RAMPARTS WALK IN JERUSALEM (Walking on the top of Old City's Walls, Jerusalem; from Jaffa Gate to Dung Gate; 1.3 km).

One of the best way to know the Old City of Jerusalem is to walk on the top of city's walls. At present, the Old City of Jerusalem is surrounded by a 4.5 km long wall which is around 500 years old (of course the foundations are more than 200o years old). The walls are 10 ft thick and can reach upto 50 ft height. Altogether, the walls contain 35 towers and 11 gates. Only seven of the gates are presently open. There are two routes: 1) The shorter one is from the Jaffa gate to the Dung Gate through the Zion Gate. The total length is 1.3 km and the walk gives you a nice picture about the Armenian and Jewish Quarters, and the Kidron Valley. 2) The longer route starts from Jaffa Gate and takes you through, the New Gate, Damascus Gate, Herod Gate and finally drop you at the Lion's Gate. This route is ideal to know about the Christian and especially the Muslim Quarters. Since the Golden Gate (sealed) is part of the higly sensitive 'Temple Mount' compound, it cannot be accessed by Ramparts Walk. The following snaps are taken from the shorter route, i.e from Jaffa Gate to Dung Gate.