Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
IRBID & AROUND
Jordan's far-flung northern hills see few travellers aside from overlanders heading to
Damascus in Syria. This is a shame as the region's rolling hills and verdant valleys are
home to characterful rural villages, country lanes overrun by goats, and ubiquitous olive
groves among whose ancient trunks lie the scattered remains of forgotten eras.
And then, of course, there is Irbid. This thriving university town is generally overlooked
by visitors, despite some national treasures; in this densely populated part of the country,
Irbid is a key place in which to feel the pulse of modern Jordan.
All minibuses, in whatever village you find them, appear to make a beeline for Irbid,
from where connections can be made to almost anywhere in the country. With a car, it's
possible to visit the remote battleground of Yarmouk or the ruins of the Decapolis city of
Umm Qais as a day trip from Irbid.
Irbid
02 / POP 751,634 / ELEV 582M
Jordan's second-largest city is something of a glorified university town. Home to Yarmouk
University, which is regarded as one of the most elite centres of learning in the Middle
East, Irbid is in many ways more lively and progressive than staid Amman. The campus,
which is located just south of the city centre, is home to shady pedestrian streets lined with
outdoor restaurants and cafes.
Historians and archaeologists have identified Irbid as the Decapolis city of Arbela. The
area, in all likelihood, predates the Romans with significant grave sites suggesting settle-
ment since the Bronze Age. Aside from the tell lying at the centre of town, however, there
is little evidence today of such antiquity.
