Jabal Haraz

Country YemenRegionSouth ArabiaOfficial nameJabal HarazCriteriaMixedDesignated2002 (43rd session)Reference no.1722RegionArab States

Jabal Haraz (Arabic: جَبَل حَرَاز, romanized: Jabal Ḥarāz) is a mountainous region of Yemen, between Sanaa and Al-Hudaydah, which is considered to be within the Sarat range.^[1] In the 11th century, it was the stronghold of the Sulaihid dynasty, many of whose buildings still survive today.^[2] It includes Jabal An-Nabi Shu'ayb, the highest mountain in Yemen and the Arabian Peninsula.^[3]

History and location

Because of its location between the Tihamah coastal plain and Sanaa, this mountainous area has always been strategically important. A caravan stopping point during the Himyarite Kingdom, the Haraz was later the stronghold of the Sulayhid dynasty, which was established in Yemen in 1037. Then and subsequently the population has been Ism'aili Shi'ite Muslims.

Haraz is as famous for its fortified villages which cling to nearly inaccessible rocky peaks. Their imposing architecture meets two needs: defending the villagers, while leaving plenty of space for crops. Each town is built like a castle; the houses, themselves, form the wall, equipped with one or two easily defensible doors. Constructed from sandstone and basalt, the buildings are integrated into the landscape and it is difficult to tell where the rock and the village begins or ends. The mountain is divided into terraces of a few acres or more, separated by walls sometimes several meters high. On these terraced fields grow alfalfa for livestock, millet, lentils, large areas for coffee, and qat. It is one of the main growing areas of Mocha coffee beans.

Within a day's journey are Bani Murrah and other villages located on the ridge overlooking Manakhah. Manakhah is the heart of the mountain range, a large town whose market attracts villagers from the entire neighborhood. Al Hajjara, to the west of Manakhah, is a walled village whose citadel was founded in the 12th century by the Sulayhids. From there, other villages are accessible, such as Bayt al-Qamus and Bayt Shimran. The village of Hutaib is built on a platform of red sandstone, facing a view of terraced hills that host a score of villages. Here also is the mausoleum of the third Yemeni Da'i al-Mutlaq Hatim ibn Ibrahim. Bohras from India, Sri Lanka, Madagascar and other countries gather here.^{[citation needed]}

World Heritage Status

This area was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List on July 8, 2002, by the State Party of Yemen in the mixed (cultural and natural) category, as a site that has "outstanding universal value". The site has not yet been voted by the World Heritage Committee as an official World Heritage site.^[2]

Gallery

• 
  Manakhah in Sanaa Governorate
• 
  Jabal An-Nabi Shu'ayb, the highest mountain and peak in the Arabian Peninsula, as viewed from Kawkaban, Al Mahwit Governorate
• 
  Jabal An-Nabi Shu'ayb is behind the mountain in the background, facing west of southern Sanaa City
• 
  Terraces
• 
  Fortified settlement amid the mountains

See also

• Ad Dahrah, located in the Haraz, the stronghold of the Sulaihid dynasty, many of whose buildings still survive to this day
• Geology of Yemen
• Hajhir Mountains
• Middle East
• Near East

References

• Lonely Planet

External links

World
Heritage
Sites

Listed	Historic Town of Zabid Old City of Sanaa Old Walled City of Shibam Socotra Archipelago Landmarks of the Ancient Kingdom of Saba
Tentative list	Archaeological Site of Marib Historic City of Saada The Historic City of Thula The Madrasa Amiriya of Rada Jibla and its surroundings Jabal Haraz Jabal Bura Balhaf/Burum coastal area The Hawf Area Sharma/Jethmun coastal area

Archaeological sites	Al Hajjarah Awwam Baraqish Baynun Cisterns of Tawila Haram Kaminahu Ma'rib Marib Dam Maṣna'at Māriya Nahom Nashan Nashaq Sanaa Shabwa Shaharah Shibam Sirwah Timna Zabid Zafar
Museums	House of Folklore National Museum of Yemen Yemen Military Museum
Palaces Castles	Aljabowbi Castle Cairo Castle Dar al-Bashair Dar al-Hajar Dar al-Shukr Dar as-Sa'd Fort Al-Ghwayzi Ghumdan Palace Palace of Queen Arwa Sultan Al-Qu'aiti Palace Citadel of Rada'a Seiyun Palace Sheba Palace
Places of worship	Aidrus Mosque Al-Asha'ir Mosque Al-Bakiriyya Mosque Al-Hadi Mosque Al-Mahdi Mosque Al-Muhdhar Mosque Al-Qalis Church Al Shohada Mosque Al Tawheed Mosque Alansar Mosque Albolaily Mosque Alemaan Mosque Ashrafiya Mosque Barran Temple Great Mosque of Sanaa Grand Synagogue of Aden Hanthel Mosque Jennad Mosque Mudhaffar Mosque Qubbat Bayt Az-Zum Mosque Queen Arwa Mosque Saleh Mosque St. Francis of Assisi Church St. Mary Help of Christians Church Talha Mosque Temple of Awwam
Protected area	Bura Community Protected Area Dhamar Montane Plains Mahjur Traditional Reserve Jabal Bura Valley Forest National Park Ras Isa Marine Park Socotra Island Protected Area Zuqur Islands Marine National Park
Others	Amiriya Madrasa Yemen Gate Big Ben Aden Sanaa Turkish Memorial Cemetery Shaharah Bridge Sira Fortress