Kawkaban, Mountain city in 'Amran Governorate, Yemen
The city stands at an elevation of 2800 meters, featuring stone buildings that extend across the mountain ridge in northwestern Yemen.
Archaeological findings from the Sabaean period indicate that Kawkaban developed as a fortified settlement during the pre-Islamic era of Yemen.
Local traditions in Kawkaban reflect the heritage of the Bakil tribal confederation, which maintains strong connections to ancestral practices.
Transportation to Kawkaban requires careful planning due to its mountain location and current regional circumstances affecting accessibility.
The city maintains its original defensive walls at one of Yemen's highest elevations, offering views across the surrounding mountain ranges.
Location: 'Amran Governorate
Elevation above the sea: 2,800 m
GPS coordinates: 15.50000,43.90000
Latest update: March 6, 2025 09:52
Yemen offers photographers subjects ranging from the ancient mud architecture of Sanaa to volcanic craters and the geological formations of Socotra. The Old City of Sanaa presents multi-story tower houses decorated with white gypsum patterns, while Shibam in Hadhramaut displays mud-brick high-rises dating from the 16th century. The fortress of Kawkaban sits atop a high plateau, the village of Hababah demonstrates traditional mountain architecture, and Shaharah Bridge connects two mountain peaks at an elevation exceeding 8,500 feet (2,600 meters). Socotra features Detwah Lagoon, dragon blood trees and limestone caves within its distinct ecosystem. The crater of Haradha Damt is an extinct volcano near Damt, the Marib Dam represents Sabaean engineering from antiquity, and the ruins of Arsh Balqis mark an ancient temple site. Wadi Dawan cuts through Hadhramaut with palm groves and mud villages, Jabal al-Nabi Shu'ayb reaches 12,028 feet (3,666 meters) as the highest peak on the Arabian Peninsula, and Zabid preserves its role as a historic center of Islamic scholarship. Sira Fortress in Aden occupies a volcanic rock above the harbor, Dar al-Hajar in Wadi Dhahr is an 18th-century palace built on a rock outcrop, and Al Saleh Mosque in Sanaa dates from 2008.
Marib Dam
144.6 km
Barran Temple
155.2 km
Ghumdan Palace
37.5 km
Dar al-Hajar
25 km
Jabal An-Nabi Shu'ayb
25.8 km
Al Saleh Mosque
38.3 km
Great Mosque of Sana'a
37.5 km
Landmarks of the Ancient Kingdom of Saba
155.2 km
Shaharah Bridge
79.2 km
Yemen Gate
37.7 km
Sanctuary of the Queen of Sheba
156.6 km
Sirwah
120.1 km
National Museum of Yemen
36.6 km
Palace of Queen Arwa
177.5 km
Al-Bakiriyya Mosque
37.6 km
Shibam-Kawkaban
1.2 km
Al-Hadi Mosque
160.8 km
Al-Mahdi Mosque
37 km
Yemen Military Museum
36.6 km
Kaminahu
116.7 km
Talha Mosque
37.3 km
Salah al-Din Mosque
37.3 km
Al Hudayda Castle
129.7 km
Ancient Dam of Ma’rib
147 km
Ma’rib Ancient Historical Old City
154.3 km
Almaqah Temple
120.1 km
Archaeological site of Marib
154.1 km
Bab Al-Yaman market
37.4 kmReviews
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