Continuing Kate’s reviews of her recent trip to Ethiopia – her visit Lalibela
Lalibela was, perhaps not unexpectedly, one of the highlights of our trip. It’s well worth at least 2 and preferably 3 nights. The collection of rock-hewn churches, some partially submerged underground and accessed via tunnels and narrow gorges, have all been hand-crafted and each has its own particular charm.
They have been compared to the far grander and more overtly impressive sites of Machu Pichu and Angor Wat. But what they lack in stature, they more than make up in other ways. Unlike these more famous sites, there are very few visitors to Lalibela – for now. We wandered around this Unesco World Heritage site where pilgrims far out-numbered visitors. It was a photographers’ delight.
The other charming aspect was that these churches have remained in constant use ever since they were built with ceremonies for white-robed pilgrims regularly held in their tiny interiors.
The 13 churches from the 12th-13th century are divided into 2 separate groups as well the spectacular St Georges church which lies slightly apart. You can visit Lalibela churches all in one day, but its nicer if you spread it over two days, if you want to take it at a more leisurely pace.
However the surrounding area offers loads of other attractions when you visit Lalibela. We took a drive up a winding mountain pass and enjoy a very picturesque final ascent to the mountain-top monastery of Asheton Maryam with its stunning views, tonally chanting monks and yet more precious antiquities. (You can also walk to Asheton Maryam monastery as a full day countryside walk from Lalibela taking 6+ hours in total.)
See Kate’s blog on her visit to Ethiopia (overall trip highlights) or see our pages on Axum, Gondar, the Simien Mountains and Bale Mountains.
