Shanqal Fort

Shanqal Fort is a castle in the Mecca Region built on a mountain slope at a high elevation. The structure contains multiple rooms arranged inside thick walls, with a single entrance that connects to internal corridors.

The fort was built around 300 years ago by Sheikh Rajah bin Manfour Al-Badri as a military stronghold for the region. It also functioned as an administrative and judicial center for the Bagum tribe during that period.

The fortress contains thirty rooms including a council hall, residential quarters, a mosque, a prison, weapon storage areas, and food storage facilities.

Visitors enter through a single gate on the northern side that provides access to the various interior spaces. The site sits on a mountainside, so wearing sturdy footwear is recommended for navigating the uneven terrain.

A smaller watchtower called Al-Murabba stands behind the main structure and was specifically built to provide surveillance and early warning during conflicts. This separate tower reveals how carefully the defensive system was originally designed.