Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
from railway sleepers pilfered from the Hejaz Railway. The Al-Mahajar tombs are espe-
cially photogenic and some of the oldest.
Hejaz Railway Station
HISTORIC BUILDING
At the northern edge of the site is the Madain Saleh Station of the Hejaz Railway. The site
has been comprehensively restored and therefore lacks the lonely and decrepit charm of
the stations elsewhere. The complex, built in 1907, consists of 16 buildings, which include
a large workshop - with a restored WWI-era engine - shells of train carriages and a re-
built Turkish fort that served as a resting place for pilgrims travelling to Mecca.
Diwan
RUIN
The diwan (meeting room), carved into a hillside to shield it from the wind, is one of the
few extant examples of non-funerary architecture in Madain Saleh. The name owes more
to modern Arab culture than to the Nabataeans, who probably used the area as a cult site.
Opposite the hollowed-out room are niches cut into the rock where Nabataean deities
were carved - now sadly weathered. Running south from the diwan is the Siq, a narrow
passageway between two rock faces lined with more small altars. At the far end is a strik-
ing natural amphitheatre. Climb along the southeastern slope up to a number of sacrificial
altars. From here, look west and soak in the breathtaking views.
Qasr al-Bint
RUIN
Qasr al-Bint (Girl's Palace) consists of a wonderful row of facades that make for dramatic
viewing from across Madain Saleh.
The east face has two particularly well-preserved tombs. If you step back and look up
near the northern end of the west face, you'll distinguish a tomb that was abandoned in the
early stages of construction and would, if completed, have been the largest in Madain
Saleh - only the step facade was cut.
Qasr Farid
RUIN
Qasr Farid in the south is the largest tomb of Madain Saleh and perhaps the most stun-
ning. Carved from a free-standing rock monolith, its location gives it a rare beauty, espe-
cially just before sunset. Try to arrive for sunset, when the enigmatic tomb passes through
shades of pink and gold until darkness falls: breathtaking.
