Dar-al-Hajar

Dar-al-Hajar is a palace in Yemen, located on a cliff. It seems to grow out of it. Dar al-Hajar is a popular symbol of the capital of the country, however, it is located not in the city itself, but 15 kilometers away from it in the village of Suq al Wadi, in the middle of the Wadi Dahr Valley. But in spite of this, it has become a symbol of Sana’a, and is very much loved by the local population. Some do not even believe that such a miracle could be recreated in the middle of the desert area, so they call the palace a mirage.

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History

‘ Dar-al-Hajar
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Architecture

The palace is said to have originally had 5 floors. However, after the latest renovation, they became 7. It has a total of 35 rooms. There are huge ones among them, and there are tiny ones. The building itself has everything you need, not only bedrooms, living rooms, but also pantries, kitchen, separate rooms for women, for dignitaries and separately for friends. Everything is clearly distributed.

It is also interesting that the palace has a system of natural cooling of water, this takes place in special clay tanks. There is also a well on the territory, 275 meters deep. Between the floors there are countless staircases, which can be used to get to any corner of the palace, there are also balconies and verandas, so you can go out for some fresh air.

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The walls of the palace on the rock are built of fired clay bricks, and the beautiful ornamentation adorning the window openings is of white plaster. The style in which the frames are made has the name “tahrim”. And you can only see this style in the architecture of buildings in Yemen and the surrounding area.

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When to visit

The best time to visit Dar al-Hajar is Thursday and Friday. These are the days that are considered as weekends in Yemen. During this time, traditional wedding ceremonies can be seen near the palace. They are usually held at the front of the building if the marriages are requested. Also, don’t forget to visit the souvenir shop near the palace and buy something to remember this beautiful palace.

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