Mina, Sacred valley in Mecca, Saudi Arabia
Mina is a valley in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, that stretches across roughly 20 square kilometers and houses more than 100,000 air-conditioned tents for pilgrims during the Hajj period. Each tent contains marked sleeping sections, kitchen facilities, and washrooms that help pilgrims navigate and settle into the temporary camp.
Following a fire in 1997, fireproof cotton tents were introduced in Mina and additional safety measures were put in place across the pilgrimage area. These changes made the valley a safer environment for the millions of visitors who arrive each year for Hajj.
The three Jamarat pillars mark the spots where Ibrahim rejected temptation, according to Islamic teaching. Pilgrims throw small stones at each pillar over three consecutive days, following one of the central rituals of the journey.
Each tent carries numbers and markers that help pilgrims locate their lodging within the large tent city. The layout follows a fixed grid, and pilgrims should remember their tent designation carefully to avoid getting lost.
The Mashaer Al-Muqaddassah Metro runs only during Hajj season and connects Mina with other holy sites of the pilgrimage. This dedicated line transports millions of people in just a few days and remains closed for the rest of the year.
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