The Al-Ahsa Oasis is listed on the World Cultural Heritage List as a place that has been inhabited for a long time since the Early Stone Age. This was helped by the presence of water, which was later diverted by local residents to their fields using canals. Wells, forts, mosques and gardens were built in the area and water greatly helped the development of this region. Twelve different locations are included in the listing, which together form the largest oasis in the world, which has over two and a half million palm trees.

The mountain Jabal Al-Qarah in the city of Al Hofuf was probably the most interesting stop for us. On one side a jungle of palm trees, and across the road a nice parking lot, several restaurants and a huge Land of Civilizations sign. It's quite nice to see at least some place ready for tourists - it's been quite a different experience in Saudi so far and everything seems under construction. The mountain itself, which consists of several rock pillars that have created a natural cave, can be accessed through the visitor center, of course after purchasing a ticket. For your entrance fee, you get access to the museum that tells the history of the civilizations living in this place and to the very maze of alleys between the stones. The sidewalks are resurfaced, illuminated, and there are many interesting places for taking photos in the nooks and crannies of the stone pillars. There are said to be exactly 28 footpaths between the rocks and together they measure one and a half kilometers. An ideal place to hide from the scorching summer sun, or to take beautiful pictures during its sunset.

Unfortunately, some of the places we planned to visit were being reconstructed - a running theme of our entire trip of which I will be complaining more in my following reviews. One would expect that everything would be prepared first and then the nomination would be submitted, but no, why not do it the other way around? Never mind, many visits were all the more adventurous.

We drove to Jawatha Park, which is said to be home to the 7th century mosque of the same name (it's on my review picture), said to be the oldest mosque in the region. It is said that not much has been preserved from it, a few arches and walls, it has been renovated several times, the old foundations are surrounded by new clay walls, electric lighting has been introduced to the mosque. It was currently undergoing further reconstruction work, while unfortunately it looks too much like new. I hope that at least the interior retains some of its original components.

The nearby park is used by locals for walks and picnics. It has several merry-go-rounds, many food and drink stands, and even rents out rugs and cushions if the picnicking nation doesn't bring their own. I guess the fact there is an actual lake and an abundance of greens makes a testament to how blessed with water the oasis is, however that's just a rest stop, not part of the inscription. There is Jawatha Archaeological Park in the nomination file with GPS that points further northwest of the Jawatha Park, however google maps show nothing there. 

We stayed the night in Al Hofuf, our hotel was across the road from the the Ibrahim Palace, another of the monuments inscribed. Unfortunately it was also under reconstruction, we did not see the inside, we only saw the perimeter walls. It looked very similar to the Jawatha Mosque, only considerably larger. It was built by the Ottomans in the sixteenth century AD, it was used as a barracks and there should be a mosque or a hammam inside.

Another of the palaces/forts were also being reconstructed, so we called it a day and returned back to Riyadh and further to explore more Saudi sites.