Let’s Claim our Holiday Joy from the Reclaimed Land of Bahrain

Bahrain in the Gulf is referred to as the ‘Two Seas’ in Arabic where the spotlight is on the water along the country’s coastline. This is because the main feature is its incredible shallowness due to which the locals reclaim portions of the land, seeming as seizing the right over the taken away property by the sea. Nevertheless, land reclamation is commonly seen in the gulf countries.

The water springs off the coast are of historic importance that played a glorious role in the past trade of sparkling pearls giving prosperity to the early settlements. This is evident from the archaeological sites around the land. On the other end, the current era boast the legacy riches in the form of ideal museums to traditional houses to burial loads. The modern prosperity is hidden in its World Trade Centre and new projects at its southern end.

Bahrain Tourist Attractions

We visited only the Manama city, which literally means the Sleeping Place. This appears in contradiction when I visited the city that retains its prime importance, late shopping, and its energetic nightclubs. You will hardly find that the city’s people are sleeping and that city has come to a standstill even at night. But some proof to the title of the Sleeping Place, the city seems to be devoid of any hustle or bustle by the day and that hardly any queue awaits for a museum visit. This city is the choice of the people for a hang out on Saturdays and Sundays to enjoy good food. We visited the following places in the city.

• Al-Fatih Mosque:
  This is the major attraction here as it is the largest structure built in 1984 on a reclaimed piece in Bahrain that can accommodate around 7000 devotees at once. If you really want to know about Islam, this stunning mosque is the place to be where you can seek your answers from the educational guides. From the architectural point of view, the grand building was constructed using the marble of Italy, glass of Austria, and teak wood of India with the help of the local Bahraini skilled people. Its interior is worth looking at.
• Bab al-Bahrain:
  This is known as the ‘Gateway to Bahrain’ constructed by the British in 1945 A.D. and designed by Sir Charles Belgrave. Remodeled in 1986 A.D., the historic structure completely wore the design of an Islamic flavor. Here, Bab refers to a gate in whose facade lies a small square that was formerly a finishing point of the customs dock, which will give you some insight about the degree of land reclamation in the locality. Currently, there is the Tourist Department and a souvenir shop.
• Bahrain National Museum:
  This holds its first rank in the list of tourist attractions in the country. While it is worthy of such an admiration, the other reason to come here is that it is the ideal location to get familiar with the other sights in Bahrain. So, if you are a first-time comer, I recommend to get the intro of the country first by visiting this museum first. The museum is placed in a superb, modern building with the scenery of the harbor from its windows.
• Beit al-Quran:
  This is the mansion that exhibits the contemporary Bahraini architecture along with a superb covering of impressed Kufic script. Originally opened in 1990 A.D., it is a museum and a research centre that holds a huge stunning collection of Qurans, manuscripts, and woodcarvings. Do not miss to have a glimpse at the small Qurans among which the smallest one is only 4.7 by 3.2 cm brought from 18th century Persia.
• Friday Mosque:
  The main feature of this mosque is its multi-colored mosaic minaret with which you can easily spot this religious monument. Built in 1938 A.D., another striking view is its reflection in the glass windows of the adjacent Batelco Commercial Centre where it seems that the history and present are holding hands together. Sadly, a visitor cannot enter into the mosque. So, we could not explore it from within.
• Kids Kingdom:
  This is an amusement park for the kids as known from its name offering a few fun-filled rides if the close by construction does not become an hindrance in their functioning. Regarding the fun activities for kids, you can obtain much information in the media and in the ‘Teens & Kids’ section in the magazine Bahrain. This can also tell you about the lessons in hip hop and salsa.
• Museum of Pearl Diving:
  Constructed in 1837 A.D. with the purpose of housing the Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs, the museum yet endures the symbol of weighing scales located on the top of the grand wooden arrival doors (do not consider the Government Ave door here). Currently, the rooms exhibit the country’s pearl-diving and nautical legacy, traditional artillery, conventional games, medication, attires, and musical instruments along with the other displays of different utilizations of the date palm. All these exhibited items can be viewed within an hour.

Best Time to Visit

November to March

Bahrain Accommodations

• Delmon International Hotel – 4 Star Hotel in the Commercial Area – $103
• Crowne Plaza – 5 Star Hotel in the Diplomatic Area – $159
• Oriental Palace Hotel – 3 Star Hotel in Manama – $67
• InterContinental Bahrain – 5 Star Hotel in Manama – $173