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The Old City includes 14 gates, most of which
are still in their previous conditions especially those located
in west of the town. The gates were close in the past during
night and opened during the day. By closing them, the town
becomes an integrated city from inside with all the necessities
of life.
Al-Hajjaj Well
Al-Hajjaj Well is located in the western part of the town near
Al-Hajjaj Store. Sheikh Saleh ibn Mohammed Al-Hajaj Al-Oreini
started the digging of this well (may Allah have mercy upon him)
who was one of the benevolent people of Al-Ula. He started the
digging of this well at his own expense for the sake of Allah in
order to provide drinking water for the residents of the old
town. This well is outside the wall of the old town in the past.
The visitor can see it behind the town from the east adjacent to
the old shops.
Asaba'ah Wall
This wall can be seen outside Al-Ula towards Madain Saleh in the
north on two-way road after passing the driving school. This
wall is been built of stones and mud extending from the foot of
the western mountain to the eastern mountain. Local people built
it to prevent attacks of Ibn Rashed, governor of Hail 116 years
ago. Because it constructed very quickly it does not contain any
architectural design or any carvings. The visitor can see the
opening holes for guns through the wall. The main gate of the
wall dismantled by floods and it has ceased to exist.
Jofeylah Castle
This castle is located in the southern wall of the town adjacent
to Rabwat Al-Helf. It is built in the late medieval time to
repel the invasions against the town during the period of
political instability for protection, surveillance and to
control the entry and exit in the town.
Al-Ali Castle
This castle lies along the southern wall of the town near Al-Khalos
Valley. It is a control point, which built during the periods of
political instability in the region. It was build of mud and
attributed to the clan of Ali from Bani Sahkr.
Abu Najdi Castle
Abu Najdi Castle is located in the north of the town along the
northern Asaba’ah fence. It is a control point owned by
well-known Al-Badanah clan.
Khuraybah (Dedan)
It is located in the eastern part of Salamiya farms. It is the
archaeological Dedan city, which known to local people as
Khuraybah. It is a ruined town including signs of buildings and
canals. Archaeologists described it as the ancient city of Dedan,
the capital of the old Kingdom of Lehyan. It also contains works
of sculptured monuments in the eastern Mountain. However, they
are very different from the facades of Madain Saleh. In the
middle of the demolished city, there is a big stone basin cast
in a rock. There are also some nearby archaeological sites such
as Mount Akmah to the north-west of Khuraybah and some fenced
sites near the paved road.
Tourists can access it through several ways; the easiest is the
through street parallel to Al-Fatah Bridge near Arac Hotel where
the road passes from the vicinity of the farms along Hail road
towards the east where the road leads to the archaeological
site. It can also access through Saq neighborhood from the main
road leading into or out of Al-Ula in the direction of Hail and
Madain Saleh. The entry is from the intersection in front of the
checkpoint on the right outside of Al-Ula walking between farms
until the site, the fence and the tombs of the ancient can be
seen from outside. Entry is from the northern gate of the site,
which consists of the following important elements:
Mahlab Al-Naqa
The local population calls it Al-Halauiah or Mahlab Al-Naqa. It
is a large stone basin cast in a rock to the center of
demolished city, where some parts of its walls and canals are
still visible. Many local people believe that Prophet Saleh’s
(peace be upon him) She-Camel filled this basin with milk, which
become a legend narrated locally and has nothing to do with the
site. The basin is the remnants of the Lehyan Temple, which is
located in the center of the town. Tourists can access it in
many ways, the easiest of which is the road running parallel to
Al-Fatah Bridge near Arac Hotel. It can be also reach from Saq
District using the agricultural road leading to the fenced site,
which can be access from the northern gate.
Al-Usoud Tombs
After entering the fenced archaeological site passing by through
the remains of Dedan City and the Stone Basin to the south,
groups of graves appear at the foot of the eastern mountain. It
is a series of facades dug inside the rocks. There are some
sculptured works on these graves. The facades of Dedan City are
less advanced and beautiful than those of these graves in Madain
Saleh.
Mount Ikmah
It is located north-west of Al-Ula on the road leading to Madain
Saleh and Sharaabah district, which named after the tribe living
beside town. Mount Akmah lies outside the fenced area in Dedan
almost 3 km. away from it. It also lies left of the way to the
Al-Atheeb farms and Qaraqir Village. The visitor can see the
location immediately after leaving Arac Hotel northwards where
they can see the wall and the fence of the site. The site is
generally not available for public visit to protect the
archeological site of the area and difficulty of access to the
site of the temple and the Lehyan writings therein. The stairs
to the temple have significantly affected by erosion. The most
prominent researchers interested in this site are Dr. Hussein
ibn Ali Abu Al-Hassan who has works and specialized studies
about the site.
Um Daraj
It is located in Saq District to the western part of Al-Ula in
the Herat Ouerud Mountain. The stairs engraved at the foot of
the mountain can be seen even the visitor stay in the car. These
stairs lead to a Lehyan temple in the mountain, but it ruined at
the time being. Visitor is not advisable to ascend the temple;
access to it is dangerous and not easy.
Hejaz Railway Train Station
This station is located inside Al-Ula in the eastern part of the
train district. It is the Hejaz railway train station in Al-Ula,
which is smaller than that of Madain Saleh. Within it includes
Ottoman post offices, wireless telecommunication office,
accommodation for the garrison, other staff and service
buildings. Some other buildings added such as the Principality
building, a Friday mosque at the beginning of the Saudi era and
it became the headquarters for the Principality of Al-Ula at
that time. It is called by the local population Al-Qasr i.e.
Emirate Palace and this name is new.
Madakhil
It is an area well known to the people and residents of Al-Ula
in general. It is famous for its beautiful mountainous
formations and its moderate climate. It has many green trees and
some wild animals visited by hunters. It is located to the
north-west of Madain Saleh and it considered as one of Al-Ula
Valley tributaries. It is mentioned in the famous Arab poet “Emro'
Al-Qais” in addition to Homel, which is located also to the
north west of Al-Ula and Madain Saleh known today as Madakhil.
Zebin ibn Moazi Al-Enazi, the author of Dictionary and History
of Villages in Al-Qura Valley asked older people from those
areas about Madakhil. He said that Homel still carries the same
name. It is a mountain famous for shooting. These places are
attractive to lovers of hunting, camping and desert. Madakhil
consists of various narrow and overlapping valleys surrounded by
high red mountains in the south and north. It terminates at
Herat Ouerud in the west that can be access only from the east.
It has many catchments for rainfall water where it retains water
for a long time, hunters and animals drink from it. The area is
densely wood with permanent green trees. It is real fun to visit
in summer, spring and autumn. Tourists invited to visit some
wonderful places that were much love by the famous ancient Arab
poets.
Al-Qitar (train) Shu’aib Nakhla
Shu’aib Nakhla Valley is located in the southeast of Al-Ula
parallel to Al-Moghira Village in the east. It is 60 kilometers
away from Al-Ula and can be access through the road of Madinah
passing through Moghira Village, turning left to Al-Ula Airport
and continue in the east road northwards until reaching the site
called Al-Qitar (train). There is water falling from the rock
caves and continues falling throughout the year except the
seasons of drought and interruption of rain. This water flows
down from the highlands located in the east of Nakhla Valley. It
is a valley’s natural extension where there is high density of
wild standing green trees in the sandy valley.
Owrosh
Owrosh is a historic old village located west of Al-Ula, which
it is almost 90 km. away on Al-Ula - Al-Wajh paved road. It can
be access via this route and entered from the direction of
Balata Village. It can be access through unpaved desert road
with a distance of 10 km. to the east, the road leading to it
cross Al-Jazel Valley. Owrosh is parallel to Therbah Village in
the east and separated by Ouerud. There is an old route for
camels and pedestrians through Herat Ouerud, linking Owrosh to
Al-Ula. Owrosh was famous in the past for its quality production
of dates, mint and tobacco, which were exported to the markets
of the Al-Ula.
There are some ancient evidence of settlements like those in
Therbah Village such as several drawings of extinct animals,
ancient inscriptions and writings. There also five-spring water
providing freshwater throughout the year and irrigating dates
farms in the village. Owrosh is rich in mountainous delicious
partridge bird.
Herat Ouerud
It is located to the west of Al-Ula. It is a 40 - 50 km. wide
and more than 200 km. long series of mountains extending from
the south of Al-Ula northwards. The visitor can watch from its
observatory overlooking Al-Ula and Madain Saleh, all landmarks
such as the Old City, monuments of Dedan Kingdom (Khuraybah),
the modern city, the monuments of Madain Saleh and the farms
that stretch across the valley. There is a paved road near Arac
Hotel westward to observatory called King Abdul Aziz Park. This
idea was from former governor of Al-Ula, Mr. Ahmad Bin Abdullah
Asudeiri.
It is recommended for the tourists to visit this place because
of its uniqueness and charm. It has vast areas of black rock
surfaces and enjoys fresh air as well as significant
bio-diversity including birds, rabbits and reindeer that
attracts hunters in specific periods. There are several ways to
go there including Shalal Village road leading to Dhaa Spring
(with its natural springs and high palm trees), through Therba
or Alberich Villages wherein visitors must have guide
specializing in the region.
Ram Valley
It is located on the eastern side of Al-Ula. It is one of the
closest natural places to Al-Ula. It can be accessed via Riyadh
Street in Aziziyah district going eastward through Prince Abdul
Majid road. This valley is a natural extension of the modern
southern districts of Al-Ula, but their urban expansion does not
reach the valley. There are at the beginning of the valley "Ram
Bottom" which is a vast area of waterproof, solid and moorland
used as a natural park for the local people and is being use for
driving lesson. In the Valley, there is diversity of green
trees, miscellaneous archaeological writings and drawings and it
is famous for wild animals.
Mount Almejder
It is located in eastern mountain of Al-Ula. It can clearly see
from Al-Ula. It is more than 300 m. high. It includes several
ancient writings and drawings in addition to some wonderful
caves, the most important of which is Katroubah Cave as known
locally. It situated to the right of the road leading to Madain
Saleh Hotel and can access easily. There is another cave in
front of the hotel that can be reach by ascending to Abu Hassien
Hill. The local people call it Christians Souk. It is a narrow
passage between two rocks in the middle of the mountain, leading
to a wide cave at its end. The surface of the mountain is even
and extends to long distances. Above the mountain, there are
monuments of stone settlements, circular buildings, and specific
routes linking the parts of the stone village for long distances
to reach the mountain overlooking the Almahash neighborhood.
Watching Al-Ula from the altitude of the mountain is a wonderful
scene. It can be access by mountaineering amateurs in many ways:
the first is from inside Madain Saleh Hotel through Abu Hassien
Hill with Al-Saila mouth, the shortest road. The other one is
through Telat Hammad in front of agricultural nursery. It is
long and arduous way. It can also be access from behind the
mountain from Almahash or Althamid in front of the Khamissiyah
neighborhood.
Jabal Al-Ward (Rose Mountain)
It is located west of Al-Ula at a distance of 120 km. It can be
access via Al Ula – Wajh Road passing by Qarm and Al-Farsh
valleys. All of them contain sites that deserve visiting.
Al-Ward is one of the most beautiful summer resorts, it is
located about 1,500 m. above sea level while the Mount peak is
over 2,000 m. Average summer temperature is 25 degrees
Centigrade and snow covers the valley during the winter. It
contains natural spring water flowing in the valley.
Shu’aib Sirar (Sirar Valley)
It is a valley located to the west of Al-Ula with nearly 120 km.
away. It can be access through Al-Ula – Al-Wajh Road before Al-Najib
Village driving through a 20 km. unpaved desert road towards the
south until the village of Jabal Al-Ward. From there, you can
return to Al-Ula through Al-Ward – Al-Ula road. Sirar Valley is
one of the most beautiful natural virgin places where many
diverse desert trees, mountain rabbits, birds, sashes and other
birds found in the valley.
Great Al-Jazel Valley
This valley is located to the West of Al-Ula with about 250 km.
long. Herat Ouerud separates it from Al-Ula. It extends from Abu
Raka and Al - Fare'ah villages northwards. It has many
tributaries and small valleys that flow in the east and west and
increase its size and force wherever it heads south until it
meets with Al-Salilah Village, Khaibar and Al-Hamd Valleys in
the south. Then it turns to the west where it reaches Yanbu
until it flows into the Red Sea. This valley considered as one
of the most beautiful natural virgin areas in the Kingdom where
multiple types of rare plants and trees grow in its waterway. It
is also home to different animals such as wild rabbits, deer and
mountain caribou in addition to the Arab tiger, which seen
during the floods that swept into the valley in 1986. The Valley
can be accessed via several ways such as Al-Ula – Al-Wajh road
or though Abu Raka, Al – Nashifah, Balata and Al-Khoshaibah or
Al-Jadida village. It is not advisable to walk or spend night in
the Valley during the rainy seasons.
North-east Um Azer
Um Azer is located to the east of Al-Ula. It is a group of
deserts and mountains extending eastward to Hail until the
borders of Jahra. It consists of rock and mountainous formations
overlapping with yellow sand dunes composing wonderful scenery
as if it is painted. This area flourishes during rainy and
spring seasons where many types of herbs and shrubs grow.
Ottoman Castles on Hejaz Railway
There are different types of Ottoman Castle on Hejaz Railway,
there is short-spaced and some castles on the railways are
similar in terms of design and use. They used as refueling
stations for locomotives of this line. It also contained all the
necessities of day-to-day living at that time such as wells,
water tanks, food and weapons depots, post offices and trunk
(wireless telephone services) connecting Madinah to Istanbul in
Turkey. Each castle had a commander assisted by a group of
aides, guards and locomotives maintenance engineers.
Al-Faqir Castle in Moghiraa
Al-Faqir Castle is located to the south of Al-Ula and to the
north of Moghira Village. It is 20 kilometers from Al-Ula and
can be access via Al Ula – Shajwa - Madinah road. Visitors can
see it on the left side heading to the south along this road. It
is a very old castle dating back to the earlier Islamic era and
it was build for the service of pilgrims and delivery of mail.
Al-Mabiat
It is located to the south of Al-Ula and to the north of Moghira
Village on the right side heading from Al-Ula to Madinah along
Al-Ula - Khaibar road. It contains remnants of an old town,
irrigation canals and walls. This site been excavated and has
not yet been exploited for tourism.
Elephant Rock
It is located 7 km. to the east of Al-Ula. It can be access via
Al Ula-Hail road. It is a huge rock containing natural vacuum in
the form of an elephant hose.
Heritage and Folklore Museum
This is a museum in Al-Ula that supervised by the Higher Tourism
Authority. It is located in the center of the city on the main
road to Al-Ula Municipality building. It contains many of the
cultural and heritage collections and rare collections of
pictures. It opens from morning until 2:30 p.m. at Saudi local
time without entrance fee. It closes on the weekends and during
public holidays in the Kingdom.
Abu Bili
Abu Bili or Al-Balawiya lies almost 17 km. to the west of Al-Ula.
It is located at the right side heading to the west on the way
to Al-Wajh. It can be access via Al-Ula – Al-Wajh paved road. It
is famous for its spring where its valleys and mountains turn
into beautiful green areas attracting people who love desert and
pristine nature.
Abu Ud (Denan)
It is located to the north-west of Al-Ula. It is a beautiful
valley surrounded by mountains on the east and west and contains
many Arab and non-Arab writings, graffiti and strange rock
formations. It is parallel to Mount Akmah from the west and can
be reach by two ways: first, from behind of Arac Hotel and the
other is through Denan Valley, southwest of Qaraqir.
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