09
Rujal
728km
50km
Driving EASY – PAVED ROADS AND DUSTY TRACKS
Best for HISTORY ENTHUSIASTS
Recommended for VIEWS OF THE TERRACED FARMS
Sitting proudly on the UNESCO World Heritage List, the area of Rijal Alma is one of the highlights of the area. Meaning ‘the brightest men’, the community has been lovingly restored and is often described as a gingerbread village due to its whitewashed window frames and turrets. With a heritage museum housed in its centre, it’s the perfect place for off-roaders wanting to learn more about the Kingdom’s traditions.
Turning left off Highway 211, the paved road turns into a well-established track. The route takes you close to the terraced farms, and as you wind your way through mountains and wadis you’ll see Shawqab Ruined Village sitting on the hill. Finally, the track reverts to paved road once more, taking you to the impressive village of Rujal before you finish the route.
Shawqab Ruined Village
Crumbling into the mountain, the steep terraces of Shawqab Ruined Village are tough to explore. Its whitewashed window frames and decorative white rocks are typical of settlements in the area. As with a lot of ruins in Saudi Arabia, modern villages have been developed in its shadow.
FLOWER CROWNS
For centuries, descendants of the Tihama and Asir tribes in this area have worn decorative flower garlands perched on their heads. In this wettest part of the Kingdom, flowers and herbs such as marigolds, jasmine, basil and fenugreek are abundant. The decorative wreaths are made by the flowermen early in the morning, sometimes for themselves and sometimes to sell to locals and tourists. Not only decorative, the herbs are incorporated into the garlands for health reasons, believed to help cure and ward off some ailments.
Rujal
Dating back almost 1,000 years, the restored village of Rujal is easily one of the most impressive sights in the area. Once a regional trade centre for people coming from the Yemen to Makkah and Al Madinah, the imposing buildings have been fully restored.
Mirroring Shawqab Ruined Village, the whitewashed window frames and white decorative rocks are a motif of the communities in the area. The windows, fitted with green, yellow, orange and blue shutters, act as a beautiful counterpoint to the grey rocks.
It’s not just the exterior that has been restored, a museum in the heart of the village includes rooms that have been turned back into traditional domestic spaces, some with impressive traditional wall art. The museum also houses a collection of artefacts including traditional costumes, stone tools and handmade textiles. Entrance is SAR 20 and it’s worth checking to see if you can align your visit with the frequent cultural events held in the village.
