Tigray
For many Ethiopians the name Tigray evinces a dazzling history that goes as far back as the time of King Solomon and Queen Saba. For others, it is a place of devout religions. Yet for many others it evokes the memories of the unmatched bravery and sacrifices paid to defend the country’s freedom and independence
Truly Tigray is the Alfa and Omega of Ethiopia’s ancient and remarkable history. As evidenced today by its unique Pre –Christian obelisks, countless stones inscriptions, dozens of Rock-hewn churches, built monasteries, underground palaces and imperial tombs Tigray was once the country’s architectural work shop. It has always been the purveyor of religious scholarship, ecclesiastical paintings, Christian hymns as well as administrative and political blueprint. Tigray’s historical, religious and cultural wealth is as overwhelming rich as it is diverse.
Those and others make Tigray the pearl of the most preferred destination in Ethiopia, but how much do you know about the tourist destinations of the Region?
Axum is Ethiopia’s most ancient city. The capital of historic Axum state is the major historical attraction site of a number of remarkable living evidences. Also called “the living museum”. Some of the attraction, including the magnificent monolithic stale or obelisks each curved from a single huge piece of granite rock. The biggest monolithic stones ever transported and erected on earth the biggest is 500 tones and 34 m high. The three most important are chiseled to represent multi storied buildings with false doors and windows which reflects its outstanding technological advancement in building technology. In its day, Axum was a great commercial center issuing its own power full gold, silver & bronze Currency and treading with Egypt Arabia, India and even Ceylon One of the form powerful kingdoms of that time with Roma-Egypt, Greek Also the site of Ethiopia’s oldest church St-Mary of Zion established in mid-4th century and the last resting place of the original arc of the covenant.
Activities in and around Axum
Remains of an early Axum palace popularly tend to have belonged to the legendary queen of Sheba, the elegant architectural buildings or tombs of several ancient Axumite rulers, the local archeological museum rich in findings of different coins stone inscription, house equipment, the temple of Yeha dated back to 2700 years, monastery of Debere Damo are worthy to visit.
Rock-Hewn Churches around Tigray.
Many of the Tigray rock Hewn churches lie along the main road between Adi Grat and Mekelle, or can be visited from it. The churches lie along the main road between Sinkata and Wukro are the most accessible to those without private transport or limited time. The pick of these churches is undoubtedly Adi Kasho Medhane Alem, part of the highly accessible Teka Tesfay cluster 10km south Sinkata. A second rather loose cluster consists of Wukro Cherkos – the most accessible of all the Tigray churches, as it lies 500m from the main road in the town of Wukro – and the magnificent Abreha we Atsbeha church along the Hawzien road. The most extensive cluster is found in the Gheralta region, which lies to the south of Hawzien and includes some the most stunningly situated churches anywhere in Ethiopia. Gheralta can easily be explored out of Hawzien with a vehicle, or over a few days of hiking, bearing in mind that the region’s finest churches are reached by long, steep walks that require a fair level of fitness. A fourth and more dispersed cluster lies in the Atsbi area, to the east of Wukro. With one exception, the Atsbi churches can be explored only with a vehicle. More exception is the Abi Adi cluster which is not found more far than the other clusters: found around the town of Abi Adi.
The Gheralta cluster is the most extensive cluster with some of the most stunningly situated churches. The following are the most visited churches of this cluster.
The 8th wonder of the world, one of the powerful Christian in the 10th century Christians who followed the footsteps of the Axum religious and cultural tradition was the founders of the town around mid-12th century. The area today Lalibela is named after one of the famous kings of the dynasty who carved out the 11 churches from the living rock. There have been so many legends mythologies and scholarly written documents regarding the astonishing architectural and technical perfection of these 11 rock hewn church which are still in active church service. After 900 years of active church service and Ethiopian Christian worshiping place world have agreed that the rock hewn churches of Lalibela should be registered as the 8th wonder of the world. Certainly, there are more than thousands of rock hewn churches in Ethiopia but the most impressive ones are concentrated around Lalibela and Tigrai region. Visitors starting from the 16th century had very few chances to explore the other ones except the famous 11 churches in the town of Lalibela.
The founding of Gonder as the capital of early 17th century Ethiopia, by Emperor Fasilidas (1632 -67) Gonder regime was the major turning point of the country’s history in different aspects. What was new and memorable about Gonder was not its ideal new location, but the fact that it was destined to remain Ethiopia’s capital for over two centuries Gonder is one of the most important historical and cultural attractions with an ideal access to the Semein mountains natural park hosting the Fasil compound Semein Mountains as the two world heritages registered by UNESCO. The Royal enclosure, a walled compound having 6 different castles built from 17th 19th century by different Kings, The pool of King Fasilidas which is still serves as a baptismal pool during Ethiopian Epiphany, as well as several churches including the DebreberhanSillasie known for the elaborate Remarkable ceiling paintings of decorated with winged angles. Gonder is also the home of the black Jewish or Felashas. Numerous castle like placed dated from early 17th century to mid-19 century when it was a capital it was emerged as one of the largest and most1. The Simien Mountain National Park (North Gondar Zone).
The Simien Mountains is one of the major highlands of Africa, rising to the highest point in Ethiopia, Ras Dashen (4620m), which is the fourth highest peak in the continent. Although Simien is in Africa and not too far from the equator, snow and ice appear on the highest points and night temperatures often fall below zero.
The national park has three general botanical regions. The higher lands are mountain grasslands with fescue grasses as well as heathers, splendid Red Hot Pokers and Giant Lobelia. The park was created primarily to protect the Walia Ibex, and over 1000 are said to live in the park. Also in the park are families of the unique Gelada Baboon with its scarlet ‘bleeding heart on its chest,’ and the rare Simien fox. The Simien fox, although named after the mountain is rarely seen by the visitor. Over 50 species of birds have been reported in the Simien Mountains.
Access to the park is from Debark, 101km from Gonder, where riding and pack animals may be hired. This should be arranged in advance through your local tour operator or the Office of the Wildlife Conservation Department.
Blue Nile Falls
The River Nile, the longest river in Africa, in Ethiopia. From Lake Tana, the Blue Nile, known locally as Abay, flows from Ethiopia to meet the White Nile in Khartoum to form the great river that gives life to Egypt and the Sudan. It has been said that the Blue Nile contributes up to 80% of the Nile’s flow. Nowhere is it more spectacular than when it thunders over the Tisisat Falls near Bahar Dar. Here millions of gallons of water cascade over the cliff face and into a gorge, creating spectacular rainbows, in one of the most awe-inspiring displays in Africa, earning its name ‘Smoking Water’. The Blue Nile falls can easily be reached from Bahar Dar and the Scenic beauty of the Blue Nile Gorge, 225KM from Addis Ababa, can be enjoyed as part of an excursion from the capital.
Lake Tana, the largest lake in Ethiopia is the source of the Blue Nile from where it starts its long journey to Khartoum and on to the Mediterranean sea. The 37 islands that are scattered about the surface of the Lake shelter fascinating churches and monasteries, some of which have histories dating back to the 13th Century. However, it should be noted that most of the religious houses are not open to women. The most interesting islands are: Birgida Mariam, Dega Estefanous, Dek, Narga, Tana Cherkos, Mitsele Fasiledes, Kebran and Debre Maryam. Kebran Gabriel is the principal monastery which can be visited by male tourists from Bahar Dar with its impressive Cathedral-like Building first built at the end of the 17th Century. Dega Estephanos, which is also closed to women, is on an island in the lake, and is reached by a very steep and winding path. Although the church is relatively new (only one hundred years old), it houses a Madonna painted in the 15th century. However, the treasury of the monastery is a prime attraction with the remains of several emperors, as well as their robes and jewels.
On the banks of the lake are many more religious houses such as Ura Kidane Mehret and Narga Selassie, many of which are open to women.
Near Gorgora, at the northern end of the lake, the Susneyos palace is a forerunner of the magnificent palaces and castles of Gonder, and dates from the reign of Emperor Susneyos. In the same area the medieval church of Debre Sina Mariam is particularly important.
Along the lakeshore bird life, both local and migratory visitors, make this an ideal place for birdwatchers. Bird lovers will not want to miss Fasilidas Island, which is especially famous as an important wetland. The whole of the Lake Tana region and the Blue Nile Gorge have a wide variety of birds both endemic and visitors.