Al Habbalah- The Pulse of a City

Continues from The Mountain Market! 

It took us around 20 minutes of drive from the traditional market of Abha to the Habbalah village. The winding mountain roads presented sceneries that had been unique to the country. Every picturesque spot were fresh and a pleasure for our eyes. Even the dirty looking monkeys that so often ventured the fast driven roads entertained us. 

We were in fact driving through the part of the country that held a different pulse of the culture. All along the way we could see houses in traditional architecture. Though we wanted to stop and photograph them, the sun and the time constraints detained us.

The native people of the place were much friendlier and helpful that their counterparts in the capital city. Though they were reckless in driving, some of them took all pains to take us to our destination. We reached Al-Habalah by 11a.m. 

Al Habbalah

The mountains were mitigated with the fairy mist. The bronze valleys held the golden sun rays under their cold blankets. The beauty was heavenly and serene.  The calm moments were pelted by the mountain monkeys who threatened the visitors into their own land.

The children were definitely not in a mood to enjoy this calm bliss of their parents. We very soon found a café table overlooking the valley. The Arabian burgers tasted good as never before at that mesmerizing location. 

After the short time at the mountain tops, we were ready to travel down to Al Habbalah Village, once inhabited village of the the Qahtan tribe. This village was inhabited until 1970s. The people were relocated to the King Faisal Village in the 1970s and the place remained untouched for many years.

Al Habbalah

The main transportation method to Al Habbalah Village in the early days was ladders and ropes now replaced by the cable car. From above the village seemed to hang from a cliff above a wide valley. Someone explained to us that the village was also called ‘the hanging village’ owing to its appearance.

We were ready for the steep descend. I felt goose bumps as I saw the cable car approaching us.

Continues in Al Habbalah Village- The heaven on Desert