VALLEY  HADRAMOUT

( Wadi(valley)

 Valley Hadramout

Adjacent to the famous Ar-Rub Al-Khali (Empty Quarter) desert the rocky mountains that feature a beautiful natural scenery, there lies the fertile Wadi Hadramout, an oasis that was the cradle of different civilizations of the “Yemen felix” thousand of years ago .

Hadramout .

In ancient history, Wadi Hadramout, was known as wadi  Al-Ahgaf as the north eastern part of it is covered with sand dunes known as Ahgaf (plural of Hagf ;which means dune) .Al-Hgaf was mentioned in the holy Quran and Nabi Al-Lah Hood (peace be upon him) was the messenger of God to the people of Ahgaf .Most historians agree that the grave (Tomb) Nabi Allah Hood is situated 140 km east of the town of Seiyun .The name “Hadramout” is an ancient name referring to the region and the tribe . It had received mention in the Holy Bible .The Yemeni author, Saleh Al-Hamed , mentioned Hadramout as one of the kings of the himyar dynasty … Another Yemeni author, Moh’d Al-Shater, mentioned that Hadramout was named after one of the Sons of Qahtan Ben Amer Ben Shalekh Ben Arfkhashed Ben Sam Ben Noah .

Climate :-

Wadi Hadramout has a hot dry tropical climate, however, the greenness that covers the whole wadi characterized by a dense date palm trees cover (more than half a million ), other trees and crops, abundant under ground water and the hearty welcome and generosity of the people, all compensate for the hot dry climate .

Average temperatures are around 34c in July and 20c in December . Maximum temperature is around 45c in July and the minimum is around 2c in January . Relative humidity is around 61 % in January and 35 % in June . Total annual precipitation is about 50mm . Periodically the Wadi is subject  to floods that differ in size and magnitude of destruction they leave behind .

History :-

Hadramout is considered to be one of the main roots for Yemen Civilization .

It is believed the Hadramout was part of the famous glorious kingdom of Saba during the tenth century B.C.It was economically famous as the land of frankincense and know for the skill of its people in textile, jewelry, agriculture and irrigation works . forests in Hadramout –as was mentioned by the American researcher Windle Philips –on their way north to the different  regions of the Arabian Peninsula and returning back loaded with different goods from Egypt, Greece and Rome . The routes of these caravans are still recognizable in the mountainous plateaus that connect Wadi Hadramout with the coastal plains and the desert in the north .

Hadramout has witnessed throughout its history a succession of several states and kingdoms, the latest were the “Qua’iti Sultanate “ with its capital in Al-Mukalla and the “Kathiri Sultanate “ with its capital in Seiyun . Both Sultanates existed until independence in November 30,1967 . In May 22,1990, North and South Yemen merged in the Republic of Yemen . 

The Main Towns and Historical features :

Seiyun

The capital of Wadi Hadramout and the main commercial and populated center . It houses branches for most of the national ministries and public corporations . Its history goes back to the second thousand B.C. and was mentioned in various historical carvings and was the capital of the Kathiri Sultanate since 1516 A.D.

The main feature in Seiyun is the “sultan Palace” built of mud and local building materials in 1873 A.D. it is 34 meters high an was built at the town’s center as a military castle and the sultan’s residence . It has a unique magnificent architectural design . In the palace (45) large rooms Currently the palace includes an archaeological museum with valuable antiquities and also a special museum for popular traditions and folklore that features traditional hadrami costumes, jewelry ,various artifacts of the Hadrami life, home furnishing, musical instruments and handicraft which date back thousands of years .

Tombs of Islamic saints like Ba-Makhrama and Al-aahibshi, the prominent mosques minarets . Al-Riyad, taha and Al-Gamed and the old town gates in its old historical wall that was erected in 1931 A.D., all are considered attractive tourists sites . Visitors can find in Seiyun a number of traditional handicraft and jewelry markets . Visitors can tour around the town and enjoy watching the mixed old and modern types of buildings that reflect the progress of the Yemeni architecture .Tour around the green orchards and fields and relax enjoying listening to the traditional “Hadrami Dan” while drinking the special Hadrami “Boukhare Tea.”

Ten kilometers east of Seiyun on a small hill, there is the white domed tomb of Saiyid Ahmed Bin Isa Al-Muhajir which is to this day a religious pilgrimage site . It dates back to the Year 345 A.H. (956A.D.) In the nearby village of (Bor) you can find the mosque of Abdallah which was built in the tenth A.D. century . It is unique for its building style and for its large mud pillars .

Tarim :

An ancient capital of Hadramout named after its king (Tarim Ibn Hadramout Ibn saba Al-Assgar) It is a religious center since the fourth A.H. century (tenth A.D.) It was mentioned by historians to have 365 mosques and about 300 Islamic scholars and has maintained such a status up to this date .

Tarim is considered one of the most beautiful Yemen towns, distinguished by its large palaces built of mud and local building materials by the skilled local laborers knew how to adapt the local commodate the Islamic art of architecture which was clearly influenced by ancient Greek and East Asian styles .Of the famous and marvelous palaces (Essha) (Dar-Al-Salam),(Tawahi) and (Hamtoot) that belong to Al-Kaff family . Also (Al-Monesoora) of Bin Yahya and several other building, palaces, mosques and tombs all characterized by unique carvings. Touring around Tarim and inside these buildings, gives you the feeling that you are living in the ancient times that were mentioned in fictional stories .

At the center of the town stands Al-Rinad fortress which, for a long time, used to be the governor’s residence . Al-Mihdar Minaret (125ft.high) built of mud in 1333.A.H.(1915A.D.) is considered one of the unique Islamic and architectural landmarks in the whole of Yemen .

In Al-Game’a Mosque –first floor Al-Ahqaf library is found . It is the second largest manuscript library in Yemen second to the Sana’a library .  It contains more than 5000 manuscripts in the various fields of knowledge .Here lies “Rabat Tarim” one of the oldest Islamic institutes in Hadramout. Tarim is known to be the home of a large number of distinguished scholars, writers and artists . Tarim is commercially active particularly in traditional pottery, carpentry and confectionery .On 13 of sha’aban an annual Camel’s is held on the return the visit to the grave of nabi Allah hood (Peace Be Upon Him) .

Einaat :

An old town 8km east of Tarim the history of this town since the second half of the 16km century (A.D) has been closely linked to Saiyid Abubaker Ben salim. A prominent social and religious figure who used to arbitrate between tribes . It was to him and his sons that the famous seven tombs (Gobab) are related to .

On the Way to the Grave (Gabr) of Nabi Allah Hood :(May peace be upon him)

East of the town of Tarim towards the direction of Gabr Nabi Allah Hood a distance of 100km from the town, the visitor will pass through different historical sites and relics . He will be attracted either when realizing their historical importance or because of their magnificent architecture e.g. in Gasam 25km from Tarim exists the palace of Gayes Bin Yamani, an exact replica of the Sultan’s Palace in Seiyun with the exception that it was not painted with lime .15km further of the palace on a small hill, the remains of Al-Urr fortress which is evidently pre-Islamic . On the fortress’s rocky walls and pillars, carvings and pictures of hunters are found . Historians believe that Al-Urr fortress belonged to Ga’afar Bin Girt Al-Assadi one of the rulers of the pre-Islamic era .

The Grave (Qabr) of Nabi Allah Hood :

Nabi Allah Hood was a messenger of god to A’ad people in Al-Ahgaf .The grave is situated on the top of a hill . it was first renovated on the ninth century A.H ( fifteenth A.D.) and several times thereafter . Its present from, with its huge dome, the stone building around a rock called Al-Nagah and the wide staircase dates back to the year 1097 A.H (1673A.D) .

The grave is surrounded by a village built by the natives purposely to be used during the annual visits on 612 Sha’aban (A.H) thousands of people coming from different parts of Yemen as well as from abroad make this annual visit .the visits have unique rituals and traditions and are believed to have begin in the pre-Islamic period . The visit to the Grave of Nabi Allah Hood is known to be a period when trade prospers and the Arabs were known to convene a popular market near the Grave .

At distance of 10km from the Grave to the south lies the well of Burhoot, A kind of cave 300ft . Many myths have been told about the well of Burhoot since the pre-Islamic period up to now .

Shibam

The most famous town in Hadramout, named after its king Shibam Ibn Al-Harith Ibn Saba . it was a political and commercial capital of Hadramout in different historical eras. It co-existed with the kingdom of Ma’een during the fourteenth century B.C. And later the kingdoms of Saba and Himyar .

Houses in Shibam are built of mud-bricks, they represent a unique architectural heritage. 7-8 story high, buildings in Shibam have been described as the first sky-scrapers in the world .Its 500 compact and crowded houses appear as a castle in the valley floor and had resisted the harsh climate for hundreds of years .

Shibam together with Sana’a have been included in the International Human Heritage program and a National and International Campaign for their conservation was launched by UNESCO in 1984 .Of the oldest houses still in existence in Shibam is “Jarhum House” which dates back more than 750 years, Shibam for tress built by Ibn Mahdi in 1221A.D. and Al-Gama’a Mosque built during the reign of the Caliph Harun Al-Rashid in 904 A.D. Notably, Shibam’s Gate which was last renovated in 1909 A.D.

Al-Qatin :

The capital of Al-Qatin district famous for cereals production particularly wheat . It was the center from where the Qua’iti Sultan moved to extend his Sultanate in valley Hadramout . The most prominent historical feature is the mud built “Qua’iti fortress” several other castles are found in Al-Qatin and in the surrounding villages . Annually, Al-Qatin witnesses a large commercial gathering on 15-21 Jumadd Al-Akiraa known as Al-Qatin fair or Al-Qatin visit held on the commemoration of the Islamic Scholar Omer Bin Abdulla Al-Haddar .

Horidah :

The capital of Do’an district which is famous for Do’any Honey known for its rich and strong flavor . Horeidah is situated on the entrance of valley A’md . The town was developed on top of the ruins of Madhab town, the oldest town in valley Hadramout .

Graves were found near the town dating back to the fifth century B.C.. West of the town, the ruins of the temple of the ‘Moon God” Sin, considered to be the holiest shrine of ancient Hadramout, one of the oldest and largest private libraries .In the town, there is a health center, drug stores, various shops and restaurants .

Valley Do’an :

One of the biggest valleys in Hadramout , it has two branches; right and left (Al-Ayman and Al-Aysar) . The right branch is characterized as being densely populated and has a dense cover of date palms and various other trees .The area has a beautiful natural scenery . The valley extends south for about 110 km from the point where it joins the main valley Hadramout . Its width varies between 2 and 3 km and has a number of water springs . Recent geological research has revealed the stages of the development of valley Do’an which has replaced an old sea which existed some 40million years ago . The Yemeni Russian excavation mission had found in a cave near Al-Guzza village artifacts and traces of the stone age man which are now in exhibit in the National Ar-Chaeological Museum in Seiyun –indicating that human life existed here hundreds of thousands years ago .Valley Do’an, as the studies revealed was an important trade route during ancient times connecting Hadramout with the main trade routes from the coast to Shabwa and Tamnao .The name “Do’an” was found on carvings of tombs dating back to the first century (A.D.).

On the way to Valley Do’an

                       The visitor on his way to valley Do’an will cross a large number of villages and small towns on the sides of hills assuming beautiful natural scenery, houses, mud palaces, archaeological sites and ancient historical towns .In succession from the northern entrance of the valley towards the south, the visitor will pass .

Al-Mashhad :

                        Al-Mashhad is a small village where an annual visit is held around the tomb of the scholar Ali Bin Hassan Al-Attas who died here in the year 1172 A.D.H. The celebration is held during the period 8-16 Rabi Al-Awal .

Raiboun :

                       An ancient historical settlement dating back to the eighth century B.C.. Archaeological mission discovered valuable old belonging, ruins of temples, old houses and irrigation networks that indicate Raiboun had fertile soil and rich agriculture .

Al-Hagrain :

                       One of the important pre-Islamic towns, situated on the top of a hill .Its name was derived from Al-Hager which means in the Himyari language (The village).

Sif :

                       An annual visit is held during 8-12 Rabi Al-Thani on commemoration of the scholar Saiyid Shikan Ibn Ahmed . There are branches of local administration offices in Sif and (Budah,Hodoon,Rehab,Al-Girain) .

Al-Khureiba :

                       It was the main center in the old trade route between the coast and the valley near to it is the village of al-Rabat .

How to come to Valley Hadramout :

                      By plane to Seiyun National Airport every day on Yemenia from Sana’a aden, Al-Mukalla or other national airport . Through the desert by cars: Marib- Safir- Valley Hadramout . By car through the desert road : Marib Harib –Shabwa –Valley Hadramout or one of the asphalted roads or Al-Mukalla- Valley Hadramout .

Additional Programmes :

                      Any visitor to Valley Hadramout can ask for Camel rides between the towns of Al-Wadi ; or participates in the journey of Al-Qanis arranged by the people of the towns and the villages to hunt the Ibex in the months of December and January of every year . The tourist is most welcome to ask for the arrangement of special parties and traditional folklore dances by local troupes who perform in local wedding ceremonies . You can also sample the variety of local food of valley Hadramout which varies from one area to another .