Mecca
From Wikitravel
Mecca or Makkah (in full:(مكة المكرمة Makkah al-Mukarramah), located in western Saudi Arabia, is the holiest city in Islam.
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Understand
A pilgrimage to Mecca, known as the Hajj, is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and thus obligatory for all Muslims who can afford it. Over three million Muslims visit the city during the month of Dhu'l-Hijjah yearly. Visits outside this month are known as minor pilgrimages or Umrah.
Non-Muslims are strictly prohibited from entering Mecca. The penalty is death!
Get in
By plane
Go to Jeddah, the international airport.
By train
By car
There is an excellent modern multi-lane highway from Jeddah. During the Hajj pilgrimage season it is jammed with American-style yellow school busses full of pilgrims. At any other time, trafiic is extremely light for the size of the road.
A few miles outside Mecca, there is a cutoff referred to as the 'Christian bypass'. Turn along this to reach the lovely mountain town of Taif. If you remain on the main highway, there is a police checkpoint just after the exit, presumably keeping non-Muslims out of the holy city.
By bus
Get around
See
Most visitors to Mecca follow the set itinerary of the Hajj. Major sites include:
- Sacred Mosque (al-Masjid al-Haram). The holiest site
in Mecca and all Islam.
- Kaaba. At the center of the sacred mosque is this building said to have been built by Abrahama (Ibrahim) himself. Covered in black cloth, it is circled seven times by pilgrims.
- Mina. The site of the symbolic stoning of the Devil.
- Hill of Arafat. The site of Prophet Muhammad's last sermon.
- Jabal Al Noor (lit. The Mountain of Light). While its not part of the Hajj ritual this is still an important site; since atop this mountain is the famous Her'aa grotto, where Muslims believe Muhammed first had the Quran revealed to him.
- Jabal Al Sur.
- Ja'aronah.
- Tanaem.
- Hudaibiyah.
Do
Learn
Work
Buy
Tamar (dates), praying mats, Makkah souvenir etc.
Eat
There are many types of food from all over the world available in Mecca, from the Middle Eastern Arab food to Southeast Asian food. There are also American fast food chains such as Kentucky Fried Chicken and Dunkin Donuts.
Budget
Mid-range
Splurge
Drink
If you're looking for alcohol forget it! Alcohol is illegal in Saudi Arabia.
There are many tea shops that serve tea and snacks. Also many juice vendors right outside the Mosque.
Sleep
Mecca is full of hotels, from the Hilton to unknown hotels with practically no facilities. The price varries according to the hotel's distance from the Holy Mosque.
Budget
Mid-range
Splurge
The Inter-Continental: Expect to spend about 200 Riyals per person.
Contact
Stay safe
Despite strict crowd control measures, overcrowding is a major hazard during the month of the Hajj.
Also, during the Hajj crowds pickpockets are not uncommon. Avoid having any valuables on your person when traversing through the crowds.