West Bank – The Biblical Treasure Trove

West Bank comprising of vast expanses of sandy deserts dotted with date palms and the occasional greenery of the oasis is a different experience altogether. Located along the Jordan River, it has many places of religious importance and is considered as the Holy Land for religions like Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Some of the sites of religious and archaeological importance include Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Hebron, Nablus and Jericho among others

History
After World War I, West Bank became a part of the British Mandate of Palestine entrusted to the United Kingdom by the League of Nations after World War I. The present border of the West Bank was not a dividing line during the Mandate period, but only a line separating the forces of the nearby nations of Jordan and Israel at the close of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. In 1947, the United Nations General Assembly voted to divide Palestine into a Jewish State, an Arab State, and an internationally-administered enclave of Jerusalem, and the modern-day West Bank was given to the Arab State.

Popular places:
West Bank has many places of archaeological and historical importance including the "little town" of Bethlehem, the birth place of Jesus. Jews hold a special place for this city as well. It is the home town of David, King of Israel, as well as the traditional site of Rachel's Tomb.

Getting around:
Taxis are good options to travel around this region. You can expect delays at checkpoints when you enter or leave Arab cities. Local buses and shared mini-bus taxis connect cities at regular intervals and work as your guide towards hassle free journey.

Places of Entertainment:
Shopping in West bank is likely to be a memorable experience as there are flea markets and street shops where you can buy had made handicrafts, Cross-stitch embroidery spices, jewellery and homemade sweet at bargain prices. Haggling is common. There are many restaurants that serve Italian and Mexican delicacies along with local dishes. Many cities in West Bank like Ramallah have many night clubs and party spots where you can have fun in the company of your buddies though girls might have restrictions.

Dead Sea is another interesting stop over where you can enjoy a rejuvenating mud bath at one of the many Dead Sea spa resorts. Located at the lowest point on earth, Dead Sea is mineral rich and extremely salty where it is impossible to sink! A desert trip to Negev and the Red Sea resort of Eilat, where you can enjoy snorkelling and scuba diving are some of the other popular activities in West Bank.

Accommodation Options:
From guesthouse to Resorts and budget hotels, youth hostels, you have many accommodation options in West Bank.

Currency:
Israeli Sheqels (ILS) is the currency of West bank. The Sheqel is divided into 100 Agorot and 1000 Prutot and the banknotes are issued by the Bank of Israel. Though transactions are carried out in Sheqels, Jordanian Dinar (JOD) is also widely accepted. For the latest updated rates, currency news and updates serve as the best means.

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