Lalibela sits at an altitude of over 2,600 metres and is set within a rugged, mountainous landscape where the air is fresh and the pace is slow – a stark contrast to the busy capital city of Addis Ababa! The town of 25,000 inhabitants is located in the Amhara Region in northern Ethiopia and it’s a must-see for anyone visiting the country. Despite its sleepy, rural vibe, Lalibela is steeped in ancient history and rich with culture.
Following the Muslim seizure of Jerusalem around 636 CE, the King of Lalibela founded this ‘New Jerusalem’ as a pilgrimage site for Ethiopian Orthodox Christians no longer safe to visit the Holy Land. Now designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the 11 monolithic rock-hewn churches of Lalibela are truly awesome. The churches date from the 13th century and are set within a labyrinth of trenches and subterranean passages. The skill and devotion of the King’s artisans survive in the adorned doorways, windows and decorative murals. The churches of Lalibela were one of the first conservation projects taken on by the World Monuments Fund in the 1960s. Through documentation, stabilisation and local education and training, these beautiful buildings are being preserved for future generations of worshippers and visitors.
Lalibela has two main huddles of churches known as the Northern and Southern clusters, named for their proximity to the River Jordan. Don’t miss the ‘Pathway to Hell’, an unlit 32 metre tunnel, carved through the rock. The eleventh is an isolated church is the famous Bet Giyorgis (St. George’s), rising proud from a 25 metre deep pit and thus almost invisible from afar.
Join us on a visit To New Jerusalem to explore these magnificent monuments. If you have a little longer, Lalibela is the crown jewel of the historic ‘northern circuit’ including Bahir Dar, Lake Tana, Gondar, Axum, and the Simien Mountains, all to be discovered on a journey through Historic Ethiopia.
How to get to Lalibela
If you’d prefer to travel to Lalibela on its own, it is at least a 14 hour journey by road in a private vehicle or it can take up to two days by bus with an overnight stop along the way. This route is probably reserved for the more adventurous as the roads in Ethiopia can sometimes be a challenge and this route in particular is known as one of the worst! For those short on time who aren’t fond of bumpy roads, flying is the better option; you can fly direct from Addis Ababa to Lalibela with Ethiopian Airlines.
When to visit
Lalibela, and Ethiopia in general, is best visited during the dry season that runs from October to March. Visiting on a weekend is best so that you can go to the local market on Saturday and then head to the churches on Sunday where they fill with devotees taking in the dawn mass. The churches are still very much in use, especially during Ethiopian Christmas celebrated on January 7th and Timkat on January 19th where pilgrims flock to Lalibela to celebrate the two most important religious holidays of the year. If you don’t mind higher prices and large crowds, these are truly magical times to visit the area and to see this holy site filled with worshippers.
Remember that the sites close for two hours from noon and visiting hours finish at 5pm.
