In 1812, a Swiss explorer following a local guide discovered Petra and stunned the modern world
TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Jun 10, 2026, 16:45 (IST)
In 1812, Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt, disguised as a Muslim merchant, ventured into the Jordanian desert. He followed local rumors to a hidden valley, where he discovered the magnificent ancient city of Petra, carved into sandstone cliffs. His journals, published posthumously, revealed this lost Nabataean capital to the Western world.