Lalibela Ethiopia

Lalibela

The northern Ethiopian town of Lalibela is, without a doubt, the most visited destination in the country and for a very good reason, those magnificent rock-hewn churches.

The town is named after Saint Gebre Mesqel Lalibela when the town at that stage was known as Roha. The town is also known as the New Jerusalem due to her numerous religious sites; the local river is even called the River Jordan. So yes, this is a very religious orientated part of Ethiopia (and scenic for that matter).

Lalibela and her churches have to be one of the most amazing destinations I have ever had the please of visiting. Would I recommend a day or two here? Yes, even if you are not the religious type, the history and architecture will blow you away.

Lalibela Ethiopia

  • Lalibela

    Lalibela is approximately 2500m above sea level which is rather high but most standards and as we found rather lacking in oxygen levels. So when walking between the churches do not be surprised that one's lungs take a bit of strain, just ask your guide for a minute or two's rest and you will start feeling good again.

  • Lalibela Churches Southern Cluster

    The town of Lalibela hosts some of the Worlds most amazing Rock hewn churches dating back to around the 13 century. On this page, we get to explore the "Southern Cluster" of these churches, by Southern Cluster we mean the grouping of Churches south of the River Jordan.

  • Lalibela Churches Northern Cluster

    We explore the "Northern Cluster" of Lalibela's rock hewn churches on this page, by Northern Cluster, we mean the grouping of Churches north of the River Jordan. These Northern churches are from what we were told, are older than the southern cluster and the workmanship shows that to be true (ish).

  • Yemrehanna Kristos

    About a 90-minute drive from the town of Lalibela and driving through totally magnificent scenery one finds a church that is built inside a cave. Yemrehanna Kristos dates back to 1100 to 1200 AD period in Ethiopia's history; some say this church predates even the rock hewn churches of Lalibela itself.

  • Bet Giyorgis Church

    Bet Giyorgis is the most famous of Lalibela's rock hewn churches and gets its name from the patron saint of Ethiopia, St George. The church lies uncovered unlike all the other churches and is accessible by a short walk from either of the clusters (often described as the "8th Wonder of the World").
Ethiopia Travel Topics

  • Palace Of Haile Selassie

    Haile Selassie, King of Kings, Lion of Judah, by the grace of God, Emperor of Ethiopia. Quite a mouthful of a title for a single man or, as the Rastafarians would have it, the son of God. So awe-inspiring are the adjectives that you would have expected him to live in a magnificent palace made of the finest Carrara marble or a granite stone castle in the tradition of Gondar.

  • Visiting The Lalibela Rock Churches

    Your correspondent has been travelling in Africa for over three decades. I feel that I know sub-Saharan Africa; its smells, its peoples, its geography and its wildlife. Ethiopia is different, as different as snow is to sand. So different that you could get a very sharp knife and detach it somewhere in the Red Sea because it is not similar to any of its Arab world neighbours either.

  • Where To Travel In Ethiopia

    New on Uyaphi.com is our Travel in Ethiopia portfolio featuring safaris and tours to this somewhat new African safari destination; we are very excited about Ethiopia and all that she has to offer. Think of Ethiopia as a more cultural safari destination than what one is used to in Africa.