Next we traveled to the shore of Jordan River to the 'Baptism Site at Yardenit' in the south end of the Sea of Galilee. This site is believed by some traditions to be the actual site where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. the sign board at the site read 'near to the site of baptism'. Our guide said the actual site of baptism is in military zone of Jordan and hence could not be visited.
(Later I learned from the Net that there are disputes over the actual site. Among two or three sites claimed to be the actual site, one site in Jordan is also popular. "The Baptism Site on the Jordan side of the Jordan River is one of the most important recent discoveries in biblical archaeology. Excavations only began here in 1996, following Jordan's peace treaty with Israel in 1994, but have already uncovered more than 20 churches, caves and baptismal pools dating from the Roman and Byzantine periods." http://www.sacred-destinations.com/jordan/bethany-baptism-site.htm)
The Jordan River looked very small, almost like small rivers of Kerala. The site of Baptism is vibrant with activities. Groups of people were seen either getting baptised or renewing their baptism vows. The pastors were seen saying some prayers and sprinkling water on the person to be baptised. Some others were wearing white gowns and were dipped in the water for baptism. Our group howevevr did not go for baptism. There are rails fixed in the river for pilgrims to get into the river safely. As warned by our guide, the water at that point in the river did not look good with a lot of suspended particles. Later I came to know that the river was not so clean at that point because the site is located at the southern exit of the Sea of Galilee, just behind the gate of the Dam that is used on rainy winters to lower the level of the lake.
Note
The Jordan River is a major water source that flows through the Jordan Rift Valley into the Dead Sea. It flows in and out of Sea of Galilee. The Jordan only reaches 20 yards across in some places, and its deepest point is around 17 feet. It extends from tributaries at the base of Mount Hermon to its main source, the Kinneret, and then down to the Dead Sea. The river forms the boundary between the country of Jordan and the West Bank. The Jordan River is a key water source for Israel, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon;
The Jordan River looked very small, almost like small rivers of Kerala. The site of Baptism is vibrant with activities. Groups of people were seen either getting baptised or renewing their baptism vows. The pastors were seen saying some prayers and sprinkling water on the person to be baptised. Some others were wearing white gowns and were dipped in the water for baptism. Our group howevevr did not go for baptism. There are rails fixed in the river for pilgrims to get into the river safely. As warned by our guide, the water at that point in the river did not look good with a lot of suspended particles. Later I came to know that the river was not so clean at that point because the site is located at the southern exit of the Sea of Galilee, just behind the gate of the Dam that is used on rainy winters to lower the level of the lake.
Note
The Jordan River is a major water source that flows through the Jordan Rift Valley into the Dead Sea. It flows in and out of Sea of Galilee. The Jordan only reaches 20 yards across in some places, and its deepest point is around 17 feet. It extends from tributaries at the base of Mount Hermon to its main source, the Kinneret, and then down to the Dead Sea. The river forms the boundary between the country of Jordan and the West Bank. The Jordan River is a key water source for Israel, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon;
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