Situated in the Asir region of Saudi Arabia, Rijal Alma Village is undoubtedly one of the most historically important and beautiful villages in the Middle East. Famous for its fascinating architecture, rich history, pleasant weather, and beautiful landscape, this small village served as the regional trade center through centuries and was the natural passage that connected Yemen and Lavant to Makkah and Madinah.
Architecture and landscape
The village consists of 60 multiple-storey ancient buildings that were built using stone, clay, and wood while the hillside has several defensive watchtowers built strategically to maximize fields of view and firing range. As beautiful as the tall stone buildings are, the real wonders lie behind the stone and clay walls. Each house is decorated and painted by skilled artisans with the most fascinating color combinations and artworks. The village is surrounded by steep hills that look over a winding road that once served as one of the most important trade routes in the Arabian Peninsula.
Activities and Attractions
The tallest fort in the village is the Fort of Al Jaber & Al Hawat while some of the other important forts include Forts of Maejib & Hakim, Msamr, al-Dir”iyyah, and al-Sisbae, each of which has its own unique history documented and preserved by the original families.
Rijal Alma is also home to the oldest museum in Saudi history which was established by the locals in one of the stone buildings in 1985 to preserve the village’s ancient history and heritage. The museum displays over 2800 exhibits of local history and over 500 kg of ancient local jewelry.
Some other nearby attractions include Tanomah Waterfall, Al Sahab Park, and Al Soudah View Point.
