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Al Farid Palace

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2019-Mar-20

The most famous rock of Madain Saleh

The unique Al Farid Palace got its name because of its uniqueness. Al Farid Palace is an Arabic word meaning unique. It is the most distinguished palace of the Madain Saleh as it is made up a single giant rock unlike the rest of the palaces carved out in the surrounding area.

Al Farid Palace is a stone façade of Al Ula, indeed the most famous and popular façade of the region. The stone city or now commonly known as Madain Saleh is a region which contains 153 other rocky facades. Among these 154 facades, Al Farid Palace is the most outstanding one. Recommended: 10 things you must know about Madain Saleh before visiting it

The front of the palace is a huge one which is delicately carved out and is beautifully covered with inscriptions. The entrance of the palace is equipped with a significant number of columns and pillars. Some great and quality drawings which have been categorized as high-resolution one awaits inside.

Some of the archeologists believe that the great palace was built by the Nabateans while some of the archeologists say that date back to Sumadians era. Even though there is no clear consensus, yet whoever made it, made it beautifully!

Was it a cemetery a long time ago?

Professor Ahmed Al-Abboudi came up with an interesting insight into the palace. He believes that the palace was not a cement. In past palace were carved out on the burial place or the cemetery, yet this palace is a unique one.

Al Abboudi is an associate professor at the Saudi Faculty of Tourism and Antiquities and says that the history of the palace does not support the idea that it was built as a cemetery. Those who believe that it was once grave support it by fact that it is covered with inscriptions. Recommended: 6 Facts about Elephant Rock (Jabal al-Feel) in Al Ula

In past the palaces that were built by Nabateans on grave had inscriptions. Nevertheless, this does not make sense according to the name of the palace. Moreover, the location of the palace rejects this idea that it was built on the grave.

People of Thamud

He added that the palace is made on a vital location whose advantage previous civilizations used to make. Even though the historical proofs do not clear out which civilizations built it and who resided there. Yet Thamudians used to settle at such places and they were later used by the Nabataeans.

The Professor also added that Quran and Hadith reveal that the Thamodians used to carve houses in mountains, thereby the stones of Madayin Saleh belong to the Thamodians. As per the belief of Alexander and Macedonians, the Nabateans were wandered who used to exploit places and turn the places into a grave. Recommended: How Allah destroyed the people of Thamud for killing special Camel of Hazrat Saleh A.S.?

Thereby we cannot say that Nabateans built it as their history is closer to the history of the Thamodians. A huge sandstone marks the palace and draws the attention of its visitors who are caught by the greatness of the stone and the palace.

The great palace catches the attention of tourists as well, the great international photographer Madany Cindy is of view that Madiyan Saleh is a place where one cannot return without snapping some photographs. The great palace is a unique one and capturing it through the lens is a great experience.

Source: Al Arabiya

Al Farid Palace

Al Farid Palace

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