The ancient city in Jordan carved into rose-red cliffs and designated a World Heritage Site is Petra.
Petra was established by the Nabataeans, an Arab civilization that controlled major trade routes linking Arabia, Egypt, the Levant, and the Mediterranean. Its buildings were carved directly into sandstone cliffs, including the famous Khazneh, or Treasury, whose elaborate façade combines local traditions with Hellenistic influences.
Petra flourished from roughly the 1st century BCE into the 1st century CE, when it served as the Nabataean capital. The Romans annexed the Nabataean kingdom in 106 CE, after which trade patterns and earthquakes contributed to the city's decline. Petra was later largely unknown to Western audiences until Johann Ludwig Burckhardt visited in 1812.
Petra is often confused with Jerash, another important ancient city in Jordan, but Jerash is known primarily for its Roman colonnades and public buildings. UNESCO inscribed Petra as a World Heritage Site in 1985, recognizing its exceptional archaeological and architectural value.