Jabal Haraz
Encyclopedia
Jabal Haraz is a picturesque mountain region of Yemen
, between Sana'a
and al-Hudayda. In the 11th century it was the stronghold of the Sulaihid
dynasty, many of whose buildings survive..
coastal plain and Sana'a
, this mountainous area has always been strategically important. A caravan stopping point during the Himyarite Kingdom, the Haraz was later the stronghold of the Sulaihid State
which was established in Yemen in 1037. Then and subsequently the population have been Ism'aili muslims.
Haraz is as famous for the beauty of its landscapes as for its fortified villages clinging to nearly inaccessible rocky peaks. Their imposing architecture meets two needs, defending the villagers while leaving plenty of space for crops. Each town is built like a castle; the houses themselves form the wall, equipped with one or two easily defensible doors. Constructed from sandstone and basalt, the buildings are perfectly integrated into the landscape and it is difficult to tell where the rock and the village begins or ends. The mountain is divided into terraces of a few acres or more, separated by walls sometimes several meters high. On these remarkable terraced fields grow alfalfa for livestock, millet, lentils, large areas for coffee and qat
.
Within a day's journey are Banu Mora
and other villages located on the ridge overlooking Manakhah
. Manakhah is the heart of this prosperous mountain range, a large town whose market attracts villagers from the entire neighbourhood. Al Hajjara, to the west of Manakhah, is a beautiful walled village whose citadel was founded in the 12th century by the Sulaihids. From there, other villages are accessible, such as Bayt al-Qamus
and Bayt Shimran
. The village of Hutaib is built on a platform of red sandstone, facing a magnificent view of terraced hills which host a score of villages. Here also is the mausoleum of the third Yemeni "dai" Hatim al-Hamdi
. Bohras
from India, Srilanka, Singapore and Madagascar gather here. The local Ismailis have tarred the roads, and paved the streets for their believers, without damaging the landscape.
World Heritage Tentative List on July 8th, 2002, in the mixed (cultural and natural) category, as a site that has "outstanding universal value"..
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
, between Sana'a
Sana'a
-Districts:*Al Wahdah District*As Sabain District*Assafi'yah District*At Tahrir District*Ath'thaorah District*Az'zal District*Bani Al Harith District*Ma'ain District*Old City District*Shu'aub District-Old City:...
and al-Hudayda. In the 11th century it was the stronghold of the Sulaihid
Sulaihid State
The Sulaihid State was a Yemeni Ismaili Shia dynasty founded by Ali ibn Muhammad al-Sulaihi.The Sulaihid Dynasty was an autonomous satellite state of the Fatimid Caliphate and throughout its existence was a constant enemy of the Zaydi Shia of Yemen....
dynasty, many of whose buildings survive..
History and location
Because of its location between the TihamahTihamah
Tihamah or Tihama is a narrow coastal region of Arabia on the Red Sea. It is currently divided between Saudi Arabia and Yemen. In a broad sense, Tihamah refers to the entire coastline from the Gulf of Aqaba to the Bab el Mandeb Strait but it more often refers only to its southern half, starting...
coastal plain and Sana'a
Sana'a
-Districts:*Al Wahdah District*As Sabain District*Assafi'yah District*At Tahrir District*Ath'thaorah District*Az'zal District*Bani Al Harith District*Ma'ain District*Old City District*Shu'aub District-Old City:...
, this mountainous area has always been strategically important. A caravan stopping point during the Himyarite Kingdom, the Haraz was later the stronghold of the Sulaihid State
Sulaihid State
The Sulaihid State was a Yemeni Ismaili Shia dynasty founded by Ali ibn Muhammad al-Sulaihi.The Sulaihid Dynasty was an autonomous satellite state of the Fatimid Caliphate and throughout its existence was a constant enemy of the Zaydi Shia of Yemen....
which was established in Yemen in 1037. Then and subsequently the population have been Ism'aili muslims.
Haraz is as famous for the beauty of its landscapes as for its fortified villages clinging to nearly inaccessible rocky peaks. Their imposing architecture meets two needs, defending the villagers while leaving plenty of space for crops. Each town is built like a castle; the houses themselves form the wall, equipped with one or two easily defensible doors. Constructed from sandstone and basalt, the buildings are perfectly integrated into the landscape and it is difficult to tell where the rock and the village begins or ends. The mountain is divided into terraces of a few acres or more, separated by walls sometimes several meters high. On these remarkable terraced fields grow alfalfa for livestock, millet, lentils, large areas for coffee and qat
Khat
Khat, qat, gat or Waquish Spoken from true Yemeni, is a flowering plant native to tropical East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula....
.
Within a day's journey are Banu Mora
Bani Murrah
Bani Murrah is a village in west-central Yemen located between Hutayb and Manakhah. It is located in the San‘a’ Governorate.-External links:*...
and other villages located on the ridge overlooking Manakhah
Manakhah
Manakhah is a village in west-central Yemen. It is located in the San‘a’ Governorate.-External links:*...
. Manakhah is the heart of this prosperous mountain range, a large town whose market attracts villagers from the entire neighbourhood. Al Hajjara, to the west of Manakhah, is a beautiful walled village whose citadel was founded in the 12th century by the Sulaihids. From there, other villages are accessible, such as Bayt al-Qamus
Bayt al-Qamus
Bayt al-Qamus is a village in west-central Yemen. It is located in the San‘a’ Governorate.-External links:*...
and Bayt Shimran
Bayt Shimran
Bayt Shimran is a village in western central Yemen. It is located in the San‘a’ Governorate.-External links:*...
. The village of Hutaib is built on a platform of red sandstone, facing a magnificent view of terraced hills which host a score of villages. Here also is the mausoleum of the third Yemeni "dai" Hatim al-Hamdi
Sayedna Hatim
Syedna Hatim Bin Ibrahim al-Hamidi was the third Da'i al-Mutlaq of the Taiyabi Musta‘lī Bohra Islam...
. Bohras
Mustaali
The Musta‘lī Ismā'īlī Muslims are so named because they accept Al-Musta'li as the nineteenth Fatimid caliph and legitimate successor to his father, al-Mustansir...
from India, Srilanka, Singapore and Madagascar gather here. The local Ismailis have tarred the roads, and paved the streets for their believers, without damaging the landscape.
World Heritage Status
This area was added to the UNESCOUNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage Tentative List on July 8th, 2002, in the mixed (cultural and natural) category, as a site that has "outstanding universal value"..