An agreement has been signed between the UNESCO World Heritage Sites ‘Petra and Ellora Caves’ of India and Jordan. Petra, also known as the “Rose City” due to its pink sandstone cliffs, was the capital of the Nabataean Kingdom from around the fourth century BCE.
- India and Jordan have signed a twinning agreement between the UNESCO World Heritage Sites Petra and the Ellora Caves, famous for their rock-cut architecture. This agreement took place during PM Modi’s visit.
- Petra, also known as the “Rose City” due to its pink sandstone cliffs, was the capital of the Nabataean Kingdom from around the fourth century BCE.
- It is half-built, half-carved into the rock, and is surrounded by mountains with passages and valleys.
PM Modi’s visit to Jordan
- PM Modi arrived in Jordan in the first leg of a three-nation tour, which will also take him to Ethiopia and Oman. This visit is the first full bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Jordan in 37 years and coincides with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
- Jordan’s Prime Minister Jafar Hassan gave him a warm welcome at Amman airport.
- During his two-day visit, Modi met King Abdullah II at the Husseiniya Palace, where the two leaders held talks followed by delegation-level discussions.
- India and Jordan discussed counter-terrorism, regional developments including Gaza, and bilateral cooperation, as both sides signed five memoranda of understanding following discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and King Abdullah II in Amman.
Five Memoranda of Understanding
- Memorandum of Understanding on technical cooperation in the field of new and renewable energy
- Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of water resources management and development
- Twin city agreement between Petra and Ellora
- Renewal of the cultural exchange program for the years 2025-2029
- Letter of intent on cooperation in the field of sharing successful population-scale digital solutions for digital transformation
- Noting that India is Jordan’s third-largest trading partner, PM Modi proposed increasing bilateral trade from the current US$2.8 billion to US$5 billion over the next five years. He also called for cooperation between Jordan’s digital payment system and India’s Unified Payments Interface.
About the Ellora Caves
- Location - Charandri Hills, Maharashtra, near the Elaganga River
- Origin - Built mainly by the Rashtrakuta and Yadava dynasties between 600-1000 CE.
- Architecture - Rock-cut caves carved top-down into basalt rock
- Religion - Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain monuments stand side by side, reflecting religious tolerance.
- It also contains mural paintings related to all three religions.
About the Petra Caves
- The caves of Petra are part of an ancient city in Jordan, famous for its incredible rock-cut architecture, especially tombs, temples, and dwellings carved directly into rose-red sandstone cliffs by the Nabataean people over 2,000 years ago.
- A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007, Petra was an important trading hub and features iconic structures such as the Treasury (Al-Khazneh) and the Monastery (Al-Deir), showcasing a blend of Nabataean, Roman, and Byzantine influences within dramatic valleys and natural formations.
- The buildings were not constructed but carefully carved from sandstone cliffs, creating a “half-built, half-carved” city.
- Petra was a flourishing capital of the Nabataean Kingdom from around the fourth century BCE, a prosperous Arab people. It was a crucial stop on ancient trade routes connecting Arabia, Egypt, and the Mediterranean Sea.
