Omdurman Things to Do

This is one of the earliest buildings made after Independence in 1956.
It is made of brick, and its clock tower was once a distinguishing mark .
On the side of the main building was a huge crocodile shot in the 1960s, but it has now decayed and an advertising slogan has replaced it- a sign of the times!
At one time the wreck s of cars involved in horrendous accidents would be on show outside as warnings to drivers.

4 more images

This modern mosque [1980s] was built from the design of a student at the Faculty of Architecture.Its aluminium dome was produced from aluminium from the smelter at Invergordon in Scotland, near from where I come from.
The mosque lies almost at the junction of the Blue and White Nile.The complex also contains libraries, teaching centres and administration buildings.
The dome is unusual, and inside are fine mosaics, though , as a woman, I haven't been inside to see.However I have been inside the grounds to have a closer look from the back.

2 more images

Beside the Nile in Omdurman near what was the gate to Omdurman, can be seen the mud-brick fortifications where the Mahdi's troops fired on the British steamers coming down the Nile from Egypt with messages and supplies for the British forces. These are one of the few historic remains still to be seen dating to the Mahdist era.

Unfortunately quality of pictures not the best as taken from moving car.
Update: As of Sept. 2008 I find the fortifications enclosed by railings and a new Night Family Park being constructed along side!

In the Khalifa's house museum is a painting showing what the fortifications would have been like when in use.

1 more image

Tje Nilain mosque is situated near the Nile just after the confluence of the Blue Nile and the White Nile. It has an unusual dome. There are several outbuildings.
Inside there is a wonderful view of the Nile and Omdurman bridge from the many windows inside the mosque.

4 more images

The house of Um Kalthoum is a later addition to the Khalifa's house. The water came from a well inside the house and an aqueduct was ingeniously built to allow the water to be fed to the tank by gravity. It was lifted up to the boiler , and thence to the simple Turkish style bathtub. Water would have been carried up the outside stairs and poured down by servants into the tank. The taps of both the bath and sink are ‘gold’ in colour. the roof of the bathroom is dome-shaped with holes cut out to enable light to enter.
Next to the bath room itself is a raised slab where massage would have been done.
There were later additions to the original building which was re-used by the British District Commissioner 1899-1921.

4 more images

Among the items belonging to the Khalifa are:
clothes which seem very thick and heavy for the climate of Sudan today, but maybe it was protective.
His desk and stick, his bed made from Indian wood, drum and large gudda [ a wooden bowl for serving food from There are also brass ewers and other metal containers.,

4 more images

Inside the entrance are some of the first wheeled vehicles to be used in the Sudan. They are made of wood. There are two horse drawn carriages and a third, a Victoria, which arrived from Cairo via the Darab el Arbain [the 40 day way] sent to Sultan Hussein of Darfur. It was found by Zubair Pasha at El Fasher. Later Ismail Ayoub, governor of Sudan [1875-1877] sent it to Khartoum. It was never used.
The first motorised vehicle was the car belonging to Gen Wingate. it was made in Scotland.

4 more images

The house was built by Hamed AbdelNur under guidance from an Italian named Pietro. The main building was constructed 1887-8. The double storey house was built in 1891. Opposite is the Mahdi’s tomb built 1886-87.
Of the old city wall built to enclose the dwellings of the Melazzmin ,nothing remains but the southern gate..

The courtyard entrance was built of large stones originally from Khartoum. The hand-puddled bricks came from the Christian church at Soba East..

The house of Um Kalthoum is a later edition. The water came from a well inside the house and an aqueduct was ingeniously built to allow the water to be fed to the tank by gravity. It was lifted up to the boiler with a furnace, and thence to the simple Turkish style bathtub. Water would have been carried up the outside stairs and poured down by servants into the tank. The taps of both the bath and sink are ‘gold’.
There were later additions to the original building which was re-used by the British district Commissioner 1899-1921.

The boiler for heating the water, and a channel for taking the waste water from the house to a well can be seem.
A huge pair of millstones and the wooden post are also there.

A visit is highly recommended and would not take more than an hour or two to see.

The house itself is interesting as there is an enormous bath for which servants carried buckets of hot water . There is the first automobile used in the Sudan; a large angareb [bed] on which all the pupils of a khalwa slept- reminiscent of the Great bed of Ware in the UK.
There are letters sent by General Gordon to his sisters, as well as lots of other memorabilia.

It is open mornings until about 1pm except Fridays.
Price of ticket 100SD