NORTH ETHIOPIA

Bahir Dar

Bahir Dar is a city in north western Ethiopia and the capital of the Amhara Administrative Region. The city is situated on the southern shore of Lake Tana, the source of the Blue Nile.It is 578 kilometers from Addis Ababa, the capital city. Its climate is somewhat tropical and different from the typical highland climate of northeastern Shoa.

The Tana area forms part of the traditional homeland of the christian Amhara people whose language (Amharic ) was and still is the National dialect of Ethiopia.It has a population of over 200,000, and at least 15,000 people are said to live on the islands in the lake. Bahir Dar is home to Bahir Dar University (BDU).

Set at more than 1,800 meters above sea level, Lake Tana is 75 kilometers long and 60 kilometers wide. Its 3,600-square-kilometer surface is dotted with more than 30 islands – many of which are home to ancient monasteries and churches containing religiouse frescoes and artefacts. Thus the city makes a pleasant base from which to explore the areas main sites: the Blue Nile Falls and the Island monasteries of Lake Tana.

Among the nearest monasteries to Bahir Dar are Kebran Gabriel, which is forbidden to women, and Ura Kidanmehret, which contains an impressive treasury of ancient illuminated Bibles in the Ge’ez script. The building is decorated with a number of external and internal frescoes of religious significance.

Bahir-dar Market is well worth exploring particularly on the main market day -Saturday. In addition to the different kinds of cereals, vegetables, fruits and spices, you would see colorful striped woven clothes and Agelgil-a kind of grass product bounded externally by leather used by local travelers for transporting their food (injera and wat). In cities like Addis Ababa, people use the Agelgi (local lunch box) when they want to spend a day out in recreational places. On wedding ceremonies too this lunch box is widely used. In houses of city dwellers agelgil, especially the smaller ones are used as a wall decoration.

The famous exit of the Blue Nile lies some 5 kms outside the town. While you do a boat trip on the lake, the boatmen should be able to show you the outlet. You would also see hippos and crocodile along the river.

On top of a hill out side of the town there is a special place where you would enjoy the beautiful sunset. It is by the side of the Palace of Haile Selassie, which is not open for public. The hilltop is approached via a long avenue of beautiful jacaranda trees. In February, the Jacaranda trees are in full blossom, painting city boulevards and village streets in a soft violet hue.