Citadel of Saladin-The Proud Minaret of the City

 Continues from A Night at Cairo!

Our travel guide/Egyptologist was scheduled to meet us by 8am at the hotel lobby. We woke up duly in accordance with the alarm at 6 am. After the delicious buffet breakfast at the Hotel restaurant, we were ready for our guide. The view of Nile was so majestic and we hardly realized that time got slipped to 9am in our watch. It was then that we got the call from our Egyptologist.

Sreejith teased him while keeping the phone “You were supposed to come by 8 am, right?”

“But it’s only 8 am now, Sir!”

It’s then that we realized that the time in Egypt is one hour behind the K.S.A time.

It is so pity that I don’t remember the tourist guide’s name at this time. He was the best among his lot followed and very friendly too. He suggested us to watch the Citadel of Saladin, which was not there in our itinerary but one of the eminent minaret¹ in the city of minarets.  We readily complied. 

The citadel of Saladin is situated at Mokattam hills overlooking the famous limestone quarries of the Cairo. On our way to the Citadel, our guide explained the past glory of the citadel with its fresh breeze and best views of the city. However as Cairo grew, it started to grow to the outskirts too. The earlier place for public cemetery, on the way to the citadel is now dwelled with houses. The citadel is now a preserved historic site for visitors. Well, this is not only the story of Cairo but of all major cities.

In front of Alabastor Mosque

We reached the Citadel of Saladin within half an hour. Built in the years between 1176 and 1183 CE; the citadel stand as the proud token of its constructor’s glory. Though resembles Tipu Sultan’s palaces and Mysore Palace of India from outside, the citadel has a quite unique view inside. The most attractive area was definitely the 200 years old mosque with Alabastor roof. The mosque is also known as alabaster roof for this.

As we approached and looked up, the silver shining of the Alabastor roof changed to silver blue under the grey clouds. Built in 1528, the mosque is the first of its kind to be built in Ottoman style² in the country. It seems Sultan Mohammad Ali had brought the architect Yousf Boushnaq, a Turkish man to construct the mosque in the style of a Turkish turban.

Just as in Indian temples, we had to remove our foot wares before entering the ablution area that leads to the mosque. Only thing is that we can carry foot wares in our hands. At the same door, I saw Muslim women covering the foreign ladies in green cloaks. I thought it to be custom and approached them. They asked me to proceed since I had covered my shoulders and knees.

In front of the Ablution Fountain

The courtyard with the ablution area looked so magnificent.  The courtyard with the ablution fountain was covered with pillars roofed with small domes. Our guide told that the structures are called the riwaqs. An elaborate French clock was there across the north western area of the courtyard. It seems, king Luis Philip of France presented it to Mohamed Ali in exchange for an Egyptian Obelisk. Our guide added with a grin that the clock never worked properly since its arrival.

We went near the ablution fountain to take some pictures. The magnificent octagonal shape was adorned by 8 pillars and covered by a large leaded domed canopy. The floral motifs on the small dome inside the main one looked so natural with authentic ornaments. Yet we still hadn’t marveled the real architecture. Our guide led us inside the mosque soon.

The Chandeliers beneath the Dome

The first that caught our attention was an array of chandeliers. They were hanging beneath the magnificent green coloured domes. Our guide informed us that there are totally 365 chandeliers, which were lit as oil lamps in the old days. The central dome and the surrounding half domes are designed in the shape of Turkish turban courtesy to its architect. A glittering and enchanting chandelier hung in the middle of the mosque. It was again a gift to Egypt by King Louis Philippe V of France.

The Holy Shrine

We sat on the red carpet marveling the artistic creation and cool ambience. The holy shrine at the end of the mosque was restricted to enter. In the old days, the priests/ Sheiks first entered the shrine through a path covered with pure gold. There was also a similar path near to the shrine made with limestone. The main shrine was made in old pure gold and indeed spectacular in view.

Mohamed Ali's Tomb

At the right side of the entrance is the tomb of Mohamed Ali.  Usually, there is no practice to have a tomb inside the mosque. However upon Mohamed Ali’s wish, his successor King Abbas I transferred the original tomb inside. Here, Mohamed Ali rests in peace inside the white Italian marble tomb, decorated with floral motifs, pointed and glided inscriptions. Even after his death, his soul must be proud of the umpteen visitors that marvel his creation.

We came out of the mosque after half an hour of entering it. There was a vast view of Cairo at the exit of the mosque. We didn’t have time to visit the carriage museum and the palace since we had to head straight to the Pyramids of Geiza.

Shreya Getting Dressed Up

On the way out from the citadel we stopped at the instant studio to take the picture of Shreya as Egyptian princess. She loved the deck up and happily went with the photographers for the shooting. As a policy, we were detained from taking her pictures by own camera. However, as the girls hoisted her in the backdrop of the mosque, many foreigners crowded around to take the shots. Lights flashed around her from numerous cameras.  Well, that was a happy scene. Who wouldn’t like to see their daughter as a princess and in limelight?

1. Minarets: More information  

2. Ottoman Style: More information

Continues in Pyramids, Pyramids, Pyramids & Pyramids.........