vital center of religious learning and art. For more than two
hundred years skilled instruction in painting, music, dance,
poetry and many other disciplines thrived. Fasilidas and his
successors saw their elegant capital as a phoenix and so
patronized the arts. The so-called Bathing palace of Emperor
Fasilidas is filled with water every year for the Timket Ceremony.
Axum
 The
northernmost stop along the route, Axum is the site of Ethiopia’s
most ancient city and is renewed for its cathedral of St. Mary of
Zion where, it is calmed; the original Ark of the Covenant is
housed. Axum is also famous for its seven mysterious and ancient
monolithic steles, all hewn from single pieces of granite, some of
which are carved with images of doors and windows. The biggest, 33
meters long and weighing over 500 tones, was the largest
monolithic in the world, but fell at some remote period in the
past.
Now a small town, surrounded by dry
hills, Axum still yields evidence of the splendors and pageantry
of its glorious pas; a wealth of temples, fortresses and rich
palaces.
Adding substance to ancient legends
of fire-breathing monsters and testifying to the lost truths
embedded in myths and fables, the bones of bygone eras protrude
everywhere through the soil. Even today, long buried hordes of
gold, silver and bronze coins are exposed by heavy down drops of
rain.
Lalibela
 The
last stop on the circular historic route is Lalibela, Known as the
“Eighth Wonder of the World”. This is legendary city carved from
solid rock. It is just as remarkable close up as it is a distance.
It is the camouflaged, chameleon quality; however, that gives the
remote underground settlement its special and lasting place in the
life of the highlands. Here, some 800 years ago, safe from the
prying eyes and plundering hands of hostile interlopers a noble
king fashioned a secret marvel. Lalibela, previously known as Roha,
is named after the king. Legend says that the churches were built
at great speed with the help of angels working day and night.
Harar
 No
journey along Ethiopia’s fabled historic route would be complete
with out a visit to the medieval walled city of Harar which stands
amid green mountains on the east wall of the Great Rift Valley.
Harar has managed to retain the charm of its medieval character
and past glory. The cultural diversity is best expressed in the
old market and Grand Mosque (Al-Jami), which dominates the center
of the city. Near the Mosque stands the imposing octagonal
cathedral of Medhane Alem, which contains a gallery of traditional
religious works. Harar is a city where tall, graceful maidens in
long, extravagantly flowing colored dresses come to barter and buy
amongst the elegant Moorish archways. |
