A FEAT OF CREATION IN ENGINEERING’S ARTISTIC IMAGINATION
Turning the downbeat into an impressive feat, packaging the mountain of rocks becomes a reason for the people to flock and make the sights into extravagant crowd drawer.
Personally, those are the description I could make for the first time I saw this meandering road at the Al Hada mountain that connects the Al Hada to its neighboring cities of Makkah & Jeddah.
Al Hada zig-zag road may not be the only one of a kind, though, but a feat of human engineering creation you cannot simply ignore.
First long curve of the road from the Al Hada road entrance. Photo taken from the viewing area.
Climbing up to Al Hada Center
It has been a significant attraction in this part of the town, from the uncultivable rocky mountain to a tourism road terrain. Not to mention the other incredible formation of mountain heights and sights, this engineering feat contributes a more significant part of why Al Hada became a holiday destination.
The road and the valley down the Al Hada mountain
Amazing winding portion going to Makkah
From the viewing area, the entry point of the zig-zag road from Al Hada center and (right) the hotel where the cable car station is located.
How to Get to the Place
To get to the position I stayed viewing the road down the rocky hills:
On your arrival at the cable car station's front gate, you need to move few distances on the left side (if you are facing the gate).
You will see to the right side a vacation space. Park your car in a secured space; then, you need to walk gradually going down.
You will see under construction terraces, meant for turning it into a viewing point or maybe something else. From there, you can now view the road, the cars running, and the valley of the nearby town down the Al Hada plateau.
At the adjacent portion, upper to the terraces, there are possible spaces you can position, but they are private properties, so you need to seek the owner's permission.
If you are a hotel guest at the cable car station, the more you have the vantage position for viewing, the hotel has viewing area.
Best Time to Come for Viewing
1. Early morning until 8:00 or 9:00
2. The dusk period in the afternoon until the sun hides. The terrain is tricky at the terrace
portion, so you have to get out of the place before the night's deep darkness covered
the surroundings.
3. Evening time. The most spectacular sights you will see in the evening time. The cars'
lights running on the zig-zag road and the towns' lights down the plateau sparkle
every corner make the scene fantastic and fanciful.
Accessibility
Road access is excellent. The viewing spot is at the center of Al Hada town proper
Stores, markets, and shops are easily accessible
Telecommunication signals are perfect.
Things to Avoid
Avoid standing close to the edges – The viewing point is a terrace pavement by the cliffside, so you have to take extra precautions
Taking with you your kids to the viewing area
Getting closer to the rocks where wild baboons are – there are wild baboons in the area; though they are used to dealing with humans, you still need to be cautious.
Staying at the site until evening.
Distance from Other Neighboring Cities
From Taif City 23 km 20-minute travel time.
From Makkah 64 km 48- minute travel time.
Al Hada town center going to the winding road direction
Straight ahead to the winding road and (left) going to the viewing area and the hotel where the cable car station is located.
In front of the white car is the cable car station. Guests staying in this hotel can have the chance to view the zig-zag road at night.