ALL ABOUT JORDAN (HKJ : The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan ) 

Welcome to Jordan, home of Petra Jordan. Petra Jordan Travel

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, which once captivated ancient travellers, continues to enthral a whole new generation as a modern, vibrant nation.

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan lies in the heart of the Arab world. Founded on the concept of pan-Arabism, Jordan emerged as a regional model of development and prosperity. The Kingdom is, according to its constitution, a parliamentary system with a hereditary monarchy.

Jordan-trips-wadi rum petra tours

 

What the lonely Planet says about Jordan

"While Jordan may not be the first place that comes to mind when planning an outdoor adventure, this tiny spec of a  country is incredibly underrated. 

 

 One of the world's great travel secrets, Jordan is more accessible than Amazon, warmer than Nepal, cheaper than USA, and less touristy than Morocco. And while much of the Middle East is embroiled in conflict and strife, Jordan remains an oasis of relative peace and tranquility."(The lonely Planet. 7th edition) 

In addition to eight months of sunshine, Jordan provides fantastic terrain diversity that creates a perfect setting for an outdoor adventures or a sightseeing tour.The country holds limitless potential for those who appreciate nature and the simplicity of living. There are many unbeaten paths… a country to be discovered! .......To help you plan your Jordan holiday, we have created this section to provide you with Jordan travel information in addition to an overview of Jordan's sites of interest and an insight into the types of outdoor activities and adventures holidays that you can undertake during your  stay in Jordan.

 

 

 

 

 

JORDAN TODAY : A Country of Contrasts

Jordan is a country of vast diversity, great natural beauty and a unique regional role. It is a young nation founded on ancient land; home to a dozen civilizations, heartland of religions, a sea of languages, cultures and traditions.

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan achieved formal independence in 1946. That was the culmination of a 25-year struggle on the part of its founder, King Abdullah I, to establish an independent Arab homeland after the collapse of Ottoman Turkish domination in the region.

Jordan was founded on one of the oldest, continually inhabited pieces of ground on earth. Civilisation was born in the Fertile Crescent, defined on one side by the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, and on the other by the Jordan Valley. In these lands, humankind first discovered writing and made laws, first built cities — and besieged them.

Over millennia, dozens of civilisations have laid claim to Jordan's lands, which lie at the heart of ancient trade routes linking Europe, Africa and Asia.. Nabataeans, Greeks, Romans, Persians and Islamic caliphs all preceded the Turks and European powers in building strongholds here.

More than just a crossroads, frequented by traders from Africa, Arabia, the Mediterranean, and the Caucasus and travelers from around the globe, Jordan has been a haven for people in times of crisis. After the Russians invaded the Caucasus in the 10th century AD, the indigenous Muslim Circassian community fled southwards to escape religious persecution. By the late 19th century, they had populated less inhabited areas of Jordan, including Amman. Other ethnic minorities, such as the Chechens, Armenians, Kurds, and Bosnians embellished the Jordanian patchwork, alongside the local Arab people. Today, the country's population of six million retains a rich diversity in appearance and culture. Since Jordan's birth as a nation, it has absorbed several major waves of immigration – most comprising Palestinian refugees and displaced persons uprooted by the 1948 and 1967 Arab-Israel wars. More recently, half a million Iraqis have taken refuge in Jordan from the ongoing crisis in their homeland. Today, too, around 350,000 foreign workers reside in Jordan, while more than 220,000 Jordanians work abroad.

The country's natural and ecological diversity is also vast. The drive from Amman, in the mountains, to the shores of the Dead Sea, is a descent of 1,200m in less than an hour. Most of the land is desert plateau, but the uplands are temperate and the Jordan Valley semitropical. Within Jordan's borders, 19 different plant ecosystems and countless species thrive.

 

Hub of a Dynamic New Middle East

“Jordan is an oasis of stability in a troubled region.” This statement is so often repeated that it has become a cliché. It cements the image of Jordan as it was decades ago: small, silent and provincial. Jordanians are proud of their country's reputation for peace and quiet but Jordan is far from standing still.

Today, Jordan is recognised as one of the most globalised countries in the world in terms of political engagement, economic integration and its citizens’ contacts with the rest of the world. Years of serious economic development and investment in education are paying off in rapid growth and Jordan's capital, Amman, is a model of the country's diversity. High-tech companies rub shoulders with the shops of traditional craftsmen, and glass skyscrapers rise from the hills. In the valleys below, itinerant shepherds still graze their flocks.

Jordan's diversity, its unique combination of modernity and tradition, makes it more than an island of tranquility in a turbulent region. The country today is the harbinger of stability and prosperity in a dynamic new the Middle East.

 

JORDAN FLAG

The design of the flag has not changed since 1922. Its form and colours are derived from the flag of the 1916 Great Arab Revolt. Black, white and green refer to the Arab Islamic dynasties: Umayyad, Abbasid and Fatimid. The red triangle connecting the flag's green, white and black panels represents the Hashemite Family. The heptagonal star represents the first seven verses of the Quran, Sura Al Fatiha, which are recited in every prayer.

In the Jordanian Constitution, the specifications of the Jordanian flag are outlined in Article Four: Its length is twice its width, and it is horizontally divided into three equal parallel sections: an upper section of black, a middle section of white and a lower section of green. The side of the flag attaching to the mast forms the base of a red, perpendicular equilateral triangle. The base is equal to the flag's width and its height equals half of the flag's length. Within this triangle is situated a white heptagonal star, the area of which could be contained in a circle whose diameter is one-fourteenth of the flag's length; it is centred at the intersection of the triangle's angles, so that the axis passing through one of the vertices parallels the base of the triangle.

 

NATIONAL ANTHEM 

In 1946, the National Anthem was written by the late Abdul Munim Rifai, a renowned Jordanian poet who later served as prime minister. Abdul Qader Tannir composed the music.

Long live the King!

Long live the King,

His rank exalted,

His flags flying high,

In sublimity.

O King of the Arabs,

You are greatly honoured

By being a descendent of

The best Prophet,

A great lineage

That all major books spoke of.

We realised our aspirations,

When you regenerated for us

A renaissance that motivates us,

A renaissance that towers

Above the high, rising stars.

O King of the Arabs,

You are greatly honoured

By being a descendent of

The best Prophet,

A great lineage

That all major books spoke of.

The glorified youth

Are your devoted soldiers.

Their resolve will never subside

And die away,

Because from you,

They learn perseverance.

O King of the Arabs,

You are greatly honoured

By being a descendent of

The best Prophet,

A great lineage

That all major books spoke of.

May you always be

A light, a guide

And a master among people,

Delighted and exalted.

And under your flags,

The glory of the Arabs

Rises high.

O King of the Arabs,

You are greatly honoured

By being a descendent of

The best Prophet,

A great lineage

 

That all major books spoke of.

 

* below is the youtube video of Jordan National Anthem :

 

 

 

 

 

COAT OF ARMS

 

The Royal Hashemite Crown

Symbolizing the monarchy of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the golden crown is composed of five arches with beaded design, fanning out from beneath its pinnacle and attached to the base with a relief design recalling rubies and emeralds. On top of the base rest five lotus flowers, denoting purity. The Royal Hashemite Crown is adorned at the top by the tip of a spear that represents the Hashemite banner.

The Sash

The Royal Hashemite Crown rests on the sash that represents the Royal Hashemite Throne. The crimson velvet sash, lined with white silk, signifies sacrifice and purity. The sash is trimmed in a fringe of golden threads and gathered on either side with golden tasselled cords to reveal a white silk lining.

The Two Flags

Each flag represents the flag of the Great Arab Revolt. The length of each is double its width and each is divided horizontally into three equal parts: the upper black panel, the middle green panel and the lower white panel. The crimson triangle occupies the front. Its base is equal to the width of the flag while its length is equal to half that of the flag.

The Eagle

This emblem symbolises power, fortitude and loftiness. Its colours signify the banner and turban of the Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him). The eagle stands on the globe, its wings touching the flags on both ends. The eagle’s head faces its right.

The Globe

Blue in colour, the globe signifies the emergence of Islamic civilisation.

Arab Weaponry

A bronze shield is decorated with a chrysanthemum, a common motif in Arab art and architecture. The shield is placed in front of the globe, symbolising the defence of the right. Golden swords and spears, bows and arrows protrude from either side of the shield and the globe.

Gold Wheat Ears & Palm Frond

Encircling the shield from its base are three ears of wheat on the right and a palm frond to the left. They are attached to the ribbon of the Al Nahda First Order Medal.

Al Nahda First Order Medal

The medal is suspended from the centre of the ribbon.

The Yellow Ribbon

A yellow ribbon placed across the ribbon of the Al Nahda First Order Medal, is composed of three parts inscribed with phrases, as follows:

***** On the right:“Abdullah I ibn Al Hussein Bin Aoun (Aoun, the great-grandfather of Sharif Al Hussein Bin Ali)”

***** In the middle:“King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan”

***** On the left:“Who seeks support and guidance from God”

 

 

JORDAN TODAY
A Country of Contrasts
 
Jordan is a country of vast diversity, great natural beauty and a unique regional role. It is a young nation founded on ancient land; home to a dozen civilizations, heartland of religions, a sea of languages, cultures and traditions.
 
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan achieved formal independence in 1946. That was the culmination of a 25-year struggle on the part of its founder, King Abdullah I, to establish an independent Arab homeland after the collapse of Ottoman Turkish domination in the region.
 
Jordan was founded on one of the oldest, continually inhabited pieces of ground on earth. Civilisation was born in the Fertile Crescent, defined on one side by the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, and on the other by the Jordan Valley. In these lands, humankind first discovered writing and made laws, first built cities — and besieged them.
 
Over millennia, dozens of civilisations have laid claim to Jordan's lands, which lie at the heart of ancient trade routes linking Europe, Africa and Asia.. Nabataeans, Greeks, Romans, Persians and Islamic caliphs all preceded the Turks and European powers in building strongholds here.
 
More than just a crossroads, frequented by traders from Africa, Arabia, the Mediterranean, and the Caucasus and travelers from around the globe, Jordan has been a haven for people in times of crisis. After the Russians invaded the Caucasus in the 10th century AD, the indigenous Muslim Circassian community fled southwards to escape religious persecution. By the late 19th century, they had populated less inhabited areas of Jordan, including Amman. Other ethnic minorities, such as the Chechens, Armenians, Kurds, and Bosnians embellished the Jordanian patchwork, alongside the local Arab people. Today, the country's population of six million retains a rich diversity in appearance and culture. Since Jordan's birth as a nation, it has absorbed several major waves of immigration – most comprising Palestinian refugees and displaced persons uprooted by the 1948 and 1967 Arab-Israel wars. More recently, half a million Iraqis have taken refuge in Jordan from the ongoing crisis in their homeland. Today, too, around 350,000 foreign workers reside in Jordan, while more than 220,000 Jordanians work abroad.
 
The country's natural and ecological diversity is also vast. The drive from Amman, in the mountains, to the shores of the Dead Sea, is a descent of 1,200m in less than an hour. Most of the land is desert plateau, but the uplands are temperate and the Jordan Valley semitropical. Within Jordan's borders, 19 different plant ecosystems and countless species thrive.
 
Hub of a Dynamic New Middle East
 
“Jordan is an oasis of stability in a troubled region.” This statement is so often repeated that it has become a cliché. It cements the image of Jordan as it was decades ago: small, silent and provincial. Jordanians are proud of their country's reputation for peace and quiet but Jordan is far from standing still.
 
Today, Jordan is recognised as one of the most globalised countries in the world in terms of political engagement, economic integration and its citizens’ contacts with the rest of the world. Years of serious economic development and investment in education are paying off in rapid growth and Jordan's capital, Amman, is a model of the country's diversity. High-tech companies rub shoulders with the shops of traditional craftsmen, and glass skyscrapers rise from the hills. In the valleys below, itinerant shepherds still graze their flocks.
 
Jordan's diversity, its unique combination of modernity and tradition, makes it more than an island of tranquility in a turbulent region. The country today is the harbinger of stability and prosperity in a dynamic new the Middle East.