by George Pontino Jr.
NOTE: with video trailer within the texts
Along a highway, there's even a house with gates open for weary travelers who can drop by, drink coffee or eat some food to rejuvenate...all for free. And the great thing? It's open 24 hours. Indeed, the cultural heritage combined with the ways of generosity and hospitality of the people of Ha'il impressed us specially we experience it first-hand. In a very brief stay, we gained a lot of friends who told us that we are always welcome to go back.
Ha'il is also home to many great sites from late stone age to 12th/14th century to the modern era that helped shape Ha'il as a city and a tourist destination.
And for the destinations, the Ha'il tourism head Khalid Al Saif gave us some tips and location maps via Whatapp on what places we should visit during our short stay. In Jubbah, for instance, through Mr. Al Saif's efforts, we were welcomed there by a staff from Saudi Commission of Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH) and we were able to tour the site with ease.
So, I'll share some of these places for you:
These ancient volcanoes will overpower you literary with its captivating beauty of a landscape. One of the most accessible orifices is called Harrat Hutaymat. An access road will lead you to its mouth where a cliff-like natural edifice will tell you to stop and continue by foot. Harrat Hutaymat is an extinct volcano with a mouth which approximately 1 kilometer in length. So, if you go down farther you'll still be safe as lava explosions from these volcanoes were long gone hence the word "extinct".
2. A'Arif Fort
In the heart of the city of Ha'il lies a scenic restored fortress atop a mountain. Called A'Arif Fort, this walled landmark was built in the beginning of the 17th century. Built with mud and clay, the rectangular-shaped citadel is 40 meters long and 11 meters wide and occupies an area of about 440 square meters. It had openings and watchtowers to be used by soldiers to sight any approaching hostile elements. It also had prayer places, toilets, warehouses and other facilities that enabled citizens to stay for long periods.
Built on a mountain peak, the fortress could be seen from anywhere in Hail. (Note: the fort is closed to the public during Fridays).
3. Al Samraa Park
This park features a handful or activities for families. It has a lagoon with a boat ride, cozy restaurants with beautiful lighting at night, carnival rides, themed-pool, and a mountain that has good vantage point of the city. Samraa is an Arabic word which means dark. The mountain that overlooks the park has even a tale about a dark-skinned woman hence its name because the mountain is made of dark lava rocks. Entrance free for a day is 20 sar.
4. Jubbah Art Graffiti Heritage Site
Human occupation in Ha'il dates back during Prehistoric times and in Jubba, a sleepy frontier town 100km northwest of Ha'il province, are art carvings of animals and stone age life . Between 9000-6000 years ago this desert landscape was a lush savanna grasslands which supported cattle. Archeologists have found evidence of four major periods of settlement at Jubbah stretching back through the Middle Paleolithic period, 80,000 to 25,000 years ago. The rock art around Jubba at Jebel Um Sanaman covers some 39 sq km. Here can be found remarkable carvings depicting long-horned buffalo, domesticated dogs, camels, horses and human figures dating back 7,000 years.
5. Agricultural Farms within the Desert
The farms in H'ail are wonders in themselves. Situated in Nafud desert, farmers were able to convert desert lands into productive agricultural area where they get to produce veggies and fruits. Most of this agricultural farms are also rest houses by their owners. Some get to build pools and living rooms that's even better than hotels. Situated in the northwestern of Arabia, Ha'il has a climate that's so friendly to plants and fruits. That's why dates and olive farms are abundant in the area.
6. Traditional Mudhouses
Mudhouses can still be found within Ha'il city. Thanks to its owners, who are now living in big modern homes, they still wanted to save their heritage homes where they left some unforgettable memories. Though most of these houses are already abandoned, the ruins are still full of interesting facades which conveys hidden tales. If you get to know one of the mudhouses owners, they will surely welcome you and tour you around. Like our newfound-friend Mr. Rasheed Al Oligy, he proudly showed his bedroom during his childhood days in one of the mudhouses. He also showed us how they collect water through a well just beside the homes.
Location Map
Aarif Fort
NOTE: with video trailer within the texts
Ha'il, a province of Saudi Arabia in the Northwest part, is home to the legendary man named Hatim Al Taaey, a poet who lived in the sixth century CE. He is so well-known in the Middle East and to the Indian Subcontinent that even today, Arabs regard him as the most generous man ever lived. Hatim's extreme generosity and hospitality were well-recorded in the Islamic Hadith and in the classic book Arabian Nights. Today his life is also portrayed in various languages in films, books, TV series and if you ask an Arab about him, you'll surely get a nod for an answer.
The Blue Thobe with Mr. Rasheed Al Oligy
Last September 24, 2018, We, the Blue Thobe travel group, consisted of four Filipinos (including me), decided to explore Ha'il. Amazingly, a stream of generosity and hospitality came to meet us. We only heard, at first, that the people of Ha'il are well-regarded as very hospitable but when a series of events unfolded during our trip, we were so stoked to see that what we've heard are so real and we were experiencing it first hand. Unplanned, we were accompanied to our travels then we were welcomed in their homes and private farms, ate with them and get to relax as if it's like our home, too. In our two-day stay in Ha'il here are some of the 6 places we visit and we highly recommend it:
(Note: Watch the YouTube video trailer here below and find location maps for some of the places I will mention.)
WATCH
HA'IL in 1 Minute Video Trailer
HA'IL in 1 Minute Video Trailer
(SUBSCRIBE TO MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL)
Along a highway, there's even a house with gates open for weary travelers who can drop by, drink coffee or eat some food to rejuvenate...all for free. And the great thing? It's open 24 hours. Indeed, the cultural heritage combined with the ways of generosity and hospitality of the people of Ha'il impressed us specially we experience it first-hand. In a very brief stay, we gained a lot of friends who told us that we are always welcome to go back.
AlSamraa Park with AlSamraa Mountain at the background)
And for the destinations, the Ha'il tourism head Khalid Al Saif gave us some tips and location maps via Whatapp on what places we should visit during our short stay. In Jubbah, for instance, through Mr. Al Saif's efforts, we were welcomed there by a staff from Saudi Commission of Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH) and we were able to tour the site with ease.
So, I'll share some of these places for you:
Epic drone shot of our travel to one of the many extinct volcano orifices in Ha'il region
1. Extinct Volcanic OrificesThese ancient volcanoes will overpower you literary with its captivating beauty of a landscape. One of the most accessible orifices is called Harrat Hutaymat. An access road will lead you to its mouth where a cliff-like natural edifice will tell you to stop and continue by foot. Harrat Hutaymat is an extinct volcano with a mouth which approximately 1 kilometer in length. So, if you go down farther you'll still be safe as lava explosions from these volcanoes were long gone hence the word "extinct".
Restored Aarif Fort nestled in a rock mountain in the middle of Hail City
2. A'Arif Fort
In the heart of the city of Ha'il lies a scenic restored fortress atop a mountain. Called A'Arif Fort, this walled landmark was built in the beginning of the 17th century. Built with mud and clay, the rectangular-shaped citadel is 40 meters long and 11 meters wide and occupies an area of about 440 square meters. It had openings and watchtowers to be used by soldiers to sight any approaching hostile elements. It also had prayer places, toilets, warehouses and other facilities that enabled citizens to stay for long periods.
Built on a mountain peak, the fortress could be seen from anywhere in Hail. (Note: the fort is closed to the public during Fridays).
Beautiful night lights at AlSamraa Park
This park features a handful or activities for families. It has a lagoon with a boat ride, cozy restaurants with beautiful lighting at night, carnival rides, themed-pool, and a mountain that has good vantage point of the city. Samraa is an Arabic word which means dark. The mountain that overlooks the park has even a tale about a dark-skinned woman hence its name because the mountain is made of dark lava rocks. Entrance free for a day is 20 sar.
Those are Prehistoric Ancient Rock you're seeing in the photos. With us are Mr. Rasheed Al Oligy and SCTH (Ha'il Branch) officer Mr. Al Shammary n
4. Jubbah Art Graffiti Heritage Site
Human occupation in Ha'il dates back during Prehistoric times and in Jubba, a sleepy frontier town 100km northwest of Ha'il province, are art carvings of animals and stone age life . Between 9000-6000 years ago this desert landscape was a lush savanna grasslands which supported cattle. Archeologists have found evidence of four major periods of settlement at Jubbah stretching back through the Middle Paleolithic period, 80,000 to 25,000 years ago. The rock art around Jubba at Jebel Um Sanaman covers some 39 sq km. Here can be found remarkable carvings depicting long-horned buffalo, domesticated dogs, camels, horses and human figures dating back 7,000 years.
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Farmland in the middle of Nafud desert
The farms in H'ail are wonders in themselves. Situated in Nafud desert, farmers were able to convert desert lands into productive agricultural area where they get to produce veggies and fruits. Most of this agricultural farms are also rest houses by their owners. Some get to build pools and living rooms that's even better than hotels. Situated in the northwestern of Arabia, Ha'il has a climate that's so friendly to plants and fruits. That's why dates and olive farms are abundant in the area.
Mr. Rasheed shows his room during his childhood days. The ruins lies abandoned.
6. Traditional Mudhouses
Mudhouses can still be found within Ha'il city. Thanks to its owners, who are now living in big modern homes, they still wanted to save their heritage homes where they left some unforgettable memories. Though most of these houses are already abandoned, the ruins are still full of interesting facades which conveys hidden tales. If you get to know one of the mudhouses owners, they will surely welcome you and tour you around. Like our newfound-friend Mr. Rasheed Al Oligy, he proudly showed his bedroom during his childhood days in one of the mudhouses. He also showed us how they collect water through a well just beside the homes.
Location Map
Aarif Fort
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