Al Bahah is 1005 km southwest of Riyadh and 265 km southeast of Makkah. Dhee Ayn, a 400 year old abandoned stone settlement built atop a marble hill, is 24 km south of Al Bahah along Al-aqabah Road. It is also known as ‘Marble Village’. This dramatic landscape is surrounded by Palm groves, banana, vegetable and herbal plantations, a permanent stream and natural wilderness.
From Riyadh we drove west in the direction of Taif to take a short distance route to Al Bahah. 150 km before reaching Taif, a diversion onto the left takes you to Al Bahah road. As you ascend Al Bahah, the temperature drops variably. Most of the part, clouds are gathered, shooting droplets of water at times.
Banana plantations are a common sight in the valleys of Al Bahah. Before reaching the Marble Village as you descend the escarpment of Al Bahah, you feel the smell of village life with these banana and guava sellers on the roadside.
The Marble Village at wide angle
Constructed by shale slabs, slates and rarely of marble pieces, this huge construction is a marvelous art of creation. Parts of the settlements are dilapidated and a serious renovation of the village is under way.
The off-white marble hill and grayish black stone structures provide a high contrasting image during the early morning (with rising sun) and evening (by the setting sun).
The village can be accessed through the nearby plantations and wilderness. A nearby stream of crystal waters keep this area green.
Apparently, no mortar were found used to set the flakes of rocks in construction. Stone lintels are used for doors and windows. The ceilings are made of stones with support of wood. Depending on the availability, the wood of al-Ar’ar, al-Ithl and al-Talah are used for the construction of ceiling in these types of buildings.
Visitors to Dhee Ayn should take extra care in entering the rooms as some parts of the walls are sensitively damaged.
A window with stone lintel
The marble village is a true symbol of creativity. With flakes of stones, the most available construction materials in the area, a small village has been beautifully erected. Almost all provinces you visit in the Kingdom has its own architectural characteristics in the very near past. That’s what makes Saudi Arabia very distinct!
