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Home Main Attractions Addis Ababa Bahir Dar
 
Bahir Dar

Bahir Dar is a big town situated on the southern shore of Lake Tana. Its palm lined avenues and lake side location makes this city attractive town and also the base to explore the Blue Nile Fall and many Lake Tana monasteries. Bahir Dar has become one of Ethiopia’s most important industrial centers and the country’s fifth largest town with a population estimated to be 150,000. Although the town of Bahir Dar is modern the church of Bahir Dar Georgis situated down town was founded in the 17th C,

the original church destroyed sometimes in the past and the present modern church was built during emperor Hailesilasie. The two storey building of the Jesuit Pero Paez is also found in the compound. The open market of Bahir Dar displaying many items of locally manufactured cloths, agricultural products, lunch box market, the panoramic view point of the summer palace of emperor Hailesilasie, Woito village and their Basketry works are other attractions of Bahir Dar

Attractions around Bahir Dar

The Blue Nile Fall: The Blue Nile River flows out of Lake Tana with tremendous force and volume, towards the deserts of Sudan on its way to enrich Egypt’s fertile delta. The power of the Blue Nile may best be appreciated just thirty kilometers downstream from the point where the river first leaves Lake Tana. There, a rumble of sound fills the air and the green fields and low hills on either bank tremble to the Blue Nile Falls. It is one of the most dramatic spectacles on either the white or blue Nile, a vision of natural strength and grandeur.

                                     
    

Lake Tana and its medieval monasteries. Covering more than 3600 square kilometers, Lake Tana is Ethiopia’s largest lake. Known to the ancient Greeks as Pseboa, its sometimes stormy waters are traversed by reed boats, called tankwas. The lake has 37 islands and 20 of these shelters monasteries and churches. It is inhabited by variety of bird and fish species. Bahir Dar provides access by boat to a number of churches and monasteries near and far. Most of these churches and monasteries were founded during the 14th C rule of Amda Tsion.Some monasteries such as Tana Cherkos are older and some such as Narga Silasse and Metsile Fasiledes date to the Gondarine period. Some of the most interesting island churches and monasteries of Lake Tana include Kebran Gabriel , Ura Kidane Mehret, Aziwa Mariam, Mehal Zege Georgis, Dega Estefanons, Narga Silasse, Tana Cherkos etc at which visitors can explore Museums displaying  priceless illustrated manuscripts, historical crowns, crosses & fine royal and ecclesiastical collections and gifts. Some monasteries such as Ura kidanemihiret have beautiful murals on the walls of the holy of holies. Kebran Gabriel, the nearest monastery to Bahir Dar, is renowned for a magnificent manuscript and its excellent collections of church treasures displayed in its museum. Some of these monasteries such as Kebran Gebriel and Daga Estefanons are closed for women visitors.