Petra began as a main stopping point for Nabataean and foreign traders. These nomadic merchants carried textiles, incense, spices, ivory, and other precious goods grown or manufactured in Arabia, Asia, and Africa.
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Petra as described earlier is a city, of course you can get inside archaeological lost city (You will pay 70$ for a ticket to get inside ). But if you mean to get inside “Al khazneh” the Treasury of Petra, then; unfortunately, you can't!
Trade routes were shifting north or toward the sea. In A.D. 363, Petra suffered another blow when a massive earthquake destroyed many of the city's buildings and its water-supply system. This natural disaster marked a turning point for the Nabataeans. By A.D. 700, only a few people lived in and around Petra.
Few realize that among these relics of an ancient people there are still those living in the area that maintain the traditional nomadic way of life. “(The Bedouins) are here as controller for these caves, for all Petra.
Now, however, archaeologists are discovering that ancient Petra was a sprawling city of lush gardens and pleasant fountains, enormous temples and luxurious Roman-style villas.
After the sophisticated hydraulic system slowly fell into disrepair, most inhabitants of the Petra valley gradually, but not completely, moved to the nearby fertile areas where they could find better opportunities for water and agriculture.
The last Nabatean monarch, Rabbel II, struck a deal with the Romans that as long as they did not attack during his lifetime, they would be allowed to move in after he died. Upon his death in 106 CE, the Romans claimed the Nabatean Kingdom and renamed it Arabia Petrea.
Now, however, archaeologists are discovering that ancient Petra was a sprawling city of lush gardens and pleasant fountains, enormous temples and luxurious Roman-style villas.
It is thought to have been built around 312BC and was rediscovered in modern times by a Swiss explorer in 1812, who uncovered Petra beneath ancient layers of sand, hence the nickname, Lost City.
The entire city of ruins is a work of art, painted on a natural stone backdrop that changes colour every hour. The buildings and structures are a combination of grand tombs, temples and public spaces.
Many people know of Petra's famous Treasury from the Hollywood film “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” with Harrison Ford. It's inside that Ford finds the Holy Grail.
There isn't a strict Petra dress code as such. It's the biggest tourist attraction in Jordan, so people pretty much wear what they like when they visit Petra, However, bear in mind that the site of Petra is huge, so be prepared to do a lot of walking.
Petra is well-equipped with toilets, with toilet blocks at the visitor's centre, near the Theatre and museum. There are also portaloos at the start of the Siq and at a couple of cafés.
While the actual word Petra isn't used in the Qur'an. The Qur'an uses terms like Becca, mother of all cities, and even Mecca all refer to the city of Petra in Jordan.