The Wizard Of The Lost City Of Hegra

Our visit to Saudi Arabia’s ancient civilisation

Atif explains the extent of the Nabatean kingdom to Shashank on the map. Photo by Prajakta KN

Our trip to Hegra had been canceled. “Canceled?!” I was horrified. Until the new year, there were no spots available on the bus that takes tourists to Saudi Arabia’s only UNESCO World Heritage site. The tickets were all sold out! I felt as if my trip to AlUla was now pointless. It didn’t matter that instead, I was…