1. MAJOR TOURIST ATTRACTION PLACES Northern historical circuit
The core of most itineraries for first-time
Bahir Dar. GONDAR. . AXUM
Northern historical circuit
visitors to Ethiopia is the quartet of towns
that comprise the northern historical circuit.
The oldest of these is Aksum, birthplace of
the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, reputed last
resting place of the Ark of the Covenant, and
site of innumerable obelisks, catacombs,
palaces and other structures dating to the
peak of the Aksumite Empire (500 BC to 500
AD). Then there the small but spiritually
infused highland town of Lalibela, where the
eponymous king excavated a singularly
sublime subterranean complex of rock-hewn
Lalibela churches some 800 years ago. Gonder,
founded in the 17th century, is best known
for its Portuguese-influenced castles, though
these are dwarfed aesthetically by the
colorfully painted out-of-town church of
Debre Birhan Selassie. Finally, the more
modern city of Bahir Dar lies on Lake Tana at
the outlet of the Blue Nile, within daytrip
distance of the spectacular Blue Nile Falls
and more than a dozen historic island
monasteries.
The northern circuit of Ethiopia is known by
embracing the Ethiopian 3,000 years of history. This
region also have a lot of attraction place ... most of
them is mark there history by giving a lot
1contribution to the modern Ethiopia civilization
with there building style , by the writing aspects ,
contributing the major religious approaches
including the code of conduct and with a many
classical books that are not found in other globe till
now. The northern part of circuit is the one and only
place that you can found the history it self is
practice until now from the emerge of the great
Axum civilization to the well known religious empire
of Zagwe Dynasty up to the medieval period of the
Gondar to the century that we live in ...
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2. Rock-hewn churches of Tigrai
T
IGRAY ROCK HEWN CHURCHES: over
125 rocks hewn churches are recorded
with Tigray-alone. These churches date
from 4th-15th century. Most of them are
visited around the Gheralta chained
mountains. Others are found in eastern
and southern Tigray. Abreha-We-
Atsbeha, Wukro Cherqos churches are
hewn in the 4th century. Rock-hewn churches of Tigrai
Rock-hewn churches of Tigrai
More than 100 active churches are hand-carved into
the sandstone cliffs and valleys of Tigrai, yet many
remained unknown to outsiders until the 1960s, and
still go weeks, even months, without seeing a foreign
face. With limited time, the Teka Tesfai cluster,
which includes the cliff church of Adi Kasho Medhane
Alem, forms an easy diversion from the main road.
But those with sufficient time, interest and stamina
could dedicate a month to exploring these remarkable
ABRAHA WATSBEHA mediaeval shrines, described by the British academic
Ivy Pearce as the greatest of the historical-cultural
heritages of the Ethiopian people.
In this region embraced many of rock hewn church
which is known by the community and the tourists
which are… Tembein, site of about twenty rock-
hewn churches. Gabriel Wukien, Abba Yohanni,
Amanuel Mai-Baha, Mariam Hibito, Abba Selama and
The wonderful church of Abreha WA Atsbeha is
Mariam Itsewto are some examples…
situated 15 kms. West of Wukro. A newly built
gravel road leads to within a few meters of the Abba Yohanni, The monastery of Abba Yohanni is
church and beyond to Hawzien via Degum. situated 7.5 Kms along the track that branches off
The church is one of the best and largest of the 9Kms north of Abbi Addi on the newly built Abbi Addi-
rock churches of Tigray, dedicated to the famous Adwa road and leads to the small town of Menji…
kings of Axum, the brothers Abreha and Atsbeha.
The church is cut into the red rock overlooking a
valley, and stands out with its white painted TAG Tour and Travel | Home of the giants
façade sheltering two tall blue doors under arches.
The church is decorated with splendid post-17th
century mural paintings depicting Biblical scenes
and saints.

3. The fantastic limestone caves of Sof Omar make a day's outing from Dinsho,
Robe or Goba. The road leaves Robe town, crossing the farming areas to the
east, before descending into the lowlands. Here the vegetation is very different
being dry lowland with wooded grasslands. The caves lie at 1,300 m above sea
level. This is in marked contrast to what you will experience in the Bale
Mountains at up to 4,000 m. Very different animals occur along the way as well,
most noticeably the Greater and Lesser Kudu - both relatives of the Mountain
Nyala, and the tiny dik dik antelope. The caves themselves carry the whole flow
of the Web River that rises in the Bale Mountains, underground through
wonderfully carved caverns for a distance of one and a half kilometers.
Sof Omar Sof Omar
Inside, the cave is cool and dry. The Ayiew entrance is dimly lit, however deep
There are over fifteen in the cave you pass through a maze of passages and rooms, which have been
kilometers of polished by the trickling and dripping green water to a marble-like smoothness.
associated passages, In the darkness the river roars and foams through narrow crevices. Horseshoe
which require skill,
bats and the African false vampire bats roost in moderate-sized groups in some
time and special
equipment for a full of the passageways. After about a mile of passage the river re-emerges at a
exploration. However, place called “Holuca”, which simply means “it appears”. Sof Omar Cave has
a friendly local guide always been prominent in the life of the area and the local people have long
will show you enough to revered it as a shrine.
take your breath away
and make the trip Whatever one’s religion, there is no doubt the quiet beauty and depths of the
worthwhile, for an hour cave induce an atmosphere of awe and mystery. To the caver they are more of
or for as long as you a challenge than a place of worship.
care to spend. A cool
dip in the clear River
The cave which is now an important Islamic Shrine was
afterwards refreshes
you for the return named after the saintly Sheikh Sof Omar who took refuge here
drive. Full details of many centuries ago… a history calculated in thousands of
the caves are provided years.
in the booklet, "The
Caves of Sof Omar"
obtainable from the TAG Tour and Travel | Home of the giants
Ethiopian Tourism
Commission. Sof Omar