Bahir Dar
Bahir Dar, which means “seashore” in Amharic language, is a port city located on the southern coast of Lake Tana. The expansive lake creates a beautiful backdrop for this attractive city, with Palm and Jacaranda trees lining its streets. Fascinating architecture and a myriad of restaurants and shops make this an excellent destination to explore at leisure. Bahir Dar, capital of the Amhara region in northern Ethiopia, started as a Jesuit settlement around the 16th and 17th centuries. Emperor Halie Selassie considered moving the national capital here and one of his palaces stands near the city. Bahir Dar is a haven for tourists, offering access to the Blue Nile Falls and more than 30 lush islands, many occupied by fascinating ancient churches and monasteries. Lake Tana that is fed by 60 rivers starting from Gish Abay/Sekela makes a great Blue Nile water fall here. Lake Tana is Ethiopia’s largest lake, covering over 3500 km2 and is the source of Blue Nile, which flows 5223 km north to the Mediterranean Sea. It had been known to outsiders by different names. Egyptians called it Choloe Pulas, Greeks called it Pseboe. Today Lake Tana is a home for large number of monasteries. Even some have been sites of earlier pre-Christian shrines. Currently, there are more than one thousand monasteries in various parts of Ethiopia. The monasteries date from the late 13th and 14th centuries, though the current church buildings were erected later. The murals adorning the monasteries’ walls are full of all the color, life, wit and humanity of Ethiopian art at its best and provide a compendium of Ethiopian saints, martyrs and lore. Zege peninsula: walking between the monasteries on this forested peninsula, full of birds and velvet monkeys, is an enjoyable way to spend half a day. Ura Kidane Mihret: the Zege peninsula’s largest and most famous monastery, its Mekdes (inner sanctuary) is attractively painted and it holds an important collection of 14th – 20th century crosses and crowns. Outside its gate is the private Zege Satkela museum with a collection of household items displayed in a 300 year old home. Bete Maryam: founded in the 13th century, Bete Maryam, near the tip of the peninsula is the oldest monastery in Zege and its attractive church has some excellent murals. Just uphill from Bete Maryam is Bete Giorgis. Azuwa Maryam: the thatch roof atop the church at Azuwa Maryam helps make it the best looking church of Zege. Bete Selassie and Tekle Haimanot: Bete Selassie (men only) is 1hour: 45 minute walk from the shore. The church at Tekle Haimanot is similar but smaller than Bete Selassie.
The Islands
Kebran Gabriel: is a 17th century church that has a museum each for men and women. The small island next door is Entos Eyesus. Debre Maryam: the original 14th century church at Debre Maryam was rebuilt by Emperor Tewodros in the 19th century. Narga Selassie: set in the middle of the lake on Dek Island, Narga Selassie is a peaceful Gondarine influenced monastery. There is a painting of Mintiwab and a bas relief of James Bruce (smoking his pipe) at the main entrance. It is 3 hours by boat and 2 minute walk after landing. Dega Estifanos: one of the lake’s most sacred monasteries, Dega Estifanos (men only) was rebuilt in the mid-19th century contains the mummified remains in glass coffins of five former Ethiopia emperors, one of which is Zera Yaqob founder of the monastery. It is 45 minutes from Narga Selassie, up a steep half-hour-long trail. Tana Cherkos: it is said the Ark of the Covenant was hidden at the Tana Cherkos for 800 years. The present 19th century church and its modern paintings are rather modest. Its unique feature is its ancient Judaic sacrificial stones. It is 30 minute walk uphill from landing.