BAHIR DAR
and
LAKE TANA
Bahir Dar
Founded during the first decades of the 20thc. at the Southern tip of Lake Tana and along sides of the Blue Nile, Bahir Dar has gone on to become the foremost tourist destination of North Western Ethiopia. The city has an altitude of 1830 meters above sea
level and a tropical climate with an average temperature of 190c.
At Bahir Dar days can be spent by strolling through palm-lined avenues, lake side vistas, and exploring the Nile, and the negede Woito (clan of Woitos’) village, viewing spectacular sun set and riding a bicycle. St George church and the 16thc one storied Portuguese building in the same compound are also worth visiting.
Festivals like the New Year on Sept. 10 or 11, the finding of the true cross on Sept. 27, Christmas on Jan. 7, Timkat or Epiphany on Jan. 19, are also colorfully celebrated at Bahir Dar.
The Bazawit Hill Top
The hill top of Bezawit offers a spectacular view of the surrounding, the city, the islands of Lake Tana and Blue Nile leaving the lake. With some luck hippopotamus colonies can be seen at the bottom. There is the palace of Emperor Hailesillasie built in the 1960s. However, it is not yet open to the public. You can hire a taxi or ride a bicycle to Bezawit.
The open Air Market
One of the largest markets in Northern Ethiopia is found in Bahir Dar. And if you want to feel your trip complete and have a remainder where you have been, discover this unique market and purchase handicrafts like jewelries, woven and embroidered garments, ox-horn cups, grass baskets/ Agelgil/ for which Bahir Dar is known. Look at also the hair, clothing and market exchange styles and other indigenous culture of the local community.
Church Schools
The Ethiopian Orthodox Church is a pioneer to modern education in the country. Still today there are famous traditional schools in Bahir Dar where prospective clergies learn Geez, and hymn, writing on parchment. The system of education and the living styles of students in their small huts are amazing. Hence, get them closely attached to the different churches of the town.
Blue Nile Falls
Thirty kilometers south of Bahir Dar, there is a spectacular basalt cliff where the Nile forms an incredible falls of 45 meters high, known as the Blue Nile falls. The noise, the force and the smoke created by this fall is really worth discovering. The Blue Nile Falls is locally called Tis Abay, literally meaning water that smokes.
Recently a dam has been built for hydropower; hence, the volume of the falls decrease during the dry season.
Down to the power plant there is a historic bridge across the Nile River built in the 17thc. Standing on the bridge, it is amazing to look at how the massive water is collected and flow through a very narrow but deep gorge.
The fall is accessed either by crossing the bridge or by a ferry above the power plant. Before a trip to the fall, remember to get a ticket at Tis Abay tourist information center.
Lake Tana
Tana, Ethiopia's largest lake is a principal reservoir of the Nile and home to unique monasteries and spectacular bird’s life. It had been serving as a link between Ethiopia and the ancient world .Tana was known by the ancient Greeks as "copper tinted Lake" or "the Jewel of Ethiopia".
At the Southern tip of the lake and the Northern outskirts of the town, the Nile leaves Lake Tana and launches its long journey to the Mediterranean Sea. This spot is accessed by boats from the city. Here one could enjoy exploring church of St. Marry (monastery of Debra- Maryam), Hippos and the exact site where the famous Blue Nile River pours out of the lake
.Kibran Gebriel
Founded during the reign of Amde Tsion in the 14thc and rebuilt by Iyasu I in the 17thc, the monastery of Kibran has a distinct cathedral atmosphere. Mural paintings and an iron cloth of the founding saint, illuminated manuscripts and other invaluable antiques make the monastery worth visiting. Kibran is allowed only for men.
The Zegie Peninsula
Situated to the south west edge of Lake Tana, and 20 kilometers from Bahir Dar, the Zegie peninsula is covered by a dense tropical forest .Walking through the forest toped by birds and monkeys and bathed by the fragrance of strange flowers leads to the reverend monasteries in the near by.
Ura Kidane Mihiret
The monastery of Ura which is as old as Kibran Gebrel is found hidden within the mangrove forest of the Zege peninsula. Its architectural style is a typical example of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church having mud plastered round wall with conical thatched roof. Ura is known especially for its fine frescoes, manuscripts, ecclesiastical objects like crown of various emperors dated from the 14thc, processional crosses of silver& gold, silver-drum and royal vestments.
Near by are monasteries such as Azewa Mariam, Mahilzegie Giorgis, Betre Mariam, and Yiganda Tekle Haimanot having rich cultural collections & particular identities of their own. Monasteries of the peninsula are open both for men & women. To make your visit complete in this isolated area, do not miss local artifacts like Jewelries, colorful baskets (the Amharic muday), paintings and manuscripts (replicas but not originals).
Narga Sillassie
The Monastery of Narga found 35 kilometers away from Bahir Dar was founded by Empress Mintwab in the 18thc.Its architectural style has direct resemblance to the building of Gondar. The doors carved from single log are interesting. Inside the wall is decorated with vivid religious paintings showing scenes of the life and crucifixion of Christ, the miracles and flight of Mary and the struggle of Martyrs.
Narga also houses treasuries of the Gonderian period. When you are not in shortage of time, explore the neighboring monasteries and the life of the local community. Camping among this isolated communities and making a luxurious cruise to Gondar via Gorgora will be a historic event in life.
Daga Estephanos
The monastery of Daga Estephanose that was built during the 13thc and one of the holiest places lies some 35 kilometers from Bahir Dar.The real historic interest in Daga lies in its treasury. Here together with numerous piles of brightly colored ceremonial robes are the glass coffins containing the mummified remains of several of the former emperors of Ethiopia; namely Yikuno Amlak, Dawit, Zera yakob, Ze Dingle and Atse Fasiladas who ruled from the 13th_ 17th centuries. Personal possessions of these emperors are also kept in the storehouse. Daga is closed for women.
Tana Chrikos
Tana Chirkos, the oldest monastery in Ethiopia, is situated to the eastern shore of the lake where one can observe life and rituals that have hardly been changed since the Old Testament. Tradition has it that the Ark of the Covenant was kept here for 800 years before it was removed to Aksum in the 4thc A.D by king Ezana.
This claim to antiquity is backed up by the presence of three hollowed out pillars, which, according to religious fathers of the monastery, were once used as Jewish sacrificial altars.
Tana Chirkos has the richest historical collections including the bowl (gomor), a vessel for blood sacrifice, bed and blankets of Gonderine kings, astonishingly big parchments including the one that was written by St. Yared in the 6thc.
This beautiful and unusual island is a sanctuary of birds of different species like humming birds, kingfishers, bright blue starlings and many others. Here, equally important is the monastery of kirstos Semera which, unlike Tana chirkos, is allowed for women.
| the city of Bahirdar |
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| Gonder Fasil Castel world heritage site (UNESCO) |
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| Lalibela world heritage site (UNESCO) |
Seimen mountain National Park (UNESCO)
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Messages From The Head Of The Bureau 
