Al `Ula Favorites

Favorite thing: As we mentioned earlier, AL-Ola has a special historical status because of its many antiquities, which reflect the high standards of constructional ability attained by its ancient inhabitants.

In the old section of AL-Ola, known as AL-Dirah, is the Rock Mosque, where the Prophet Mohammed, (peace be upon him), prayed when he passed through AL-Ola. At the center of AL-Dirah is a high mountain, on top of which are the remains of the ancient Umm-Nasser castle.

In AL-Hijr, there is a railway station for pilgrims, the second such station on the old Hejaz railway line after Damascus. There is also the Haj Castle, and a water wheel which was used to lift water from a deep well into a large water pond located behind it. The site is full of inscriptions and writings.

Five kilometers to the north-east of AL-Ola is AL-Khreibah, which extends from the AL-Mu'tadil wadi in the north to the AL-Hammad castle in the south. Here again, there are many inscriptions and writings. The area is believed to have been hit by a severe earthquake, as many of its historical monuments are buried and are only now being unearthed.

There is also the site of Mahlab-AL-Naqah, or the milking of the bowl of the she-camel of the Prophet Saleh. This consists of cylindrical tank three meters in diameter and three meters deep.

The area also has graves and houses carved into the rock, in the same way as at Madain Saleh, near AL-Ola. Archaeological researchers have positively identified these as Lehianitic antiquities. The city also contains many ruins, walls and forts dating back to the Great Islamic States, in particular the Abbasid Dynasty.