Mina

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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.

Location: Mecca

Elevation above the sea: 544 m

Part of: Hajj

GPS coordinates: 21.41333,39.89333

Latest update: December 4, 2025 23:42

Saudi Arabia historical sites to visit : religious monuments, archaeological areas, cultural heritage

Saudi Arabia contains a wide range of historical locations spanning multiple periods, from Islamic holy sites to pre-Islamic archaeological remains. The country encompasses both religious destinations that draw millions of Muslim pilgrims annually and ancient settlements that reveal trade networks and civilizations dating back thousands of years. Among the most significant are the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, the Nabatean tombs at Al-Ula, and prehistoric rock art in various desert regions. The collection includes sacred sites such as the Great Mosque in Mecca with its Kaaba and Zamzam well, the Prophet's Mosque in Medina, and pilgrimage locations like Mount Arafat and the ritual grounds at Mina. Archaeological sites preserve evidence of earlier inhabitants, including Madain Salih with its 111 rock-cut Nabatean tombs from the first century, the petroglyphs of Hail dating back 10,000 years, and the sandstone formations of Al-Ula. Urban centers like Riyadh feature the Masmak Fortress from 1865, while Jeddah's historic port district displays traditional coral stone architecture. Together, these locations document the religious, commercial, and cultural development of the Arabian Peninsula across millennia.

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