A traveller's reflection: 2017 Umrah: Makkah/Ta’if

My Travel Journal

"There isn't much I haven't shared with you along the road and through it all there'd always be tomorrow's episode" - Elton John

I started traveling around the world since early 80s when I had the opportunity to combine business trips with vacations. Then later when my rezeki is in abundance, there were numerous other trips along the way for vacations, most of the time with hubby and the kids when the timing is right. I have also started to compile the journal and photo-pages covering almost more than 45 years of world wide travel. Some destinations I visited just once, others many times. Many of those places are the obvious famous places people would like to visit but some, the casual traveler doesn't even think to try. I have placed links to my travel at the side bar of my personal page, My Life Reflections, and will be updating them from time to time.

My wish is to continue my travel and complete circumnavigate the globe, insyaAllah…

Friday 17 March 2017

2017 Umrah: Makkah/Ta’if

“Be not afraid of life. Believe that life is worth living, and your belief will help create the fact...” - William James

(Masjid Abdullah Ibnu Abbas in Ta'if)

Day 07:

17 March 2017 - Friday
Hilton Suites, Makkah

This morning, by 3:30 am we were already at the lobby of Hotel Saraya Iman. Our group of 16 was going for a day tour in Ta’if for SR150 per person. Ta’if is 120 km from Makkah. Ta'if is a city in Makkah Province at an elevation of 1,879 m on the slopes of Sarawat Mountains. It has a population of 1.2 million people and is the unofficial summer capital. The city is the center of an agricultural area known for its grapes, pomegranate, figs, roses and honey.

(A picnic by the roadside)

(Roti and dhal curry for breakfast)

We stopped for Fajar prayers at a mosque on the way. After prayers the driver bought bread and dhal curry and we picnicked by the roadside and had our breakfast at al-Hada.

We later visited the scenic area by the cable car station. Al Hada Mountain is a large nature reserve. Al Hada means tranquility and it is also a good location to catch the sunset over the mountains.

(Cable car station at al-Hada)

(Cable car Station next to Ramada Hotel)

(A 30-minute ride for a distance of 9 km)

(A winding road through the mountainous terrain)

Ta'if is also known as City of Roses. The rose gardens and factories are mostly located in the cooler Al-Hada, Al-Shafa, Al-Dahia, and Al-Ghadeerain areas. Together, they produce around 233 million roses and comprise 34 factories for the plantation of roses and production of 19,000 bottles of rose essence.

(One of the famous Rose perfume factory)

(Watching video on the process of perfumery)

(A garden of strong scented Ta'if roses)

(The distillers to extract Rose Water)

Later we visited the famous three historical mosques, Masjid Qantara, Masjid Siku and Masjid Addas. We also visited Masjid Abdullah Ibnu Abbas and his maqam.

(Masjid al-Qantara with its unique minaret)

(A humble prayer hall)

Masjid Al Madhoon is an ancient mosque also known as Masjid Al Qantara. It is famous for its azan minaret which looks like a cylinder and ends with a spherical peak. The Masjid was built of stone and gypsum it is rectangular in shape and has an inclined ceiling. This Masjid probably dates back to the end of the Ottoman Empire.

(Masjid Al-Kou or Masjid Siku)

(A small prayer area of Masjid Siku)

(The rock where Rasulullah rested his elbow)

Masjid Al Kou or Masjid siku is thought to be built on the approximate spot where Rasulullah stood and rested his elbow to leave a mark on a rock when he first came to Ta’if. This Masjid was built by the end of the Ottoman era and has been recently renovated.

(Minaret of Masjid Addas)

(The prayer hall of Masjid Addas)

(Fruits gardens around Masjid Addas)

Masjid Addas is the place where Rasulullah rested after being assaulted by the crowd. Addas, a slave of Utbah bin Rabea brought grapes for the Prophet at his master's command.

(Masjid Abdullah Ibnu Abbas)

(The cemetery next to Masjid Ibnu Abbas)

Masjid Ibnu Abbas houses the tomb of Abdullah bin Abbas, the paternal cousin of Rasullullah. He is revered by Muslims for his knowledge and was an expert in Tafsir, as well as an authority on the Islamic Sunnah.

(The fruits and vegetables souk)

(Varieties of local fruits)

After visiting the four famous mosques, we bought fruits from the fruit stalls selling varieties of fruits. Later we went to the top most point of Jabal Dakkar for a scenic view of Ta’if and surrounding areas.

(Bikers riding the mountainous road of Ta'if)

(Sheep rearing on the mountain)

(The panoramic view from the top of Mt Dakkar)

(High altitude of Mt Dakkar)

(The naughty baboons of Ta'if)

We performed our Friday prayers at a mosque in al-Hada. We descended the hilly road and stopped at Qarnil Manazil as some jemaah wanted to miqat for their Umrah.