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Are you a traveling naturalist, or a
geologist, a dedicated historian or simply an open-minded citizen with
the will to discover Saudi Arabia where the Kingdom is at its best?
Whatever your interest, begin your stay in Al Ula, one of the most
friendly towns in the north. Al Ula Oasis offers you a rare
combination of geography, nature, history and ethnology around a town
big enough, of 30,000 inhabitants, to have essential services available
for your comfort and safety, ranging from a Government hospital to
shopping centers and a Regional Archaeological Museum (open 8:30
to 14:30 from Saturday to Wednesday).
Visit old Al Ula, the mud brick and stone
ghost town. See the tightly packed courtyard houses and don't miss the
mysterious lion-like beasts glower down on the rubble heaps of Dedan, a
trading town of the ancient Lihyanite people. |
Al Ula oasis offers you a rare combination
of geography, nature and history. On the contrast abutting the old town
is the spacious new town of Al Ula, which exemplifies the concrete
revolution of the last decades. Throughout recorded history, Al Ula is
the cross road for the ancient Incense Road, Darb Al Hajj (the pilgrims)
Road and Hijaz Railway.
From the windows of Mada'in Saleh Hotel,
nature is all around to charm you. Admire the red sandstone cliff
in front of you. Enjoy the lush green palm trees at 754m above sea
level and up to the edge of Harrat al Uwayrid, a 5 million year old lava
flow spread over the older sandstone beneath like chocolate on cake.
To experience the view in the opposite direction is another .
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Major Historical Attractions
Al Khuraibah, Al Mabiyat, The Old City, Museum of Archaeology and
Ethnography |
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Your ultimate destination is the astonishing
Mada'in Saleh, once the stronghold of the gifted Nabateans, an early
Arabic people. The Nabateans based in Petra, Jordan, expanded their
trade, controlled the area, and left their mark, down to here. Further
south, the frankincense transport was left to the Dedanites, the Sabeans,
the Mineans, and then eventually to the Bani Lihyans, all of them with
an identified base in Al Ula (Dedan) and partners of the Nabatean
cameleers, the specialist of the distribution of precious goods from the
South to Mesopotamia, the Levant (now Syria), Anatolia (Turkey now),
Egypt, Greece and Roma (Italy now).
Al Hijir, known as Mada'in Saleh, was the southern capital of the
Nabatean Kingdom, while Petra was its northern capital. |
The Nabateans controlled the area from Al
Ula in the south to Mada'in Saleh in the north; it was called the
Lihyanite Kingdom during the period between the first century B.C. and
first century A.D.
Mada'in Saleh was famous for the fascinating burial graves combining
Assyrian, Greek and Egyptian features as observed by the Nabatean
sculptors during their business travels. Out of 131 tombs, 35 of them
have deeds written in Nabatean script over the doors. We know that
these 35 tombs date from the first year BC to the year 75 AD by
reference to the last 3 Nabatean kings, Aretas IV, Malichos II and Rabel
II.
Reserve at least half a day to ensure that you sample everything that
this extensive and fascinating site has to offer. |
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Islamic Castle |
Addiwan |
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Ancient Stairs |
Al khoragmat Tombs |
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Major Historical Attractions
Ad-Diwan, Qasr Al-Ajooz, Khuraimat al-Hijir, The Islamic Castle, The
Hejaz Railway Station, The Antiquities Department Buildings
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Tayma is well known in ancient sources and
was first mentioned in the 8th century B.C. Mesopotamian records. It
became famous for its strategic location along the ancient trade routes.
Among rulers of Tayma, the famous queen Shamsi and queen Zabibel both
contemporary with Assyrian King Tiglath - Pileser III (745 -727 B.C.).
The two queens waged war against him over control of the trade routes in
the Arabian Peninsula and others that connected the Assyrian Empire with
Egypt and the Mediterranean. Tayma reached its peak of prosperity
during the reign of the Babylonian King Nabonidus (555-539 B.C.) who
took it as his capital for ten years of his rule.
Departing from the Al Ula area to Tabuk, travel first to Tayma, and
take a half day stop.
Major Historical Attractions
The Great Ancient Wall Enclosure, Qasr Al-Hamra, Qasr AR-Radhm, Haddaj
Well, The Cemeteries, Qasr Al-Bejaidi, Museum of Archaeology and
Ethnography. |
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Human occupation in Hail goes back to
prehistoric times as indicated by the numerous stone artifacts and
structures together with Stone Age and chalcolithic rock drawings.
Large number of Thamudic Inscriptions could be seen on its mountains.
In the past the city maintained cultural relations with the Assyrian,
Babylonian and Levantine cultures. Assyrian and Babylonian incursions
into Northern Arabia passed through Hail while it acted as a trade
centre connecting tour main roads leading to Jawf, Burayda, Al-Najaf and
Jahra.
The road between Al Ula and Hail airport offers more natural marvels
than historical sites, except on arrival in Hail, the main town of the
Shammar tribe. |
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Major Historical Attractions
Rock drawings and Inscriptions, Al-Safen, Arkum, Hatim al-Tayi
Palace, Fayd, Qala'at l'ayrif (U'ayrif) Ibn Rasheed Palace, The
Enclosure wall of Hail |
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Outside of Hail, a trip to Jubbah across
the Nafud sand dunes (100 km north west of Hail) will appeal to Rock
Art fanatics. Behind a fence, they will discover the full range of
the wild life of 4000 years ago + life size human figures of both
sex + tribal signs (wasm) + suns + snakes + other atheistic signs of
the bygone ages. At Tawarin village (50 km north west of Hail),
visit the Palace of Hatim al Tai, a man famous for his generosity.
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Travel north to Tabuk, the garrison city
facing the Jordan border. Tabuk is an important gateway in northern
Arabia on the active pilgrimage and caravan trade routes. It became
famous after Islam reached it in 9 H (630 A.D.). Since then, it
remained an important gateway of north Arabia. It was visited by a
number of western travelers such as Doughty in 1294 H (1877 A.D.)
and Huber in 1303 H (1884 A.D.)
Major Historical Attractions
Tabuk Castle, Ain Sukkrah, The Prophet's (PBUH) Mosque, Qurayah,
Al-Bida, Rawafah Temple, Al-Muazzam, Al-Akhdhar
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Al-Hijr Tombs |
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On your last day in Al Ula, dedicate
this day to travel along the Hejaz Railway . Every 30 km, there is
a railway station with a different mountain background to attract
the railway fanatic or the simple photographers. It is an ideal
route for your journey south.
From Baday railway fort No. 18 to Zumrud No. 15, 4 stations are
located on the road side with a wrecked railway tender in between
Meshed fort No. 17 and Sahl al Matran No. 16. Accordingly, you can
take a photograph on the top of the wreckage like a World War I
guerillero of the T.E. Lawrence's era.
At the Old Khaybar Husn Marab Castle overlooking a sea of palm
trees, you are back in history with the age old conflict between the
sedentaries taking care of the palm trees all along the year and the
nomads claiming a huge share of the date crop. Thirty kilometers
further, the Khaybar dam is a 1300 year old piece of Umeyad masonry.
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When you are sea-sick, in that you live inland but are so close to the
Red Sea, the Mada'in Saleh Hotel can extend your Tabuk trip to the sea
by a 560 km long loop including the following sightseeing opportunities:
- Duba harbour, this Red Sea port is a great place to take a sea food
lunch.
- Qala'at Muwaylee, the Turkish-Egyptian fort of the Egyptian Haj
pilgrims route. Nearby Kyal, a quiet beach on the Red Sea coast, is
ideal for a swim.
- Al Bad, also named Mugheyr Shueib or the small Mada'in Saleh, because
of its 30 Nabatean tombs (fenced).
- Wadi Zeita (or Abiod) is the Saudi equivalent of Wadi Rum in Jordan, a
corridor in between colorful sandstone pinnacles.
- Qurayah, A Nabatean agricultural settlement up to 550 AD when a 20
year long drought compelled the Nabateans to move north to the Fertile
Crescent.
The way back to Tabuk is via Bir Ibn Hermas and the Railway forts No.
38 (Hazm) and No. 37 (Mahtatab).
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Copyright 2002 Madain Saleh
Disclaimer: Madain Saleh is not liable for
any errors or omissions. All pricing and itineraries subject to final
confirmation.
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