Bethany beyond the Jordan. The baptism site of Jesus Christ, also known as “Al-Maghtas” takes you through a spiritual journey through time, perfectly preserved on the banks of ‎river Jordan. This archeological world heritage site is considered the original place where Jesus ‎Christ was baptized and has a strong religious resemblance making a pilgrimage destination.‎ ‎

It consists of two regions that are united by the heavily forested Wadi al-Kharrar: Tell Al-‎Kharrar, also known as Jabal Mar-Elias (Elijah’s Hill), and the region 2 km away, overlooking the ‎river, which is home to churches, baptismal fonts, and the ruins of old religious structures. Since ‎‎1996, the Department of Antiquities of Jordan has conducted extensive archaeological ‎excavations where they have discovered and investigated numerous artifacts from the Middle ‎Ages, the Roman and Byzantine eras, and both. A monastery, churches, chapels, waterfalls, a ‎number of pools, hermitages and other monastic abodes, still-active springs, and lodging for ‎pilgrims and tourists are among them.‎ ‎

The pilgrimage site served as a rest station for early Christians traveling from Jerusalem to the ‎biblical sites in the Transjordan, which included Al-Maghtas, Mount Nebo (the location of ‎Moses’ death), and Madaba, through Jericho and a ford in the Jordan River.‎ ‎