The usual suspects aside, Jordan springs delightful revelations at every corner, leaving Neeta Lal wonderstruck.
After ooh-ing and aah-ing over Petra and Wadi Rum—the big daddies of tourist attractions—we thought we’d seen it all. Then along came Ajloun. From our hotel in Amman, the capital city of Jordan, we drove south towards the Syrian border and the hill-fringed town of Umm Qais, where history whispers from every corner.
The 90-minute journey took us through pine forests and the olive groves of the Ajloun–Dibeen highlands. The region around Ajloun has an almost Mediterranean feel to it. The air is fresh and crisp, perfumed with evergreen oak, pine, wild pistachio and wild strawberry trees. Birds conduct their own raucous orchestra from the treetops. At roadside stalls, plump olives—in different hues and sizes—winked back at us from their jars. A cornucopia of colourful fruits and vegetables sold by the local Bedouins added more heft to the streetscape. Hamdi, our avuncular Jordanian driver-cum-guide, killed the engine and stopped for us to try some deliciously sweet bananas and mangoes.
Soon, we reached Ajloun to view its famous Qal’at Ar-Rabad (Arabic for ‘hilltop castle’). Tickets bought, we ambled past kiosks selling touristy tat and a moat bridge that cut a swathe through the castle’s east wall. A long, sloping passage led up a gradient to an older, arched entrance, embellished with carvings of birds. Stepping inside was like walking into a vintage painting, with the duncoloured fortification’s soaring towers, chambers, alcoves, and galleries silhouetted against an azure sky. As we nipped up to the top, vistas of the Jordan Valley opened out before us in shades of emerald and sherbet like a cinematic landscape. The hill on which the castle sits, Jabal Auf, overlooks three major wadis or valleys.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة April 2019 من Travel+Leisure India.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة April 2019 من Travel+Leisure India.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Retro: Timeless & Trending
As AI dominates the tech world, Nikhil Chawla introduces devices and apps that evoke nostalgia with their retro charm and timeless appeal.
Celebrating Timeless Austin
Austin is a melting pot of culture and style, and a personification of the great American lifestyle,
A Legacy of Art and Activism
Mallika Sarabhai reflects on her rich heritage as she discusses her unique approach to blending tradition with modernity, the power of arts in activism and her commitment to bringing about social change, in this conversation with Dipali Patwa.
Second Course
Noma chef René Redezpi found fame with ingredient-focused fine dining. His new TV show goes even further.
The Safari Sanctuary
Aamaghati Wildlife Resort, Ranthambore’s latest opening, offers the finest facilities and accommodation in the district and has the park embedded deep inside its soul.
THE ETERNAL FLAVOURS of our TIMELESS CLASSICS
India's most-loved restaurants have all stood the test of time, especially in an era when food ventures open with vast market research and modern aesthetics but fail to make a lasting impression. This is what makes our favourites timeless.
LATE CHECK OUT WITH Ayushmann Churrana
A film with a social message, a deeply inspiring couplet, a music tour that lets him explore his alter ego of sorts—what makes Ayushmann Khurrana the right fit in everything he chooses to do?
Luxury Legacy
Meet Tikka Shatrujit Singh, the visionary who paved the way for luxury brands to thrive in India. One of the most iconic figures in India's fashion and luxury industry, the former head representative of LVMH in Asia tells Samreen Tungekar about his journey, what today's consumer wants, and how Indian tourism can turn the world on its head.
Global Glamour
Attention shopaholics, we've got you covered! From Copenhagen to Cape Town, Marrakech to Melbourne, here are 20 cities across the world where you can indulge in retail therapy. Follow our guide to get your hands on traditional, bespoke, sustainable, slow fashion, and innovative, kitschy must-haves.
ARTISTIC INGENUITY MEETS ARCHITECTURAL SPLENDOUR
Architect Simran Boparai's skilled designs blend modernity with heritage, while striving for spatial excellence.