For centuries Bahar Dar has been a place of commercial importance. Situated on Lake Tana’s south-eastern shore, it is the starting point of any visit to the Blue Nile Falls. The visitor will no doubt see tankwas on the lake shore. Still standing is the building erected by the Jesuit Pero Paes, which can be seen in the compound of Saint George’s church. Emperor Haile Selassie’s modest palace is on a small hill to the right of the road after the bridge. Bahar Dar, though bustling and pretty, is often looked at as just a base from which to visit the area’s two main attractions: the Blue Nile Falls and Lake Tana.
The town today, with its wide, palm-lined avenues and gardens, overflows with tropical vegetation.
Bahar Dar’s two markets are worth a visit – one displaying colourful woven cloth and a wide range of supplies (including coffee), and the other, a roadside market specialising in baskets. These markets make it a comfortable base for excursions – either by land or water.
