A visit to Gheralta should also include Inda Mariam Wukro. This relic rock-hewn church is near a Nebelet settlement and can be found 34 kms from the town Hawzien.

The church of Mariam Wukro is not separated from the native rock. Its visible southern exterior does not give any indication of the quality of the interior. Instead, it could be said that the exterior almost obliterates the great ornamentation and workmanship displayed throughout the interior of the church. Regarding this aspect, Ruth Plant, comments: "In the overgrown churchyard with tall bamboo canes, the natural rock face, with two doors and two rough windows, gives no anticipation of the accurately carved interior.'' The exterior, like that of many others, has a completely alien leer indeed.

In Tigrean tradition of rock church architecture, the concern is the interior and almost no effort is exerted in beautifying the exterior. In confirmation of this fact, Paul Henze, writes, ''There is almost no interest in the exterior in Tigre... but the interiors of the larger Tigrean rock churches are superior to most of those of Lalibela in refinement of design and decoration.'' In fact, there are three doors on the southern facade of the church, two directly leading to the sanctuary and one leading to the inner circuit of the church (or the kine Mahlet).

The kine Mahlet, 9.2m deep, 4.4m wide and 5.2m high, is richly decorated with stone carvings and relatively recent paintings. Its wall panels and ceiling are splendidly ornamented. Finely incised large Greek crosses dominate the western and southern sides of the ceiling while its northern and central parts are adorned by geometrically perfect domes. Two superbly carved freestanding columns, whose height is 3.3m, support the ceiling and divide the narthex into two bays. The columns are connected by a double arch with an unsupported median pendant. It is a remarkable sight.

A wooden door leads from the kine Mahlet to the Sanctuary. Another entrance will grant access from the ambulatory (immediate church enclosure) on the northwestern side of the church to the three-bayed and three-aisled sanctuary. It is more than 9m wide and 10m deep. Its nine-meter high ceiling is supported by four colossal freestanding columns with bracket capitals. There are also ten columns in bas-relief. The huge columns, the exceptionally high ceiling, as well as the series of arches, domes and decorative crosses in relief are sources of its unmatched grace and unusual aura of sacredness.

On the western side of the holy of holies, one can see a window-like opening in Aksumite style. It is very much reminiscent of the windows of Lalibela churches. In fact, in many respects, the church itself shows considerable resemblance to the churches of Lalibela and Debre Damo. David Buxton writes, ''Enda Mariam Wukro shows clear kinship with the built church at Debre Damo with some important Lalibela churches including-Mariam, Amanuel, and Abba Libanos." Another chapel, accessible by a wooden ladder, houses the tabot of St.George. It is, in fact, an extension of the church of Mariam.

Inda Mariam Wukro is a very complex and magnificent church. According to Ruth Plant, it is ''without doubt a great example of Tigre architecture ''.

Professor Antonio Mordini was probably the first foreigner to visit this sacred edifice of worship in 1939.