Friday, October 11, 2019
Ethiopia’s 19th-century heritage structure, a palace having numerous historical buildings, has been opened for the visitors on Thursday. Located in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa, the palace has been turned into a national park named “Unity Park”. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed conceptualized the idea of turning the heritage structure into a tourist spot.
Perched on a central plateau overlooking hot spring plains nearby, the palace was part of the founding city of Addis Ababa in 1887, which was constructed by Emperor Menelik and his influential wife Taitu.
The government has spent around 5 Billion Ethiopian Birrs ($170.7 million) on the project.
There Unity Park has a wide banquet hall, which is made of wood, leather ropes, wooden and glasshouses. It was once inhabited by princes and princesses.
The park also has a spacious green area including a botanical garden, a zoo in which primates and endemic black-maned lions will roam amid 300 individual animals of around 46 species. The area can be viewed from an artistic tunnel which has grass portions.
The ticket price of the park has been fixed at $7 for ordinary visitors and $34 for VIP people. The VIP people will have special access to restricted areas in a guided tour.
The authorities are expecting around 1000-1500 footfall each day in the park when it will be officially opened for public on upcoming Monday.
The grand opening ceremony of the park was attended by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and Somalian President Mohammed Abdella apart from diplomats and other officials. Ethiopia Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was also present in the opening ceremony.
The deputy director-general of the Ethiopian Heritage Conservation and Research Institute, Abebaw Ayalew, who co-managed the construction of the park, said that experts from Gujarat and Punjab who helped in the restoration of the Banquet Hall, also take part in the programme.
Visitors can also see an underground cellar in the park which was used as a cold area to keep liquor in barrels and kegs.
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Friday, March 29, 2024
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Wednesday, March 27, 2024