Makkah is, without a doubt, the holiest place in Islam, as it is the birthplace of Muhammad (PBUH). Every year, millions of Muslims go there to perform the Hajj pilgrimage, one of the most important events in a Muslim’s lifetime. Because of this, Makkah contains lots of luxurious hotels, but there are a lot of people who like to explore the surrounding city as well as performing Hajj.
Jabal al-Nour
This is a very popular spot, and it is known as ‘The Mountain of Light’ or ‘The Hill of Illumination’. The mountain isn’t very high, about 640m high, but because of the rough terrain, it can take a couple of hours to ascend the mountain. However, it does hold incredible significance to Muslims.
The mountain houses a cave known as the Hira cave, and this cave is the place where Muhammad (PBUH) spent a lot of time meditating and it is believed Muhammad (PBUH) received his first revelation from the archangel Gabriel here.
Makkah Mall
If you like shopping and entertainment, then this is the place for you. Makkah Mall is considered one of the most important shopping centres in Makkah. It is dedicated to create a unique and lavish shopping, entertainment and dining experience for everyone. It offers a broad range of local and international brands, restaurants and many more facilities so that it hosts plenty for everyone to enjoy.
Al Wahba Crater
If you want to go for a little bit of an exploration, then this would be a great way to do it. Al Wahba Crater is a crater that measures nearly one mile across and is surrounded by 850-foot cliffs, which may seem quite daunting. On some of the cliff edges are palm trees that provide a good amount of shelter for hikers and you are allowed to camp there if you wish, but a guide would be advisable for this excursion.
Makkah has a lot to offer if you would like to spend some quality time there before or after Hajj. Here at Hajj and Umra Express, we are able to provide you high quality hotels within Makkah for Hajj or if you would like to spend some time there and get to know the city before your pilgrimage. If you would like to know more, then please don’t hesitate to contact us and one of our friendly team will be more than happy to help.