Mukalla

The capital of Hadhramout and one of the Yemen ports on the Arabian Sea.  It was known as Khaisa or Bandar Yakoub, and has been called Mukalla only recently.  Fishermen were the first to settle Mukalla, having immigrated from adjacent regions.  In this city, the first Princedom of Al-Kasad was established in the 8^th century A.D.  Mukalla then became the capital of the Qua’iti Sultanate in 1877, which flourished in the 18^th and 19^th centuries.  This prosperity had given this city the architectural style of coastal cities which lie on the Arabian Sea and the Red Sea such as Aqaba, Jeddah, Hodeidah, Mokha, Luhayya, and Aden.  All these cities lost their original style which may now be seen only in the old downtown of Mukalla city.  It is a style combining the features of Arabian, and southeast Asian architecture.

Mukalla Prominent Features

Ma’een Palace, which was built by Sultan Omar Bin Awadh Qu’aiti.  Mukalla Archeological Museum now occupies a part of this palace. 

  n  Ghuwaizi Fort:
Built at the entrance of the city as a guard post.

  n  Khalaf Beaches.
Ghail Bawazeer
Located about 35km to the south of Mukalla, it is a fertile spring-fed agricultural area that grows tobacco,  Date palms, henna, and coconut. From here comes Ghaili  tobacco, which is considered the finest tobacco in Yemen.  The resthouse of the Qu’aiti Sultan, now called Ghail Tourist Rest house, is open for visitors.

 Ayn Al-Houma
Located near Ghail Bawazeer, it is the source of water irrigating Ghail  farms. This rocky pit 12 meters deep and 30 meters accross is said to have been made by a meteorite.  Two canals are carved out of  this pit.  Each canal is a few feet wide.  One canal is 5km long, the other is 2km long.  The water level at Houma subsided below the level of the shorter  canal that flowed to Qara village.  Carving of the two canals in this rocky land is a great effort similar to the construction of dams, ditches, and water reservoirs in various parts of  Yemen.

Shiher
This town, 62 km east of Mukalla, was known with other names such as Sam’oun and souk.  It is more likely that the name of  souk was associated with  Shiher since it was one of the famous pre-Islamic Arab Markets such as Ukadh, Sana’a and Doumat Al Jandal.  Shiher flourished as a port immediately after the decline of Qana ancient port.  Incense was exported from this port, coming on camel back from the far east of Mahara to Shibam and then to Shiher.  And Shiher  port used to have extensive trading relations with the ports of India, Arabian Gulf, and East Africa, etc.  It became more important during the Abbasid period until it was invaded by the Portuguese in 1523.

City Wall and Castles
The city wall and castles date back to the Rasulid Dynasty, while the last wall was built during the period of the Qu’ati Sultanate.  The wall had gates.  The eastern one was called Al-Khour gate, while the northern one was called Aydarous Gate.  The wall forts, castles, gates, and Bin Ayash fort are considered as the most interesting features of Shieher city.  Shiher is also an important handicraft center producing silver and gold ornament and embroidery.

Seiyun:

The major city in Hadhramout, 320 km away from Mukalla and the administrative capital of the wadi.  It had flourished as a capital for the wadi in the 15^th century AD.  This city is mentioned in the old Musnad  inscriptions.  Classical Historians state that it was a major city for the dynasties of Hadhramout, Hemyar, and Kandah. Seiyun  is an attractive city with houses built with straw-re-inforced clay bricks  mostly consisting of 3-4 floors.  It is surrounded by mountains and palm trees.  Most prominent features of this city are the old mosques and the Sultan’s Palace.

Sultan Al Katheri Palace
Originally, it was a fort, then after many modifications, it became the official residence for Sultan Al Katheri.  The palace dates back in its present state to the late 20s of this century. It consists of f16 buildings.  34 meters high and 90 rooms.  Part of it is used now as archaeological museum of traditions and customs as well as public library.

Market

Artisans display their wares in this traditional market.

Tomb of Ahmed Bin Eisa the Emigrant:

(A Benevolent Saint)
This tomb represents a touristic feature that is distinct with a particular architectural style.  It is located in a high ground at the side of the mountain.  The architectural style of the Mosque in its Zigzag form, and the white coat, all add to the beauty of the area.  The tomb dates back to the 10^th century AD and is 10 km to the east Seiyun.

 Tareem City (known as Al-Ghanaa)

Situated at the left bank of Hadhramout 35 km to the northeast of  Seiyun with a paved road connecting the two cities.  It was, in ancient times, a seat for Kenda Kings, then capital for Wadi Hadhramout before Seiyun.  It was also a brilliant Islamic intellectual center like Zabeed, Dhamar, Saada, and  Jibla.  Al Ahqaf  library of  Tareem is the second  largest library in Yemen, containing more than 5000 manuscripts.  Many of Hadhramout citizens emigrated to different parts of the world,  especially East Africa and the subcontinent in the early 13^th century AD.  Among them were scholars, missionaries scientists, and tradesmen, who spread Islam in those parts. They are still attached to their homeland.  It was the custom of immigrants, after returning  home, to build a mosque in gratitude to Allah for their return, and then a house showing the wealth they brought back.  Therefore lofty houses were built along with palaces, and a new architectural style was developed combining the styles of east Asia and India with those of the local architecture.  This can be seen on the facades of Tareem’s beautiful houses and palaces surrounded by palm trees.  The most prominent forts and castles are:

   n  Najeer Fort, which is located 6 km to the east of Tareem and Al-Arr Fort 15 km to the east of Tareem

  n  - Mohdhar Mosque and Minaret, dating back to 1915, stands 125 ft high

 Aynat

A beautiful village 8 km to the east of  Tareem dating back to the 16^th century.  The famous 7 domes in Aynat display a unique style of architecture and many of the houses are beautifully built.

 Tomb of Prophet Houd:

Hadramout is one of the centers of Monothiastic religion. Many prophets and messengers of God are buried there.  Among the most important tombs are those Prophet of  Saleh (Jonas), the alter of Prophet Handalah Bin Safwan (The Prophet of the people of Rus) as mentioned in the holy Qur’an and  Phorphet Houd’s Tomb (Jude), the most important religious site.  It is located on a small hill 70 km east of Tareem.  The Dome housing the tomb was built in its current state in 1673 AD.  This dome is called at An-Naqa (the female camel).  A windy Cobblestone path, white washed as the dome, leads the nearby village down the hill.  Prophet Houd’s tomb has been a pilgrims destination since the pre-Islamic era.  A souq is held near the Shrine during  pilgrimage season.

 Barhout Well

A 300 ft high cave located 10 km to the south of the Tomb of Prophet Houd.  Many narratives and myths have been related about this cave since the pre-Islamic period.

 Seasonal Religious Visits

There are tombs of  many famous saints located in different areas Hadhramout.   Such saints have a great spiritual place in the hearts of the people, expressed through their collective annual visits accompanied with prayers and religious songs.  Seasonal markets are held and featured with aspects of joy, pleasure, and delight.  The most well known of these visits are:

 n  Visit of Alssit in the two villages of Sha’ab Al-Nour and Alwasit to the north ofAl-Shiher, starting on 12-19 of Muharram every Hejira year.
n  Al-Houl visit: This is held around the Tomb of the Ethiopian Scholar  on 17-20 of Rabie Al-Thani every A.H. year.
n  - Visit to Mashhad: Mashahad is the Shirine of Ali Bin Hasan Al-Attas, and is visited on 12^th Rabie Awal every A.H. year.

      Shibam
It is called Ad-Dumna  or Safra’a, and is located in the middle of Hadhramout at the narrowest point on a hill 30m higher than the wadi level.  Shibam is 19 km from Seiyun at the paved road leading to Mukalla.  Shibam was built on the ruins of  an ancient city of  Hadhramout.  The natives of  Old Shabwa settled in Shibam after the destruction of their city.  There is similarity between the two names.  The city had been the most important market in Hadhramout and a significant administrative center for many centuries up to the 16 century AD.  It had been destroyed by floods several times.  Most recently in 1352.

Shibam looks from a distance like an imposing castle with its lofty houses of which some are 8 floors high forming close blocks separated by lanes and squares.  There are about 500 houses built of straw reinforced mud bricks, the houses are almost equal in height. Some women of the city visit their neighbors across sky walks from one rooftop to another in houses in order to save time and effort. Some houses date back to hundreds of years.  The city has one gate, which was last maintained in 1909.

 The city was visited by pioneering European travellers who called  it “Manhattan of the desert”. 

 UNESCO placed Shibam on its “Human Heritage” list and, in 1984, announced an international Campaign for its protection. Shibam is the most beautiful Yemeni city next to the old town of Sana’a. The great Mosque, built in the era of the Abbasid caliph Haroun Al_Rasheed early 10^th century AD, and the city wall dating back to the beginning of 17^th century AD are considered the most important sites of Shibam-Hadhramout city.

Al-Qutn city

The second biggest  city in Hadhramout next.  It was starting point for  Qu’aiti sultan In his fights against Al Katheri sultanate during the struggle between the two powers for control over the wadi.  The struggle went on until the end of the first  half of this century.  Al-Qutn is a beautiful city with houses built of straw-mixed mud  brick that dominates the towns and villages of Hadhdramout.  Most prominent feature is the Qu’ati fort.

The city holds a seasonal trading market that coincides with Al-Haddar tomb pilgrimage starting on 15^th Jumada Al-Thani for one week every Hejira Year.

 Rayboun

This is an import archaeological site in  Wadi Hadhramout located at the north entrance of Wadi Dawa’n, 94 km from Seiyun.  Rayboun dates back to the beginning of the first millennium BC.  Archeological explorations conducted in this site unearthed relics of old temples, ruins of an ancient city, and an old irrigation system considered to be a good example of flood drainage system in Hadhramout.  Some important artifacts were discovered and are displayed now in Seiyun Archeological Museum.

 Wadi Dau’an

There are several branch wadis in Hadhramout such as wadi Dau’an, Al Ayn wadi , and Amad.  Dau’an is considered to be the most important and famous of all as there are many attractive villages along both banks of the wadi, which are considered as examples of architecture in Yemen.  Dau’an is known for the production of the widely reputed Dau’an honey, being the most expensive in the world.  Among these villages are:

Al Hajrayn means city in old Yemen language, and Al-Hajrayn is one of the most beautiful Yemeni villages and the most beautiful village in Hadhramout.  It is situated at the corner of one of the bends of the wadi and is divided into two adjacent parts on both sides of the bend.  It is the oldest village in Wadi  Hadhramout over-looking a  groves of palm trees.