From Wikitravel

For other places with the same name, see Mecca (disambiguation).

Mecca or Makkah (in full:(مكة المكرمة Makkah al-Mukarramah), located in western Saudi Arabia, is the holiest city in Islam. As such it is forbidden for Non-Muslims to enter the city.

[edit] Understand

A pilgrimage to Mecca, known as the Hajj, is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and thus obligatory for all Muslims with the physical and financial ability to make it. Over ten million Muslims visit the city during the month of Dhu'l-Hijjah yearly. Visits outside this month are known as minor pilgrimages or Umrah, and while not compulsory are strongly encouraged.You must understand the pilgrimages to Mecca have been occuring for over 2000 years. Before the coming of Islam, Mecca was visited by Christians and Jews alike as they visited the Kaaba.

Tradition goes that the Kaaba was ordained by God to be built in the shape of the House in Heaven called Baitul Ma’amoor(House of the Lord). God in his infinite Mercy ordained a similar place on earth and Prophet Adam and his wife Eve were the first to build this place. The Bible, in the Chapter of Genesis describes its building when God ordained Abraham to erect a Shrine for worship when Abraham was ordered to go to the Southern desert with his wife Hagera and infant son Ishmael. The Old Testament describes this building as the Shrine of God at several places, but the one built at Ma’amoor is very much similar to the one at Makka. Scientific evidence proves that the bible was referring to the stone built house at Makka. When Prophet Abraham built the Holy Shrine in Makka, his prayers were that this place should remain a centre of worship for all good and pious people (be they Jewish, Christian or soon Muslim) and that God should keep his family the custodians of the Holy place. Ever since, Ishmael the son of Abraham who helped his father to build this place and his descendants remained the custodians of the Holy Shrine. History tells us that centuries passed and the guardianship of the Kaaba remained in the family of Ishmael and the sons of Israel until the coming of Prophet Mohammed.

[edit] Get in

The government of Saudi Arabia issues special visas for those making the pilgrimage. Most pilgrims opt to use a specialist travel agency, which will handle the considerable paperwork for them, but detailed information on the strict requirements is available at the Ministry of Hajj [1]. As usual in Saudi Arabia, women must travel together with a male guardian (Mahram), unless they are over 45, travelling with a group and have their guardian's signed consent.

Visas are assigned to countries on a quota basis according to the number of Muslims they have. Recently, those who have previously been to Mecca have had additional restrictions placed on their entry, in an effort to discourage overcrowding while still accommodating those who have not yet made the pilgrimage. If the applicant was not born a Muslim, they must present a certificate testifying so, which has been notarized by an Islamic center. Usually your mosque will be able to arrange this or at least point the way.

[edit] By plane

Jeddah is the gateway to Mecca. The Hajj Terminal at King Abdulaziz International Airport (IATA: JED), used only for the Hajj, is served mostly by charter flights, although there are also some scheduled services as well. During Umrah, scheduled services use the airport's other terminals.

[edit] 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 buses full of pilgrims. At any other time, traffic is extremely light for the size of the road.

A few miles outside Mecca, there is a cutoff referred to as the "Non-Muslim bypass". Turn along this highway to drive another 50 miles out of the way to reach the lovely mountain town of Taif. Taif, at 5000 feet elevation, was the former summer palace of the Saudi Kings. If you remain on the main highway, there is a police checkpoint just after the exit, where non-Muslims are kept out of the holy city.

[edit] By bus

SAPTCO runs services to Mecca from throughout the country, although most pilgrims arrive on privately chartered buses from Jeddah. There are two terminals: the main terminal outside city limits is open to all, but the city center terminal at the Haram al Sharif, used mainly by buses to Jeddah, is restricted to Muslims only.

[edit] Get around

Local Busses,taxis and microbuses are widely avialable in Mecca and in the whole of Saudi Arabia for a pretty good deal.There are no train stations or any metros in Mecca.

[edit][add listing] 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 Islam.
• Kaaba. At the center of the sacred mosque is this building, said to have been built by Prophet Abraham himself and his son,Prophet Ishmael. Covered in black cloth, it is circled seven times by Muslim 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.
• Muzdalifah The desert where the pilgrims spend the night.

[edit][add listing] Do

• Hike the Mountains of Mecca

• Visit Ghar Hira,where the first verse of the Quran was revealed to the last of the prophets,Prophet Mohammed.

• Pray and Read Quran at the Kaaba.

• Shopping in the city is widely available. Bargaining is always an option when shopping locally.

• Visit Mina and the site of Stoning the devil.

• Learn. Mecca has a variety of schools and universities

[edit] Work

[edit][add listing] Buy

Gold souqs/other shopping is available throughout Mecca for the millions of religious tourists that come to Mecca every year.

Zamzam water is always on sale to drink there or to take home as a souvenir.

Tamar (dates), praying mats, Makkah souvenir etc.

[edit][add listing] 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. No type of pork, ham or any part of the pig is served in Saudi Arabia as forbidden by islamic Law.

[edit] Budget

[edit] Mid-range

[edit] Splurge

[edit][add listing] Drink

Alcohol is illegal in Saudi Arabia as it drives the human under the influence and as this is the second holiest city on the face of the earth,people must be conscious that this city does not tolerate influences other than those influences permitted under religion.

Zam water is preferred by many.

There are many tea shops that serve tea and cookies. Also many juice vendors right outside the Mosque that sell Apple,Mango and Strawberry Juice for 1 rial .

[edit][add listing] Sleep

Mecca is full of hotels, from the Hilton to unknown hotels with various facilties. The price varies according to the hotel's distance from the Holy Mosque. Some of the world's greatest hotels are situated in Mecca, and full year-round. Make sure to book early as 2 weeks before your trip as mecca can be crowded with up to 10 million muslims a year.

[edit] Budget

[edit] Mid-range

[edit] Splurge

The Inter-Continental: Expect to spend about 200 Riyals per person.But trust me,the price speaks for the class.

[edit] Contact

[edit] Stay safe

Also, during the Hajj crowds pickpockets are not uncommon. Avoid having any valuables on your person when traversing through the crowds. In other words, be on the safe side and don't take chances.

[edit] Cope

Mina is not dangerous but the way to Jamrat used to be before the Saudi government built four parellel bridges to overcome the crowd. Another major step taken by government is to make the way to Jamrat and back to Mina bi-directional instead of uni-directional. Most of the accidents that took place was due to the uni-directional way. Now it's comparatively very safe.

[edit] Get out

Most pilgrims also visit Medina, Islam's second holiest city.

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