Qasr Azraq and other Qasr al Azraq, Jordan Things to Do Tips

Qasr Azraq is built in black basalt and was originally constructed by the Romans (about 300 AD). Through the years it was then renovated several times. During the Umayyad period it was used by al-Walid II as a military base and for hunting. In 1917 TE Lawrence and Sherif Hussain bin Ali based themselves at Qasr Azraq for a few months during the Arab revolt against the Turks. Already then it was in ruins, but in an earthquake 1927 it collapsed even more.

As you enter through the main entrance you will have Lawrence’s Room above you. There is a big courtyard where there is a mosque from the Ayyubid Period. Around in the castle are ruins of towers, a prison, a kitchen, a stall etc.

In July 2005 there was no entrance fee to visit the castle.

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I visited Azraq as part of a tour (only transport) organised from Farah Hotel in Amman. We were three people in the car sharing the price and I paid 13 JD. The places we visited were Qasr Kharana, Qusayr Amra, Qasr al-Azraq and the Wetland Reserve, Hammam Sarah and Qasr al-Hallabat.
We had lunch in Azraq and the driver told us about a restaurant were tours could have lunch (and it was cheaper if we came from Farah Hotel, 3,5 JD), but we preferred to have a falafel at a caf?. They were very tasty and was 250 fils. We asked if it was possible to visit the Wetland Reserve (it was not in the original plan) and the driver was happy because then he could go to the mosque after letting us off at the Visitor Centre.

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Azraq Wetland Reserve contains a large mudflat, pools and marshlands just in the middle of the Eastern Desert of Jordan. The wetland has suffered big ecological damage as water levels decreased when more and more drinking water was pumped to Amman. Now the wetlands, or at least a part of the original wetland, is being restored.

This is a place where you can see lots of birds when they are migrating between Africa and Europe.

We started our visit at the Visitor Centre where you buy the tickets. At the Visitor Centre there is a nature shop with gifts made locally. From the Visitor Centre it is easy to walk around on the wooden trail.

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Website: www.rscn.org.jo

When you walk around in Azraq Wetland Reserve you should follow the trails and not enter the tunnels in the reeds. The tunnels are made by water buffalos and they are not always happy to meet an intruder. Well, we didn’t see any water buffalos while we were there and not many birds either, but then we were not there in the right season. Visiting a day in July, when water levels are low and the sun hot you can’t expect to see much, but it is a nice feeling walking around and see the blue and green, knowing it is desert around.

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