The Monastery

The second most popular site in Petra after the Treasury is Ad Dier – The Monastery. Contrary to its name, Ad Dier is not a Monastery. Believed to have been built in the mid-first Century AD, it is thought to have been used for religious gatherings and ceremonies.

There is a short, but elevated trail to get to the Monastery. The 800 or so stepped paths slowly wind up between gorges, with souvenir shops along the way. We made the trail up quite quickly in 30mins, but it can take longer if you stop at the shops or if there are many people on the trail.

Built by the Nabataeans in the 1st century, the Monastery measures 50 metres (160 ft) wide by approximately 45 metres (148 ft) high. Architecturally the Monastery is an example of the Nabatean Classical style.

At the end of the trail, you arrive at a flat plaza. The Monastery has an enormous rock facade that dominates the whole area. Believed to be a memorial to Nabatean king Obodas I, it is the tallest facade in Petra. Similar to the treasury, the Monastery has an upper and lower order. The upper has a tholos (rotunda) in the center with an Urn at the top.

There is a small restaurant with seating for visitors to relax and sip tea while admiring the facade of the Monastery. Further behind the restaurants there are many mountain trails. If you are brave enough to navigate (they are not official), you can get some amazing views of the Monastery high above.

Another great example of the architectural wonders of Petra. It's a must see when you visit Petra, after the Treasury. If you want to avoid the crowds, it's best to visit in the morning, but it's also a good place to watch the sunset over the facade. If you are into photography, there are many elevated vista points for you to set up and take shots at sunset.