Places of Interest - Ethiopia

Lalibela, once founded as the city "Roha" was the capital in Ethiopia at the time of the 12th and 13th centuries. King Lalibela, born as the youngest member of the royal family of the "Zagwe" dynasty, ordered the city to be built. The New Jerusalem, as Lalibela was often called, also contained eleven underground churches carved out of the rocks. It is sometimes also called the eighth wonder of the world. Local legends report that these churches were built by King Lalibela in direct command of God. He was helped by angels, and did the job in less than 24 years. The king was declared holy by the Ethiopian church. The churches have been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1978.

There is a bus station, about 2 to 3 kilometers outside the city along a road. Buses often continue to the center of Lalibela so you drive past the station - besides the fact that it is situated in a very akward place there is also an uphill walk if you want to go there.

Lalibela - Bahir Dar: it takes 7 hours of bussing to get from Lalibela to Bahir Dar. Costs are 125 Birr, departure around 05:00 (ask the hotel owner) - 1x per day.

• Name: The "rock" churches

Price: 350 Birr (or $ 22). 

Content: see above. 

• Name: Hotel "Asheton"

Address: Walk back the direction of the bus only on a gravel path which goes down to the right

Price: 200 Birr (incl. Hot shower and toilet)

Phone nr. : 0333 360030

Content:

This hotel outside the busy center of the town is a great place. The staff is friendly and the rooms are set around a small green garden. It is therefore somewhat noisy. The rooms are small but clean and you have hot water. There is a restaurant with a number of dishes (the menu is full but there are only a few dishes available) although this is not the nicest restaurant I can imagine. It is within walking distance of the churches.

Take your time to see the churches - you pay 1x and you can stay up to three days - I would say use that time. Go on different times and take a guide once and only go once by yourself at least. Take a flashlight and sit somewhere to see how everything goes. You will see groups of tourists pass by but also see priests walking and many pilgrims. Take some “baksheesh” (small money – change) for small tips to policemen etc. Sometimes they will take you to “special” places.