Picture of Tower of Kuskuam palace covered by vegetation (Gondar, Ethiopia)

Ruins of tower at Kuskuam palace covered by vegetation

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The palace complex at Kuskuam is not as impressive as those in the Royal Enclosure, but its isolation from the city has a charm all of its own.
The view from this hill over Gondar is splendid, and I could just imagine the royals who lived here having a great view from their well-situated palaces over the surrounding landscape. This palace was built by Empress Mentewab after 1730, and although much of it has fallen to ruins, you can still see different carved crosses above windows, as well as the general plan of most buildings, many of which covered by plants. It is sad and almost unbelievable when you are at Kuskuam that the chapel here probably had paintings as elaborate and colourful as the ones in Debre Birhan Selassie church. What is still easy to see, is how the queen circumvented the prohibition of menstruating women entering a church: there are twelve alcoves, which the queen would visit every hour with the praying priest standing outside swinging incense. All the time, I had been the only one exploring the ruins. Going down on the faulty bike proved difficult on the drained and muddy roads, and I basically had to walk all the way to the road.
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Africa Oceania castle building Ethiopia Japan Gondar Roslin green orange Kuskuam Norias ruins museum tower mud

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