The largest ancient necropolis in the world
Bahrain is an archipelago of 33 islands, the official name is Kingdom of Bahrain. The country was once named Dilmun by ancient Sumerians, considered an island paradise in which there was no disease, death or suffering, and where gods resided. Although modern Bahrain has not retained such mythical status, many still flock to frolic in its heavenly shoreline, and many still perceive the country as blissful respite from less lenient Islamic countries. However, Bahrain is still imbued with Islamic tradition.
Manama, the capital, is jam-packed with majestic mosques and minarets. Some females dress in western-style clothing but immodesty is still frowned upon. It is a symbolic
bridge that connects the archipelago to Saudi Arabia’s mainland.
Nevertheless, Bahrain is a wealthy country that has been unafraid to distinguish itself from other Islamic Gulf countries. Despite the Islamic presence, about one-third of Bahrain’s population are foreign expatriates who seek that ideal blend of stability and prosperity. Perhaps this influence has shaped modern Bahrain, now rapidly modernising, full of shopping malls and restaurants. Many argue, however, that the supposed liberal outlook of the country is a sham: alcohol and casinos cannot disguise that the country is an absolute monarchy in which dissent is barely tolerated.
Bahrain is now the proud owner of the largest ancient necropolis in the world, and its foundations still rest upon the ancient city of Dilmun and the ancient civilisation that resided there.
It is exactly this blend of eastern and western cultures, this commingling of mosque and skyscraper, which draws so many to Bahrain. Perhaps its famous Tree of Life a verdant tree blooming out of arid desert says it all: Bahrain is full of surprises and contradictions.
ATRACTII
The new Bahrain Financial Harbour of Manama is currently rising like Neptune from such reclaimed land, and its proud buildings, such as the Dual Towers, appear to be holding back the sea. Of course land reclamation in the Gulf has become the fashion. Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Doha and Muscat all have ambitious projects involving a tamed sea in a human landscape. Only Bahrain, however, can claim a truly integral connection between the two, the sweet-water springs that bubble off-shore helped bring about 4000 years of settlement, the layers of which are exposed in rich archaeological sites around the island. The springs also encouraged the most lustrous of pearls, the trade in which helped build the island’s early fortunes.
From the excellent National Museum in Manama and the traditional houses of Muharraq to the extraordinary burial mounds at Sar, there are many fine sites to visit. For more modern pearls, there’s the spectacular Bahrain World Trade Centre, King Fahd Causeway and the new islands project at the southern tip. Presumably the engineers have factored in the projected effects of global warming or the sea may yet have the last laugh.
Manama means Sleeping Place, but with its central atmosphere, its late night shopping, and its lively bars and nightclubs, it’s hard to see when the city gets a chance to sleep. Manama is a night bird and people flock in on weekends for fine dining and an off-duty drink. For those who prefer an early start to a late night, however, the city is sleepy enough by day, and it’s unlikely there’ll be much of a queue for the excellent Bahrain National Museum, open the door on ancient Dilmun, with its legacy of burial chambers honeycombing the island. Qala’at al Bahrain take an interesting 16th-century view of the sea from the battlements of Bahrain Fort, bequeathed by the Portuguese. Beit Sheikh Isa bin Ali catch the whisper of a breeze under the wind towers of Muharraq’s 19th-century residences. Formula One Racetrack is a sample life in the fast lane in a behind-the-scenes tour at Bahrain’s 21st century racetrack. Al-Areen Wildlife Park & Reserve experience the timelessness of Bahrain’s desert landscape and some of its beautiful inhabitants.
