The Mecca (Makkah) sightseeing map shows all tourist places and points of interest of Mecca (Makkah). This tourist attractions map of Mecca (Makkah) will allow you to easily plan your visits of landmarks of Mecca (Makkah) in Saudi Arabia. The Mecca (Makkah) tourist map is downloadable in PDF, printable and free.

Mecca (Makkah) has a resident population of more than 1.6M as you can see in Mecca (Makkah) tourist map. Attracts 2.8M Hajj Pilgrims and >5M Umrah visitors annually. Visitors set to grow to 6.5M Hajj Pilgrims and 10.8M Umrah visitors by 2029. Expansion program to the Holy Haram – capacity of >1.6m worshippers by 2015. Requiring significant expansion both within the Makkah. Central Area (MCA) and the surrounding areas.

Mecca (Makkah) is the holiest city in Islam and Saudi law strictly forbids non-Muslims from entering it. Documents will be checked upon entry at dedicated checkpoints, and non-Muslims will be redirected to a motorway that bypasses the city. Pilgrims must show proof of being Muslim (a certificate is needed for those converted to Islam) and women must be accompanied by a Mahram (male guardian). The Saudi Arabian government issues special Hajj or Umrah visas to simplify the process but the sheer amount of paperwork makes many pilgrims rely on specialised travel agencies to handle that as its shown in Mecca (Makkah) tourist map.

Mecca (Makkah) attracted a year-round population of scholars, pious Muslims who wished to live close to the Kaaba, and local inhabitants who served the pilgrims. Due to the difficulty and expense of the Hajj, pilgrims arrived by boat at Jeddah, and came overland, or joined the annual caravans from Syria or Iraq as its mentioned in Mecca (Makkah) tourist map. As the Islamic Empire grew, Mecca (Makkah) continued to attract pilgrims not just from Arabia, but now from all across the Muslim world and beyond, as Muslims came to perform the annual Hajj pilgrimage. The pilgrimage to Mecca (Makkah) attracts millions of Muslims from all over the world. There are two pilgrimages: the Hajj , and the Umrah.

The Mecca (Makkah) attractions map shows the main monuments, museums and parks of Mecca (Makkah). This tourist places map of Mecca (Makkah) will allow you to easily plan your visits of tourist attractions of Mecca (Makkah) in Saudi Arabia. The Mecca (Makkah) attractions map is downloadable in PDF, printable and free.

The center of all activity in Mecca (Makkah) is the Old City. Most visitors and pilgrims devote their time almost exclusively to prayer at Al Haram, the Holy Mosque, which houses the Ka'aba. Shopping malls, markets, and many hotels are within walking distance of the Haram complex. For an overview of the recent history of the Haram, visit the collection of relics at the Museum of the Two Harams as you can see in Mecca (Makkah) attractions map. Hajj and Ummrah tours typically include excursions to other holy sites outside of Mecca (Makkah). Mecca (Makkah) is surrounded by numerous sites of historic and spiritual importance for Islam. A popular excursion is to Ghar Al Thawr (Cave of the Bull) on mount Al Thawr, where Muslims believe the Prophet Muhammad hid from his enemies. Pilgrims have made the steep and rocky climb past sculptured boulders to this cave for centuries. Millions of Muslims gather at Jabal ar Rahmah, in a nearby town, during the Hajj to ask for blessings for the coming year.

Although the Saudi authorities claim there is no evidence to confirm it, many Muslims believe this is the spot where the Prophet Muhammad was born in around AD 570 as its shown in Mecca (Makkah) attractions map. As a result this modest two-storey structure, which is now a library, is surrounded by signs warning against 'disapproved' devotional behaviour, but there is no information about the Prophet birth. That has not stopped some pilgrims from inscribing their blessings and prayers on the walls. Formerly Al Zahir Palace, the 3435-sq-metre Mecca (Makkah) Museum has a collection ranging from images of Saudi Arabia important archaeological discoveries to exhibits on pre-Islamic history. An interesting presentation traces the origins of Islamic calligraphy with references to Arabic fonts and samples of inscriptions discovered in archaeological digs. A hall on Islamic art complements the calligraphy displays.

Also known as the Mountain of Mercy, this granite hill is an important part of performing the hajj as pilgrims leave Mina for Arafat on the ninth day to recite the Quran and pray. It is also the site where the Prophet delivered his famous last sermon shortly before his death. It is more hill than mountain these days, with stairs leading to the peak providing relatively easy access. Vendors sell markers here, but be aware that writing on the hillside is illegal. Many of the Prophet family are buried here, including his first wife, Khadija, his sons Qasim and Abdullah, his uncle, Abu Talib, and his grandfather, Abdul Muttalib as its mentioned in Mecca (Makkah) attractions map. However, the fear of practices such as grave veneration has led Saudi authorities to all but stop visits to the site, except when a funeral takes place. Even then women are not permitted inside. Al Hukair Funland, this indoor amusement park popular with Saudi families is a heady mix of lights, sounds and children rides. There are also trampolines, arcades, air hockey and activity zones, plus a snack bar and rest area for adults. The rides are suitable for children under 12, but they are probably not of much interest to teenagers.