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HEGRA: The silent city

Hegra is Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. They tell the tale of the ancient people and culture of AlUla, with the carefully carved inscriptions on many helping to piece together the puzzle of those buried within.

Jabal Ikmah: WHISPERING CANYON

Jabal Ikmah is home to over 500 inscriptions, both carved and in relief (raised), mostly dating to the Dadanite and Lihyanite Kingdoms of the 1st millennium BCE. A veritable open-air library, the hundreds of carvings that adorn the cliff faces and rocks depict the site’s rich history of pilgrimages, cultural rituals and more.

Dadan

Make your way towards the tombs that have been cut into the red rock cliff faces east of the city and see if you can spy the seated lion sculptures. It’s thought that these ferocious protectors mark the resting places of elite members of society.

The Old Town

Explore its labyrinth of tightly packed streets, hundreds of mudbrick houses, and mighty fort, and you feel a palpable sense of its history as a once-thriving settlement on ancient incense-trading routes.
One reason the Old Town evokes such a deep sense of emotion is that it was inhabited in the not-so-distant past. Built on a slight elevation, the town is also overlooked by a 45-metre-high fort, a defensive lookout dating back to around the 10th century. In the 12th century, AlUla Old Town became an essential settlement along the pilgrimage route from Damascus to Makkah. The city gradually replaced Qurh, to the south of AlUla, and is favorably mentioned by travelers from the 12th to the 20th centuries, when modern AlUla was constructed nearby.

Gharameel

There’s also Gharameel, which has dark thin pillars of stone stretching up to the sky. Dancing Rocks is so-called due to its two large pillars that appear as if they are swaying in unison, while Face Rock resembles the profile of a human head.

Elephant Rock

Elephant Rock (also known as Jabal Alfil) has captured the imagination of keen photographers the world over. As the name suggests, this red sandstone marvel is shaped like an elephant with a distinctive ‘trunk’ and ‘body’ – the result of millions of years of wind and water erosion. It’s a popular camping spot, during festivals when the structure is bathed in light and campers can take the chance to ride a horse or camel, keep warm by the firepits, and dine on delights from the pop-up eateries.

Maraya

Pause for reflection at Maraya. This award-winning, Guinness-World-Record setting architectural marvel, designed by Italian architect Gio Forma, is covered in great swathes of mirrors – 9,740sqm to be exact – that reflect the surrounding desert landscape. The cube-shaped building, with its 26-meter-high theatre, is a 550-seat concert and entertainment venue where acclaimed artists including Andrea Bocelli, Lionel Richie, and Yanni have performed.

Harrat Viewpoint

AlUla is blessed with numerous lookout points that offer an elevated view of the epic landscape. Scale the black lava stone terrain of Harrat Uwayrid, and you’ll be rewarded with views over Dadan, AlUla Old Town, AlUla Fort, and the AlUla Oasis. Stand at what feels like the edge of the world, meditate, and reconnect with nature.

Wadi AlFann


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