The First Health Resort in the World 

The Dead Sea

The Dead Sea pleases all tastes and propensities: health seekers, geologists, beauty enthusiasts, history buffs, pilgrims, nature lovers, solitude searchers, natural scientists  and what have you. 

Location

The Dead Sea is located in South-western Asia, landlocked between Israel and Jordan. The southern half of its western shore is Israeli; the northern half of its western shore is within the West Bank, occupied by Israel since the Six-Day War (1967) (Source: Britannica Reference Encyclopedia).  I visited the eastern shore of Dead Sea which belongs to Jordan.

                                             Dead Sea Map: Courtesy  

Since ancient times the Dead Sea is also known as ‘The Primordial Sea’, ‘The Sea of Asphalt’,’ The Devil’s Sea’, ‘The Stinking Sea’, etc. But the two names by which the Dead Sea is popularly known are, ’ Sea of Death’ and ‘Salt Sea.’

Sea of Death

In Arabic, the Dead Sea is called Al-Bahr Al Mayyit which means the ‘Sea of Death’ because no living organisms are found here except a certain type of bacteria and some colonies of microbes, notably, Dunaliella algae. Normal organisms such as plants, fish or animals  do not breed or feed in the waters of Dead sea. The Jordan river is its main tributary and sometimes it carries fish into the Dead Sea. But due to the high saline content the fish die at once. The shores are bereft of any vegetation except a plant called Halophytes which grows in salty or alkaline soil. These plants constitute mangroves and marshes and their roots come into contact with the saline water or they receive salt spray from the Dead Sea.  

Salt Sea

In Hebrew the Dead Sea is called Yam ha-Melah/Yam Hamelach which means Salt Sea. The Dead Sea is a storehouse of salt reserve. Since ancient times rock salt has been excavated from the Dead Sea. It is the deepest hyper saline lake in the world and the saltiest water body in the world with salinity levels close to 35%.

The Ancient Romans knew the Dead Sea as ‘Palus Asphaltites’ which means Asphalt Lake. The Dead Sea supplied asphalt for Egyptian mummification and potash for fertilizers.

Health Resort

The origin of the Dead Sea was 4 million years ago. It is the oldest health resort in the world because for thousands of years due to the mineral content in the air and land  around the Dead Sea and its water, healed the body. The mud is full of bromine. These antiseptic minerals in the mud and air, and salt in the Dead Sea have a therapeutic  effect on the body. Dead Sea minerals have helped to improve various skin conditions such as psoriasis, vitiligo, atopic dermatitis and acne. The oxygen rate is 5% higher in the region .Hence the air and water of the sea is beneficial to people suffering from arthritis and asthma. The ancient Greeks and Romans used mud to clean their faces before the invention of soap. Dead Sea black mud contains salt and minerals in minute particles. The black mud found on its shore , if covered on the body gets absorbed in the skin . It  penetrates the pores of the skin which  makes the skin firm and wrinkle-free, boosts cell renewel, while hydrating the skin. The mud pack if  kept on the skin until it (mud) is dry will rejuvenate dull skin by cleaning its impurities thus making the skin supple,fresh and healthy looking.

Sun bathing for long periods on the shore of Dead Sea will not harm the body because the ultra violet components of solar radiation is less in the region due to the sea’s position below sea level and the UV rays are ‘partially blocked by the increased cloud cover over the Dead Sea.’(Source: Wikipedia)

Dos and Don’ts

Drink plenty of water before going in for a dip; cover any cuts or abrasions in your body with water resistant bandage  or they will hurt if  the salt water gets into contact with the cuts.  Due to the high salt content in the water,the water is denser and human body weight lighter than the water. Therefore bathers float in the water.

Religious Significance

The Dead Sea is mentioned several times in the Bible. The sea’s name  traces back to the first Hebrew patriarch, Abraham.

According to the Bible there were two cities along the Dead Sea: Sodom and Gomorrah. But a fire came down from Heaven and destroyed those cities because of the wicked ways of their inhabitants.

History

David, king of ancient Israel ( 1010-970 BCE) and Herod I ,Roman client king of Judaea (37-4 BCE, according to German theologian, Schurer) hid in the  arid, unoccupied wasteland beside the Dead Sea.

Herod I took shelter from the Parthian attack in 40 BCE in a fortress at Masada ,Israel near the Dead Sea.  

Ancient manuscripts ( dated 3^rd  century BC-- 2^nd century AD) , written mostly in Hebrew, were found at several sites on the north-western shores of the Dead Sea between 1947-56. These manuscripts are known as Dead Sea Scrolls.   

Unique Features

The Dead Sea is the lowest body of water on the earth.  It is located about 1,312 feet (400 meters) below sea level. It is the lowest place on earth. It is 80 km long and up to 18 km wide (Source: Britannica Reference Encyclopedia). In the early 60s  when Jordan and Israel began  using its water for commercial purposes the water level in the Dead sea dropped. The sea continued to drop by 3 feet (1 meter) annually.   

Unique Ecosystem
Photo: Sashi Mathur

Rainfall is scanty and infrequent because it lies in a desert. Dead Sea is mainly fed by the Jordan River from the north. Some sporadic  mountain streams also flow into it briefly.

The shores of Dead Sea is desolate and barren with no human habitation. This is because of its saline water and wilderness. The ground on the shore is hard and the beach is full of salt and sand. The Dead Sea is salty because its water cannot flow out to any other river ,stream, sea. Hence, the desert climate comprising of high temperature and intense sun evaporates the water so the salt and other minerals are left in the Dead sea. It is an endorheic lake  like Pangong Lake, Ladakh,India. This means there are no outlet streams in both these lakes. They retain water and allow no outflow to rivers or oceans. While Pangong Lake never dries up, the waters of the Dead Sea are evaporated due to the hot, arid,desert climate.

 Another important factor for lack of human settlement is   it is in the path of the “contested” Jordanian-Israeli frontier.  But there are swanky hotels  nearby because of the huge inflow of tourists from all over the world due to its matchless bionetwork and spectacular desert beauty. 

Floating on the Dead Sea

I stayed in Ramada Resort Dead Sea which has a private beach. I was instructed to take out all jewelry before taking the dip because if anything goes into the Dead Sea it is gone forever. Moreover, the salty water might damage the metals. There was a shuttle service from the hotel to the shore .The vehicle could hold just 7 people. I had to be careful of my eyes and mouth because there were signboards, set up by the hotel authority which warned us that if the salt water gets into the eyes and mouth we should take medical help and spit the water out immediately. I first sat down in the water near the pebbly shore and then resting on my palms slowly and gently lay down. The trick is to lie on your back as if you are reading a newspaper. Hence, many bathers take magazines and newspapers. At a short distance there was a roped barricade so that the bathers do not venture too far. It was very relaxing in the warm water and I felt very peaceful as if I am in meditation. When the wind blew a bit hard I was taken a little farther away by the waves. The salt water was making some parts of my skin burn. After about 15 minutes I came out of the water . There was a shallow well on the shore, full of black mud which I massaged on my skin and face and again lay down in the water. The sun was setting at the other end of the sea and the water was becoming cold. After some time, I dragged myself out reluctantly and washed my face and hands in the slim waters of the fresh water shower on the beach, where there was a steady stream of tourists. The return to the hotel was again in the shuttle service.

The Correct Position to take Bath  
Photo: Sashi  Mathur 

Spectacular Natural Beauty

There was hardly any vegetation on the way except for some scattered, dusty shrubs here and there but still the sandy, desolate wild land was mesmerizing . 

Scanty Vegetation

The  Abarim Mountain range that runs east and southeast from the Dead Sea to the desert in the south created its own magical effect with its grave and silent tutelage. 

The Abarim Mountain Range

 The sunset was beautiful, the setting sun bordered by dark clouds, casting a shadow on the bathers as well as on the water.

S

Stages of Sunset on the Dead Sea

The sunrise was equally gorgeous when the  roseate glow of the rising sun turned the grey mountain ranges, the scanty,greyish vegetation and the argentine water of Dead Sea into a rosy hue. 

Stages of Sunrise on the Dead Sea

Above all, the  historical, Biblical ,therapeutic, curative  Dead Sea standing lonely for millions of years, its waters having no escape outlet, its bosom unpopulated by living organisms, its shores not the playground of seagulls or other marine birds is a memorable experience filling one with gratitude that such a sui generis natural phenomenon exists on this earth.    

 Photographs: Bulbul Sur

  Tags: Dead Sea, Sea of Death, Jordan, Bible,Salt Sea

A Military Engineering Marvel , Kerak Castle, Jordan

A Military Engineering Marvel, Kerak Castle

Boundless Vista around Kerak Castle    

A Military Engineering Marvel

Kerak Castle, Jordan

Kerak  Castle  is an ancient ruin on a mountain top with the charming city below. It is situated  950 m/1,000 m above sea level. It is positioned on the famous and ancient  King’s Highway.  It is 47.3 km away from Dead Sea. The castle is located in Al-Karak city which is 140 km from Amman. It takes about two hours by road. Al-Karak is an ancient city and has been inhabited since the Iron Age. It is mentioned in the Bible as Qer Harreseth or Kir of Moab. Al-Karak is the capital city of  the Karak Governorate. The drivable distance to the nearest city, Madaba,  is one and a half hours.

A  View of Al-Karak City from  Kerak Castle  

History

Kerak castle’s main function was “to protect the assets of Crusader states in the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem.”(Wikipedia). Kerak is the largest crusader castle in Levant. Construction began in 1140 under Pagan the Butler, Lord of Oultrejordain in the kingdom of Jerusalem. Kerak Castle became Pagan’s seat of power in 1142. It also became the center of rule because of its  strategic importance. Since it is located east of the Dead Sea, the rulers of Kerak Castle were able to regulate Bedouin herders and trade routes. The castle controlled the caravan route  between Damascus and Egypt and the pilgrim route between Damascus and Mecca. It is located on a tactically important point, in the center between Shoubak Castle (Montreal Castle) and Jerusalem. The crusaders called it Crac des Moabites or Karak in Moab.  

Arched Entrances Amidst Ruins of the Castle

The crusaders harassed the camel trains and even attempted to attack Mecca itself. Sultan Saladin of Ayyubid dynasty besieged Kerak several times to avenge such attacks. S’ad-Al-Din, Saladin’s nephew conquered the castle in 1188 . Ultimately the castle fell not due to the Muslim army but due to lack of food because the Muslim army cut off supplies to the castle.   The castle was in the crusaders’ hands for 46 years.

Under the Ayyubid Dynasty, Kerak first served as an Administrative center for all the regions of Jordan. Later the royal treasury was located there. In 1263, Mamluk Sultan, Baybars captured Kerak Castle. It remained an important administrative center and also a military base. In 1840 ,Ibrahim Pasha of Egypt seized it and destroyed a substantial part of its battlements .During the Ottoman Empire, Kerak Castle again became a military base because of its strategic location on the crossroads between the Arabian peninsula ,Egypt and Greater Syria.

The castle  was in use from 1142 AD to 1917 AD.

Military Architecture

Kerak Castle and Al-Karak  City
Photo: Daniel Case,en.wikipedia.org

Kerak Castle is a good example of a Spur Castle because it fulfills the features of Spur Castles. It is defended on 3 sides by steep  hillsides and it has notable defensive features such as inaccessible location, walls and towers.

Castle's Stone Fortification    

It is built on top of a mountain, at the edge of a triangular plateau. Since the castle is surrounded on all 3 sides by steep hills, all the battles took place on one side of the castle. Steep slopes are covered by Glacis (artificial slope) which is a special feature of military engineering.

Kerak Castle's East Flank and the Glacis
Photo: Dosseman, commons, Wikimedia, org

 The  deep valleys around it acted as natural fosses (moats).Still, artificial moats were constructed  to prevent the castle from being attacked by siege engines.

 A Dry Moat
Photo: Dosseman,en.wikipedia.org

Kerak Castle is a good example of Giri /Parvat Durg or Hill Fort found in India. Such forts were considered to be the best among all kinds of forts. Kerak Castle effectively served its purpose of being a stronghold to royalty and citizens, as well as play a crucial part for war and defense. The soldiers shot down the intruders who climbed up the glacis. It was an easy job for them because the intruders were easily spotted as there were no forests or even shrubs to camouflage them  ;or projecting cliffs to conceal or shelter them from the onslaught from above.

Hence the attackers used siege engines which included giant mechanical crossbow, mobile or stationary multi-storied towers , massive catapults, enormous wooden logs etc. Those were used to break  fortress walls and heavy wooden gates.    

The moats were mainly neck ditches, i.e. they did not fully surround the castle   but only protected that part which was not protected by natural boundaries.

The castle is separated  from the town by a moat . This is the modern entrance for tourists  and it now has a metal footbridge through which visitors enter the castle. This is the moat that Sultan Saladin tried to fill up during a siege.

Modern Metal Footbridge Over the Medieval Moat
Photo: Berthold Werner,commons.wikimedia.org

Description of Kerak Castle

Kerak Castle's West Flank with the Lower Court and Upper court
Photo: Dosseman ,en.wikipedia.org

The area of Kerak Castle is expansive. The castle has an upper court and a lower court. The Crusader architectural features are immense arched halls built on two levels. They were used as living quarters and stables. The castle entrance opens to a huge, wide and lengthy  corridor bordered by arched columns. The columns served as shelter against missiles from siege engines.

Endless Passageway Bordered By Arches

There are some narrow lanes along the exterior of the castle which probably served as moats. The guide told us that there was one stone embedded somewhere in the whole  structure which was the support for the whole castle. Only the architect and the king knew about its location and if that stone was removed or tampered with, the whole erection would fall down.

Kerak Castle, Interior
Photo: Dennis Jarvis,commons.wikimedia.org

The illustrations in the castle are crude. There is an ancient bathing place. In 1227, the Sultan of Damascus Al-Muazzam ’Isa commissioned the construction of a tunnel that ran from the castle into the town.

Illustration over a Bathing Place

In this castle resided Reynald-de-Chatillon (also known as Arnat)who was one of the worst enemies of the Muslims during the Crusades. One of his beloved pastimes was to throw prisoners from the castle walls into the rocks below. So the location height of the castle can easily be imagined. Sultan Saladin had sworn that he would execute Reynald himself. Eventually, in 1187, the Muslims defeated the Crusaders in the Battle of Hattin and Reynald was taken prisoner. True to his word, Sultan Saladin beheaded him.  

After the fall of Kerak Castle, Montreal Castle had to surrender as well.

The castle is constructed of stone and the boundary wall erected by the Crusaders is built with rough-shaped volcanic stones. Later the Muslims used limestone to expand and rebuild the castle because it was easily available in nearby quarries. The domes, vaults ,columns, arches, niches and colonettes reflect Byzantine and Islamic features of architecture.

A Portion of the Wall Built with Volcanic Rocks 

 Terrorist Attack

On December 18,2016, a terrorist attack took place at Kerak Castle in which 14 people were killed and 34 were injured, the  majority being Jordanian security forces and local civilians. Among the dead was a Canadian tourist and all the five gunmen.

Inside Kerak Castle 
Photo: Steven C. Price, commons wikimedia.org

The attack started in the afternoon and ended by midnight. Many tourists were in the castle when the violence started and they were trapped inside due to the  terrorist attack. But none of the tourists were taken hostage because the attackers were not even aware of their presence. That was because the tourists hid in different parts of the castle. This speaks volumes about the architecture of the castle. It is like entering a dark maze full of labyrinthine corridors, stone steps leading underground , endless, columned, passageways and dark stone vaults. Some tunneled  hallways are quite dark so that  a torch would come in handy.

Steps to a Chamber
Photo: Steven C. Price commons.wikimedia.org

Jordan and Coffee

From the ramparts of the fort we could see an Amusement Park down below in Al-Karak city. In the park there was a huge, decorative coffee pot. It is a symbol of Jordanian hospitality. That means   every guest who visits a Jordanian’s house will be offered coffee . In fact, our guide told us how coffee played an important part in fixing a marriage. Generally marriages in Jordan are arranged but if the girl and boy choose of their own they must marry with the blessings of their parents. A typical scene would be like this: a group of people from the groom’s side would go to the prospective bride’s house to talk. Out of this group only two would go inside: the immediate relative of the groom, mostly  the father of the groom and another sagacious head who could talk prudently. The rest would wait outside. Coffee would be served to the two important guests but they would keep the coffee cups down. If the negotiations went off well , only then would they drink coffee and the others waiting outside would be called in. Otherwise, they would walk away.

The view from the ramparts of Kerak Castle is wonderful. Opposite the castle, on the other side of the road are ant-hill colored hills, with caves embedded within them.   

The Amusement Park in the Island and Caves embedded in the Hill

Photos: Bulbul Sur

Tags: Kerak Castle, Al-Karak, Amusement Park, Jordan, Coffee

 

Tourist Places Near Petra, Jordan

Dana Biosphere Reserve

Dana Biosphere Reserve is less than an hour’s drive from Petra. It is located in and around the town of Dana. It was founded in 1989.

Mountains and Valleys

Dana Biosphere Reserve is Jordan’s largest nature Reserve, spread on 308 km . It has an altitude of 1,500 meters (4,900ft.) on the Qadisiyah plateau and drops to low-lying desert of Wadi Araba. “Hence it has four different types of bio-geographical zones: Mediterranean, Irano-Turanian, Saharo-Arabian, Sudanian penetration”(Wikipedia). 

Limestone Rocks 

These zones stretch from an area of high altitude  and low altitude—100 meter below sea level and 1,500 meters above sea level. Therefore, there are scorching sand dunes in the west, cool mountain tops in the east, sweltering summers and snowy winters. Geological features also vary. There are limestone rocks as well as sandstone and granite. The scenic beauty is because of the mountains and valleys -- Jabal and Wadi. The mountains start from the Great Rift Valley and falls to the desert of Wadi Araba.

Towering Mountains

Dana Reserve

The Reserve is home to hundreds of plant species ,birds, reptiles and  mammals. There are 780 plant species  ,190 bird species ,37 mammal species and 36 reptile species recorded in the reserve .25 endangered species which include the sand cat, the Syrian wolf, the lesser kestrel and the spiny-tailed lizard are found here. (source: Wild Jordan).

Dana Village

The historical Dana village overlooks the scenic Wadi Dana and is two-and-a-half hours’ drive from the city of Amman. The first occupants settled there in 4000 B.C. Since the land was fertile and there was abundance of water, there were many human settlements through the ages. Archaeological finds have indicated the habitation of Paleolithic, Egyptians, Nabataeans and Romans. At present the village is inhabited by Ata'ta tribe whose ancestors settled there 400 years ago, during the Ottoman period.

The Sunset

The Sun on its Last Legs

Another breathtaking feature is to watch the sunset at Dana from the Sunset Point. People drive here just to watch the sunset. When we reached there, the sun was in its last legs. The huge craggy mountains with ragged protuberances, loomed large on the horizon. On the other side were  cavernous gulches. In between lay expansive valleys. All were glistening in the mellow sunbeam. The sun was positioned as a poached egg on the sky with its soft rays trickling down on the hills, valleys, gorges and canyons and embroidering the mountain crests with pale yellow light. The sunlight gathered on the projecting angles of the mountains. It did not plunge on the noiseless hills and intercolline valleys with a mad fury but is showered on the grass and dingles  in a melodious movement. The wind was fast losing its warmth and as the sun set it became very cold. The long mountain chain, gorges and valleys looked like shadows in the pale, wintry, grey light. A tea seller was selling tea for one Jordanian dinar and he was making it in the traditional way: in an aluminum kettle put on a mobile Chula ( mud stove).   

Shadowy Hills in the Grey Light

Hiking Activity

Hiking is very popular here and it has become a major tourist activity.

The route Dana to Petra was named by National Geographic channel as one of the fifteen best hikes in the world.

The route is thus:

1)Dana to Wadi Malaga.

2)Wadi Malaga to Ras Al-Feid.

3)Ras Al-Feid to Little Petra.

4)Little Petra to Petra. 

The length is 84.5 km. (Source: Jordan Trail)

 

Montreal in Jordan

Shoubak castle

Shoubak/Shobak is situated 35 km. away from the historical and archaeological wonder, Petra. It is just a 40-minutes’ drive. The earliest inhabitants of Shoubak were Edomites. Later, the Nabataeans became its settlers.  The climate is extreme :freezing winters  due to high elevation and hot dry summers because it is located at the borders of Arabian desert.

Agriculture is the main source of income and Shoubak is known for olives, vegetables and fruit farms, mainly apple farms. It is also famous for honey bee farms.

Shoubak/Shobak is firmly on the tourist map because of its early 12^th century crusader castle, Montreal: a lonesome castle on a hill with the desolate, rugged valley as its companion.

 Crusades

The crusades were a series of religious wars fought between 1096 to 1271, which were “initiated, supported and sometimes directed by the Latin Church in the medieval period"  and its objective was to recover “Holy land from Islamic rules.”(Source: Wikipedia). Crusader castles were used to guard important trade routes. The castles were built in such a way so as to keep a close watch on incoming visitors and invaders.

Montreal Castle

Montreal Castle 
Photo: Bernard Gagnon, en.wikipedia.org

The castle played an important role during crusades. It is located along the famous King’s Highway. King Baldwin named it Krak de Montreal (Latin: Mons Regalis). It was known to crusaders as Mont Real which means fortress of the Royal Mount. According to legends, the king participated in the process of building this castle, so the first fortification was created within 18 days and was named Montreal (Mont-Royal) which is  the king’s mountain. This castle is said to be the first outpost of the kingdom of Jerusalem in the crusader district of Oultrejordain. It is popularly known as Shobak/Shoubak castle because of the nearby town Shoubak and its surrounding group of ten villages. The castle was inhabited till 1950.  

Oultrejordain

Oultrejordain (beyond the Jordan in old French) is also called Lordship of Montreal. In Latin it is referred to as Transjordan. It indicated  the territory to the east of Jordan River. Oultrejordain was the name used during the Crusades for an area which was called Edom and Moab in ancient times. It covered territory which later became part of the Emirates of Jordan and the modern country of Jordan.  

History of Montreal Castle

In ancient times, important trade routes were Dead Sea to Araba/Arava Valley in Israel and from there to Aqaba on the Red Sea. Petra, Aqaba and Shoubak formed a triangle that lay on the cross road between Syria, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

King Baldwin I of Jerusalem invaded this area in 1100,1107 and 1112 and finally built Montreal in 1115. He built the Montreal castle in Shoubak on top of a hill, thus cutting the connection between Egypt and Syria; and controlling the Muslim caravan routes which provided enormous revenue to the kingdom. The king collected taxes not only from the merchants but even from the pilgrims travelling to Mecca and Medina through that route.   

The castle was controlled by the Royal family of Jerusalem till 1142. At its height 6000 Christians inhabited it. In 1142 ,King Fulk built the Castle of Kerak (Crac des Moabites)  and it replaced the importance of Montreal castle as the Crusader bastion in that strategic area. Montreal Castle became a part of the Lordship of Oultrejordain. When the center of Transjordan moved to the bigger Kerak castle, Montreal Crusader Castle passed on to Raynald of Chatillon who became Lord of Transjordan in 1170.Like his predecessors he used the castle for defense purposes and to collect taxes from wealthy merchants who passed through the caravan route. But he became ambitious. He ordered ships to  be built and got them transported over land to the Red Sea with the aim of attacking Mecca through the Red Sea. When Saladin/Salah ad-Din, the first Sultan of Egypt and Syria and the founder of Ayyubid Dynasty came to know of this plan, he retaliated. He first captured Jerusalem. Then he set his sights on Montreal Castle. Since it was located on the tip of a conical hill his troops could not use search engines. Eventually, after two years he succeeded in capturing it.

In 1261 the castle was conquered by Sultan Baybars of the Mamluk Dynasty, who was the fourth Sultan of Egypt.

Importance of the site

Unique high elevation.

Shoubak itself is one of the highest elevation place (above sea level) in Jordan. The hills have steep sides and are surrounded naturally by valleys. Montreal Castle is further located higher up  on a round hilltop site. The castle is situated 1330 m above mean sea level which gave it a strategic importance. Not only was it impregnable but it gave a wide view . Whosoever travelled on the trade route could easily be spotted from the castle and therefore taxed. This made it easier for the owners of the castle to guard the caravan route from Egypt to Jerusalem.

Fertile plain

Just as the height was used for defense purposes, so the fertile valley was used for agricultural purposes. The surrounding landscape is dry and rough but springs gushed out from the valleys . The land is good for agriculture since ancient times. In the middle ages it grew corn, olives, vines, sugar and apricots. Salt is collected from the Dead sea.

Description of Montreal

Visitor Center 
Photo: Bernard Gagnon en.wikipedia.org

The castle is in a dilapidated state. There are remains of arches , a dungeon, corridors, tunnels, watch tower, core stones and fragments of buildings. There are two churches and beneath one church there are catacombs. Within the church there are Islamic tablets, Christian carvings and throne of Sultan Saladin.

There was water problem on the hilltop but the plains had natural springs. The problem was solved by constructing a tunnel in the interior of the castle, along the side of the hill. This tunnel was then connected to two cisterns which were fed by springs of fresh water. So people inside the castle went down the tunnel to fetch water by remaining unseen to the attackers. This tunnel still exists . 375 steps cut in the deep rock lead to the ancient well. The well ensured that the castle would have access to adequate supply of fresh water during a siege. This spring not only supplies water to the area but is also the main water supply  source to the surrounding villages. 

The castle is imposing when seen from a hill. From the valley it looks like a mass of ruins but very beautiful: like the illustration of a fairy tale castle in children’s story books.       

 Fairy Tale Castle at Dusk

Photographs: Bulbul Sur

Labels: Dana Biosphere Reserve, Sunset Point at Dana, Montreal Castle, Crusades, Shoubak, Tunnel in the Castle.