Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Al-Jasra House
HISTORIC BUILDING
OFFLINE MAP
( 17 611 454; admission 500 fils; 9am-6pm Sat-Thu, 3-6pm Fri; )
One of several historic homes
around Bahrain that has been restored to its original condition, Al-Jasra House was built
in 1907 and is famous as the birthplace in 1933 of the former emir, Sheikh Isa bin Sulman
al-Khalifa. It is constructed in the traditional way from coral stone, supported by palm-
tree trunks. The gravel in the courtyard is made up of a 'hundreds and thousands' mixture
of tiny mitre and auger shells. Opening times are erratic, so call ahead to confirm.
From the Causeway Approach Rd, look for the exit to Al-Jasra (before the toll booth);
the house is well signposted. The town is 15km from Manama and takes 20 minutes to
travel by bus or car.
Al-Jasra Handicraft Centre
HANDICRAFTS
OFFLINE MAP
( 17 611 900; 10am-4pm Sat, 8am-2pm Sun-Thu)
In the residential area of Al-Jasra is the
government-run Al-Jasra Handicraft Centre. This collection of workshops specialises in
textiles, woodwork and basket weaving. Bus 12 from Manama stops outside, so this is one
destination reasonably accessible by public transport, but timings are unreliable.
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Riffa Fort
OFFLINE MAP
Commanding the only piece of high ground overlooking the Hunanaiya Valley, this
fort
(Sheikh Salman bin Ahmad Al-Fatih Fort; 17 322 549; admission 500 fils; 8am-2pm Sun-Wed, 9am-6pm Thu
& Sat, 3-6pm Fri)
was originally built in the 19th century. It was completely restored in 1983.
The limited captions and explanations are in Arabic, and the rooms are mostly empty, but
it's interesting enough and the views over a valley of a golf course, nodding donkeys and
tree-lined highways is appealing.
The fort is easy to spot from several main roads near the town of Riffa and is well sign-
posted. Access to the fort is only possible along Sheikh Hamood bin Sebah Ave, which is
off Riffa Ave. Riffa is 25km from Manama and a 30-minute ride by car. Along the jour-
ney, note all the magnificent avenues of palms, orange-flowering cordias and topiaried cit-
rus trees that line the suburban part of the highways.
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