About 3.5 hours from Riyadh by car, it's definitely worth a visit, even just for a day trip. My mom came to visit me in May for the second time and since she had seen most points of interest in Riyadh on her first visit, we decided to venture out to see a bit of life outside the capital.
We decided to leave Riyadh on a Friday late morning, stay the night, and drive back on Saturday morning.
Where to Stay - Al Koot Heritage Hotel
This quaint hotel is an old house renovated into guest rooms with a lovely enclosed center courtyard that houses the restaurant. It was a perfect way to give my mom a taste of what a traditional house would look like structurally and it was centrally located as well. There's only street parking for the property, but it wasn't difficult to find. We ate breakfast in the hotel the morning we left and it was delicious.
What to do - Al-Qarah Mountain, Pottery Shop, Ibrahim Palace, and Qaisariyah Souq
Al-Qarah Mountain is famous for its caves and rock formations. My mom was expecting the style of cave where you descend into the earth. This mountain is different in that you walk straight into the slots and canyons formed in the mountain. It's very beautiful and they have lots of fairy lights, mirrors, and seating areas near the caves of the mountain, so you can expect to spend some time here enjoying the atmosphere.
The Pottery Shop is a traditional pottery place on the other side of the entrance to Al-Qarah Mountain. It closes at 6pm every day, so if you're planning sunset at the mountain, make sure to go to the shop before. Merchants accept cash as well as card and you can wander through several vendors' crafts to find a unique and beautiful hand-crafted souvenir. I went home with a mug and a traditional water jug which are certainly prized posessions.
Ibrahim Palace is an incredible place with a long history, dating back to the Ottoman period in the 1500's. It's located close to Al-Koot Heritage Hotel and we were keen to explore. Unfortunately it was closed for renovations despite the information we found on Google. Hopefully it will re-open to the public in the next year.
If the pottery shop doesn't provide you with enough souvenirs, Qaisariyah Souq is also close to Al-Koot Heritage Hotel. There you can shop to your heart's content.
Regional Food to Try - Hasawi Bread
Stop at this bakery to pick up a red bread that is unique to the Eastern province. It's hearty and made from dates, wheat, saffron, and cardamom. The dates are what give it its color and set it apart in flavor from other breads throughout the country.
I was TODAY YEARS OLD when I found out that THE PLACE THAT I LIVED IN FOR MOST OF MY LIFE, the place where I grew up, is supposedly where Laila and majnu were buried?????
