Mada'in Salih Travel Guide

  Tomb Nº111 & its separate outcrop, Jan...
by MM212
 
  • Tomb Nº111 & its separate outcrop, Jan 2011
      Tomb Nº111 & its separate outcrop, Jan...
    by MM212
  • A few eroded tombs...
      A few eroded tombs...
    by MM212
  • Tomb Nº120 (121 on right), Jan 2011
      Tomb Nº120 (121 on right), Jan 2011
    by MM212
  •   Mada'in Salih
    by MM212
  • Tombs Nº112 & 113, Hegra, Hijaz (Jan 2011)
      Tombs Nº112 & 113, Hegra, Hijaz (Jan...
    by MM212
 

Pro

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  A once in a lifetime trip 


Con

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  no residence 


In a nutshell

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  This is the place to visit in Saudi Arabia 

 

Explore Mada'in Salih

Things to Do  

Jebel Khraymat: Tombs Nº87, Nº88 & Nº89

Jebel Khraymat: Tombs Nº87, Nº88 & Nº89, Mada'in Salih

 MM212 Says:  Far less grand than the tombs on the opposite side, façades numbers 87, 88 and 89 were carved in the simple "Single Row of Merlons" style. Despite their small size and simple style, Nº87 and Nº89 actually come with inscriptions, the only two in this area. Below is a summary... 

Jebel Ithlib: Niches of the Siq

Jebel Ithlib: Niches of the Siq, Mada'in Salih

 MM212 Says:  Several cult niches framed by aedicules are carved into the walls of the Siq. They are similar to those found in the Siq of Petra, but smaller in scale, and once contained statues of deities. In some cases, sculptures carved into the rock are still visible, such as the eagle... 

Area "D": Tomb Nº111

Area "D": Tomb Nº111, Mada'in Salih

 MM212 Says:  Located south of Jebel al-Ahmar, Tomb Nº111 is the only one carved in this large rock outcrop. It is elevated from the ground and was designed in a style named by archaeologists as "Proto-Hegra 1", which consists of symmetrical half-merlons above an Egyptian-style cornice... 

As-Saneh Group: Tombs Nº103 - Nº106

As-Saneh Group: Tombs Nº103 - Nº106, Mada'in Salih

 MM212 Says:  The rest of as-Saneh group of tombs, numbered 103 to 106, are simple tombs with no ornamentation. They were carved around a small rock outcrop separate from that of the tomb of Qasr al-Saneh, the elaborate façade carved on its own rock outcrop further to the west (the... 

Restricted Archaeological Area

Restricted Archaeological Area, Mada'in Salih

 MM212 Says:  There are two fenced off areas at the centre of Mada'in Saleh, restricted for archaeological excavation. The town of Hegra, where the Nabataean inhabitants lived lies in these areas, but only small sections of it have been excavated. The many finds were swiftly transported... 

Hijaz Railway Station

Hijaz Railway Station, Mada'in Salih

 MM212 Says:  One of numerous stops along the defunct Hijaz Railway, the Mada'in Saleh Station lies within the archaeological site. The railway was laid out in 1900 under the Ottoman Empire to link Constantinople and Damascus with Medina, thus significantly cutting pilgrims' travel time... 

Jebel Ithlib: the Siq

Jebel Ithlib: the Siq, Mada'in Salih

 MM212 Says:  Also known as the Siq, this natural crevice is reminiscent of that of Petra, albeit much smaller in scale and only 40 metres in length. There is no comparison, however, as here in Hegra it is not the entrance to the city, nor is it as deep and monumental. However, the... 

al-Bint Group: Qasr al-Bint

al-Bint Group: Qasr al-Bint, Mada'in Salih

 MM212 Says:  Like Petra, Hegra has its very own Qasr al-Bint (Palace of the Daughter or Maiden). Whereas in Petra it is a free-standing temple, here in it is a grand tomb façade (Nº17), which gave its name to the surrounding cluster of tombs. It is the largest finished façade in the... 

Jebel al-Ahmar: Tombs Nº122 - Nº129

Jebel al-Ahmar: Tombs Nº122 - Nº129, Mada'in Salih

 MM212 Says:  This group of tombs is carved on the north-western and western side of Jebel al-Ahmar. They are relatively small and most are badly eroded. Tombs Nº127 and Nº128 carry Nabataean inscriptions on their façades, which are summarised below:– Nº127 is a short inscription stating... 

Jebel al-Ahmar: Tombs Nº114, 115 & 116

Jebel al-Ahmar: Tombs Nº114, 115 & 116, Mada'in Salih

 MM212 Says:  These three tombs occupy the south-eastern side of Jebel al-Ahmar (Area "C"). Nº116 is a simple burial chamber without a monumental façade. The other two come with medium-sized façades; Nº114 follows the "Double Row of Merlons" style, while Nº115 was carved in the "Half... 

Jebel al-Ahmar: Tombs Nº117 & Nº118

Jebel al-Ahmar: Tombs Nº117 & Nº118, Mada'in Salih

 MM212 Says:  These two adjacent tombs of different sizes, Nº117 & Nº118, were carved on the eastern side of Jebel al-Ahmar. According to the inscription on the façade of Nº117, it was carved in 61 AD, i.e. the 21st year of the reign of King Malichus II. It is a small tomb, measuring... 

Jebel Khraymat: Fenced Off Tomb

Jebel Khraymat: Fenced Off Tomb, Mada'in Salih

 MM212 Says:  This badly damaged façade is the only tomb in this small rock outcrop. Along with a large swathe of land around it, the tomb lies in a restricted fenced off area for archaeological exploration. It is said that this is the only tomb in Hegra where human remains have been... 

As-Saneh Group: Qasr as-Saneh

As-Saneh Group: Qasr as-Saneh, Mada'in Salih

 MM212 Says:  Located at the southern end of the archaeological site, Qasr as-Saneh gave its name to the group of seven tombs in this area. Its name means the "Smith's Palace" and it is one of the first tombs encountered upon entering Hegra. It is similar to the famous Qasr al-Farid in... 

Jebel Khraymat: Tombs Nº82 - Nº86

Jebel Khraymat: Tombs Nº82 - Nº86, Mada'in Salih

 MM212 Says:  This group in Area "E" of Jebel Khraymat includes four mid-sized, well-preserved monumental façades (the fifth is an incomplete work). All are 'silent' tombs with no inscription, and three were designed the "Proto-Hegra 1" style, while one follows the "Single Row of Merlons"... 

Jebel Khraymat: Tomb Nº101

Jebel Khraymat: Tomb Nº101, Mada'in Salih

 MM212 Says:  An unfinished façade, Tomb Nº101 would have been the largest in the Jebel Khraymat area. Only the upper part of the façade, consisting of the two half-merlon crown and the Egyptian-style cornice, was completed. Unusually, though, the tomb's entrance and interior were carved,... 

Jebel Khraymat: Tombs Nº73-Nº76

Jebel Khraymat: Tombs Nº73-Nº76, Mada'in Salih

 MM212 Says:  The four tombs Nº73 to Nº76 come with medium-sized façades carved on an L-shaped cliff. Only Nº73 has an inscription which states that the tomb was carved for Shabbu ibn Muqim, his wife Nubaiqa, and their descendants, plus another woman, Tilm bint Mali. The inscription dates... 

Transportation  

Getting to Mada'in Saleh

Getting to Mada'in Saleh, Mada'in Salih

 MM212 Says:  The nearest town to the archaeological site of Mada'in Saleh is al-Ula, situated 20 minutes away. It is a town equipped with hotels, restaurants and other amenities necessary for a road traveller, but unfortunately no commercial airport. Thus, a long drive is necessary to... 

Local Customs  

Cities of Saleh

Cities of Saleh, Mada'in Salih

 MM212 Says:  Although Hegra in Arabic is "al-Hijr", the archaeological site itself is known in modern times as Mada'in Saleh, i.e. "Cities of Saleh." This naturally begs the question: who is Saleh and what "cities" are these? Saleh is a pre-Islamic Koranic prophet who was sent by God to... 

What to Pack  

Things to bring to Mada'in Saleh

Things to bring to Mada'in Saleh, Mada'in Salih

 MM212 Says:   A hat & sunglasses, especially from April to October.Warm clothing for the morning hours in winter as it gets quite cold at night.Comfortable walking or hiking shoes. Sunblock! A camera with a good zoom lens could be handy. Plenty of drinking water, especially in the... 

Favorites  

Before you go...

Before you go..., Mada'in Salih

 MM212 Says:  Before you go to Mada'in Saleh, some advance planning will be necessary. First, admission into the country itself is difficult. Tourist visas are limited to tour groups organised by officially designated tour operators who typically have a government approved itinerary and... 

The Place

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The People

 
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 Tomb Nº18 is the only 'silent' one, i.e., with no inscription, among the series of grand tombs in al-Bint Group (Area "B"). The tomb's fairly large façade is... 

 

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Top Mada'in Salih Writers

1

The Historical Madain Salih

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  Madain Saleh is one of the best archelogical sites which you can find in Saudi Arabia. This place boasts a 131 nabatean tombs which was intricately carved dated back between the period of Second... 

2

MADA'IN SALEH

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 If you can only visit one place in Saudi Arabia, make it Madain Saleh, which rises up from the sands in a landscape of rare beauty. Madain Saleh is home to 131 tombs, 45 of which carry inscriptions in... 

3

When They Carved their Tombs into Mountains...

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 Mada'in Salih is a must-see sightseeing in Saudi Arabia particularly and in the Middle East in general. It used to be an active town where pilgrims used to pass by and have a short stop to continue...... 

4

Mada'in Salih

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 When we went we were with just two more familes. The guide was fantastic and all the kids American,Spanish and English had a great time and learnt loads ! 

5

Madain Saleh

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 I've got some interesting experiences in Mada'in Salih. I'd love to share with you the 4 tips I've written, the 13 photos uploaded, and 0 travelogues I've created. 

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