Axum the Home of Ancient Civilization

Axum is a town of Legends offering a glimpse to a truly remarkable past, & lies close to the Eritrean border at the heart of the former Axumite Empire, the dominant economic and political force in the region for about a millennium prior to its collapse around 700 AD.

A common third stop on the historic circuit is the ancient capital of Axumite kingdom, is best known today for the giant engraved obelisks (stele) that tower over the north-east of the town. Axum, in its day, was a great commercial center, issuing its own currency and trading with Egypt, Arabia, Persia, India and China. The settlement was also the site of Ethiopia’s oldest church, which dated back to the coming of Christianity as the state religion, early in the 4th Century. The entire city stands above a fascinating miscellany of ancient relics- dingy Catacombs, ruined palaces, rock engravings and inscribed tablets- that pay collective testament to the enterprise and complexity of what is perhaps the most enigmatic of all the ancient civilizations of the old world.

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-metre-high obelisk - the pride of Ethiopia. A somewhat larger obelisk was taken to Rome, on the orders of the Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, in 1937, but its return to Axum in 2005 and re-erected in its original place.

Axum’s St. marry of Zion church - believed to be repository of the Biblical Ark of the covenant- has for more than 1,600 years lain at the spiritual heart of the Ethiopian Orthodox church. The Axumite architectural legacy lives on in several ancient churches, notably the male- only cliff top gem that is the monastery of Debre-Damo.

This enigma is amplified when one visits the nearby Yeha Temple, estimated to have been constructed 2,500 years ago. The site is regarded to be a religious worship spot for the moon god of South Arabia before the introduction of Christianity in the region.

One full day is enough to visit all the attractions in Axum but spending more days will allow one to see the surrounding attractions of Yeha Temple, Debre-Damo Monastery and other rock-churches built earlier in the 4ht to 10^th century.

Lalibela - the 8th Wonder of the World

For most visitors to Ethiopia, the highlight of the northern circuit is the medieval capital of Lalibela, where high in the chilly mountains of Wollo stands a complex of a dozen rock-hewn churches are carved, inside and out, into the solid rock and are considered to be among the eighth wonders of the ancient world. Each building is architecturally unique and reflects beautifully executed craftsmanship.

The churches stand today as an inspirational and active shrine to a Christian civilization that predates its northern European equivalent by centuries.

The rock hewn churches of Lalibela built in the early 12^th century by one of its renowned king, Lalibela are still places of worship by its followers. The place is highly crowded during the colorful festivals of Ethiopian X-mass normally falling on January 7 and also Timket, epiphany falling on January 19.

In a short time schedule it takes one full day to explore the 11 complex of churches which are grouped in to three but for people having more time spending two nights is wise to explore the churches in detail and also include the surrounding churches.

Gondar - the Camelot of Africa

Gondar is located to the north of Lake Tana, which is regarded as a popular second stop on the historic circuit. It has served as Ethiopia’s capital for almost 300 years from 1632 onwards, and is today noted for its impressive 17^th century castles as well as the beautiful decorated church of Debre Birhan Selassie. To the North of Gondar, traditionally the preserve of hardened trekkers and hikers, lie the staggeringly scenic Simien Mountain National Park, home to the country’s main concentrations of the endemic Gelada Baboon and Walia Ibex. Following the recent construction of a rough road in to the Simien Mountains, this lovely range forms a feasible day or overnight trip out of Gondar. In 5Kms drive from Gondar, one of the most visited village of Weleka, where one can see the descending Ethiopian Jewish literally called Felasha and their pottery works can be arranged.

Visiting Gondar and its attractions would demand one full day.