Did you know that the word Israel means 'May God prevail' in Hebrew? Also, did you know that Hebrew was an almost extinct language, but was brought back to life by the resilient Israelis and is now widely spoken across the country? Well I didn't either, and I bet just like me, you may not know about many other enchanting things about the country. So as I relax on my armchair with a cup of coffee and plan my first ever trip to one of the oldest and most sacred lands, join me in this journey of discovery of Israel: The Land of Creation!
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| Welcome to Israel (image courtesy: Israel Tourism) |
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| An arial shot of Tel Aviv(image courtesy: Israel Tourism) |
As I begin planning, let's discover the different hues of Israel through three unique and distinct places - Jerusalem, Dead Sea and Tel Aviv.
When I think of Israel, one of the first places that come to my mind is Jerusalem, the city which has been inhabited continuously from about 4500-3500 BCE. Destroyed, plundered, besieged and burned numerous times over the past thousand years, the city has always risen up like a phoenix from ashes. Over these thousands of years, some of the world's oldest faiths also originated in and around the city, and now it's holy pilgrimage for Jews, Christians and Muslims alike. The Temple Mount, Al-Aqsa Mosque, The Western Wall and The Church of the Holy Sepulchre are some of the most important historical sites in the city.
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| Landscape of Jerusalem (Photographer: Naom Chen) |
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| The Tower of David (Photographer: Naom Chen) |
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| Jewish Quarter in old town (Photographer: Naom Chen) |
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| A young boy reading Torah(Photographer: Jonatan Sindel) |
If you are a vegetarian and in Jerusalem, have no worries. I am one too so was very happy to find avegan restaurants in Jerusalem. Do have a look.
However, Jerusalem is not all about religion but it is also home to Israel Museum and The Shrine of the Book, which houses the Dead Sea Scrolls.
What? You don't know about the Dead Sea Scrolls? Well, let me then tell you a story and take you on a journey to a unique sea, which is unlike any other in the world.
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| A section of the Dead Sea Scrolls |
It was the spring of 1947 (just before India got it's independence) when a Bedouin goat-herder was searching the cliffs for his lost goat. Just like most discoveries, he stumbled up on a jar full of manuscripts in a cave which shook the world. over the next several years many more scrolls were found in a total of ten caves. So what exactly were these scrolls? These are a collection of Biblical and non-Biblical texts, and fragments of almost all the books of Old testament are found here.
Since these were found in caves around Dead Sea, these are known as Dead Sea Scrolls. Having come this far away, it would be imperative to explore the Dead Sea, a unique natural formation which has fascinated mankind for centuries. In fact the first ever health resort is supposed to have come up near the Dead Sea a few thousand years ago due to the health benefits of the minerals found here. The sea is unique as it lies 429 meters below sea level which makes it earth's lowest elevation.
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| A woman relaxing in the Dead Sea(Photographer: Itamar Grinberg) |
The sea has extremely high salinity due to which no life is possible in it. In fact the salinity is so high that it's impossible to drown in it - you will always float on the surface no matter what you try. But beware, the salty water can really sting your eyes.
Having explored faith, history and nature, it's time to plan for some fun in Israel, and there is no place better than Tel Aviv to enjoy the perfect Middle Eastern nightlife!
Located on the Mediterranean coast of Israel, Tel Aviv has great historical significance as well, yet the city is most famous as hub of modernity, nightlife, and young, international population. With lovely sea right there, the prefect nightlife should start in the evening itself with some drinks in a seaside bar.
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| Enjoying a drink in Tel Aviv (Photographer: Dana Friedlander) |
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| A night club in Tel Aviv(Photographer: Dana Friedlander) |
My research tells me that a good place to start would be Central Tel Aviv which is packed with some of city's best bars and pubs. How do I know that? Well check out this brilliant guide on Tel Aviv's nightlife on Lonely Planet and you will be an expert too :) (https://www.lonelyplanet.com/travel-tips-and-articles/tel-aviv-nightlife-where-to-party-in-israel).
I am sure you are as intrigued as I am with this small country with a wealth of places to explore and experiences to capture. Check out this video and you will also be making plans for a trip to Israel soon :)
To help you plan a trip, check out this link - Israel: Land of Creation.
By the way did you also know that road trips can be super fun in Israel. To know more, read this excellent guide: Road tripping Israeli style!
And finally, if you want to backpack across Israel, that's possible as well. Check out this link for more: Backpacking Israel
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| Goodbye Tel Aviv(Photographer: Dana Friedlander) |
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Note: The credits for the pictures for all the pictures used in the post arewith the Israeli Ministry of Tourism. Wherever the name of the photographer was known, it has been included with the image caption.
Disclaimer: This article is written in collaboration with Israel Tourism. As already mentioned, I haven't been to Israel before and this is simply a bucket list of places I would love to explore on a visit to the country. Shalom!
