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11 Best Things to Do at the Churches in Lalibela, Ethiopia

Lalibela, Ethiopia, often called the �New Jerusalem,� is a loveable little town located in the north. It�s absolutely a must-see when visiting Ethiopia. It doesn�t matter if you�re religious or not, these volcanic rock-hewn churches are absolutely bucket-list worthy.

Here�s the Inside look at the 11 best things to do while you�re visiting the churches in Lalibela, Ethiopia:
1) Know the History Lalibela, Ethiopia is packed with an amazing history. King Lalibela spent time in Jerusalem during his youth. He absolutely revered this holy city. But when it was captured in 1187, he set off to build the �New Jerusalem.�
Each church, carved out of one rock, is meant to symbolize humility and unity. Each of the churches are named after a Saint or Biblical word. Even Lalibela�s river is referred to as the River Jordan. Being active in use since the day it was founded, every inch of these churches are filled with mysterious rituals and secrets.

2) Get a Guide If you�re traveling with our Ethiopian travel agency, one of our amazing local guides will take you upon the journey. If you�re venturing alone, it�s worth getting a guide to show you everything and keep you from getting lost. While there are guides lined up at the churches, it�s better to arrange one that you can trust through your hotel and confirm the price before you leave. Guides like ours studied the history of the churches and some even grew up in this tiny town. It makes a big difference to have someone explain to you the history and layout of each church to make your experience that much more powerful.

3) Go Inside the Churches One of the best parts about visiting the churches is getting to climb inside each and every one. Inside you�ll find ancient rugs and artwork. You�ll see priests and the interior of each magnificent church.
It is required that you take off your shoes before entering. You�ll see a pile of other shoes at the gate of each one. So far, it�s rather safe and the chances of your shoes being stolen while you�re inside are slim. However, you might want to wear socks so that your bare feet aren�t touching the floor themselves.

Cultural Experience Visit Ethiopia

For people who adore food, Ethiopia will surely make it among the top list of food lovers. The Ethiopian cuisine is not only appreciated for its variety and unique flavor but also the food culture of the people which is something fascinating. The culinary variety is a lot mostly vegetables and meat. Hot spice is common in most Ethiopian food. Food is mostly served with Injera/ a spongy flatten sourdough bread made from a tiny grain called Teff.
Ethiopian food is also a means for social gathering and interaction. Having food together on a single plate called Mesob is the typical value of Ethiopians for millennia. Tearing off a piece of Injera and scooping up the best bites of delicious stew and proceeding to feed it to their loved ones is the common attribute of Ethiopians which Ethiopians call Gursha.

Timket/ Ethiopian Epiphany/

If you are into colorful outdoor festivals Timkat makes the premium of all festivals in Ethiopia. Despite the festival�s roots, it�s base on religion, the cultural part of it is the experience to enjoy.
Timket is the Ethiopian Orthodox equivalent to Epiphany, is celebrated at churches throughout the country on January 19. The best place to be during Timkat is Gondar, where the festivities culminate in a crowded and colorful afternoon re-enactment of the first baptism at the 17th century Fasil�s Pool, which is filled with water for the occasion.

Community Tourism

One of the precipitating and affable parts of travel is interacting with local communities and unearthing the unique culture and way of life of the host community. Ethiopia�s excellent networks of community-managed touristic sites give a stellar opportunity to know more and experience the local destination communities.
Starting from the most northern part of Ethiopia around Adigrat to the superb networks of TESFA community trekking around Lalibela, the community conservation area of Menz Guassa in the central part of Ethiopia, the Dorze and konso community in the southern part of Ethiopia will offer you the chance to explore more the roots of Ethiopia. Ask your tour operator to organize your trip to these sites and get fascinated with the mesmerizing culture and way of life of the local people.

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