Lake Tana

Bahir Dar is a town set on the south-eastern shore of Lake Tana, where local fishermen still use papyrus boats. It is situated 37 kms from Tisisat Falls. Here the Blue Nile creates “Smoking Water” an awe inspiring sight as it plunges into the gorge below.

From Bahir Dar one must explore some of the ancient monasteries that have been built on the islands of Lake Tana, or on the many Islands. These include Dega Estephanos with its priceless collections of icons, as well as the remains of several medieval Emperors, Kebran Gabriel and Ura Kidane Mehret with its famous frescoes.

Kebran Gabriel is the principal monastery visIETd by male tourists from Bahir 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 the island in the Lake, and the monastery is reached by a very steep and winding path.

Although the church is relatively new (only 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.

Lalibela

King Lalibela is credited with the foundation of the incredible 11 rock-hewn churches in the 12th century. One of the world’s most incredible man-made creations, they are a lasting monument to man’s faith in God.

Most travel writers describe these churches as the “eighth wonder of the world”. These remarkable edifices were carved out of a solid rock, in a region where the ragged landscape still protects the churches from mass tourism. The 11 man-made churches are found in and around the town of Lalibela. Guniunly, the rock hewn churches of Lalibel are beyond you can imagine!

Other churches are reached by a 45-minutes drive by 4×4 vehicle, or a three hour ride on mule-back. The venue for some of the most famous church festivals in Ethiopia, a visit during the great celebrations of Genna (X-mas) and Timket (Epiphany) is particularly rewarding.

Gondar- The Camelot of Africa

Gonder, the cross roads of Ethiopian civilization, is located 50km north of lake Tana, 740 km north of Addis Ababa and situated in the foothills of the simian mountain at an altitude of 2,200meters above sea level .Gonder served as the capital of Ethiopia for more than 200 hundreds years from the rise of Fasiladas (1636-67) to the fall of Tewodros (1855-68) instruction in painting, music dance, poetry and many other disciplines thrived. Because of the focus on arts and architecture it has been labeled the Camelot of Africa. Gonder is famous for its massive ruins of imposing castles which depict the old days of our emperors and the skill and the craftsmanship used in the building of these several castles. The city was once a vigorous and vital center of religious learning and art the oldest and most impressive one is the two storey palace of emperor Fasiladas, built from roughly brown basalt stones. it reflects a number of architectural influence of Axumit, portages and Indian, the upper story offers panoramic views and lake Tana is visible on a clearer day , the castle has been renovate recently by the fund of UNSCO ,the castle compound is registered as world heritage.

Axum

Axum is the ancient kingdom that flourished in northeastern Africa from the 1st century BC until the early 7th century AD. The ruins of the ancient city of Aksum are found close to Ethiopia’s northern border on the heart of ancient Ethiopia was once the capital of Ethiopia. It is known for its historical and pre-historic relics. The origins of the Kingdom of Axum in 5th century BC are most frequently accepted as the event commencing the history of Ethiopia. In the times of its greatest prosperity, the Kingdom was maintaining political and commercial contacts with the civilizations of Greeks and Romans, and also with India and China. In the times of Kingdom of Axum, the Geez language became an official one until today, it has been in use in the churches of Ethiopia Legend has, that it was once the seat of the Queen of Sheba or Makeda (as the Ethiopians call her) who reigned over the region in the 10th century B.C. The Axum obelisks were carved out from a single granite stone and are the world’s tallest monolithic art work. It is believed that they were erected some 2000 years ago. They are unique in their architectural beauty and mysterious past. Axum is also known as an archaeological site where one can find historic and pre-historic relics unearthed through continuous excavations. These items are displayed in the museum at Axum.

Yeha

Ethiopia’s historic route begins with a glance at the enticing remains of Yeha-the center of the earliest civilization in northern Ethiopia .the journey takes you on rough tracks through the dramatic highland scenery ending in a serene agricultural hamlet. Yeha, which lies to the northeast of Axum, is the site of the famous Temple of the Moon, Ethiopia’s oldest standing structure. It is generally agreed the Temple of the Moon was built during the time of the D’mt Kingdom in the 8th and 7th centuries BC. The D’mt Kingdom preceded the Axumite Kingdom. When and how the transition from the D’mt Kingdom to the Axumite Kingdom occurred has not yet been determined. The oldest standing structure in Ethiopia is located in Yeha: the Great Temple. This is a tower built in the Sabaean style, and dated through comparison with dated structures in South Arabia to around 700 BC; although no radiocarbon dating testing has been performed on samples from Yeha, this date for the Great Tower is supported by local inscriptions. David Phillipson attributes its “excellent preservation” to two factors, “the care with which its original builders ensured a level foundation, firmly placed on the uneven bedrock; and to its rededication perhaps as early as the sixth century AD — for use as a Christian church. Two other archeological sites at Yeha include Grat Beal Gebri, a ruined complex distinguished by a portico 10 meters wide and two sets of square pillars, and a graveyard containing several rock-hewn shaft tombs first investigated in the early 1960s. One authority has speculated that one of these tombs contained a royal burial, while another believes the ancient residential area was likely one kilometer to the east of the modern village