After your visit of the Haddaj Well in Tayma, you will probably want to walk to the nearby Qasr ibn Rumman estate, the former Governor’s Palace. The walk is worthwhile and also offers some interesting sights.
First, you cross Souq Al Najm, a small market square (now open only occasionally and aimed at tourists) directly opposite the fountain on the east side. It is intended to keep local crafts and customs alive. On the south-eastern side of the market, the hustle and bustle continued in a narrow, historic alleyway. This was actually the extension of the small business district towards the date palm oasis. Just outside the walls, a small date palm plantation adjoins the path to the Qasr ibn Rumman estate. Birds chirp, watercourses babble and the crowns of the palm trees rustle gently in the wind. Truly an oasis – both then and now, but which had to fulfil several functions. The date palms were essential for the settlers’ survival, something that may be increasingly forgotten today. Their wood provided the raw material for building houses, their leaves were used to cover roofs, and the dates themselves have always been of great importance as food and for trade.
Once you have passed the date palm plantation, you will come directly to the Qasr ibn Rumman estate or the Governor’s Palace in the historic old town, not far from the Haddaj Well. This complex is also called Tayma Fort. The original building dates back to the 18th century, with the main part being added between 1916 and 1919. The fort was not only the Governor’s place of work, but also his residence; Qasr ibn Rumman and the Governor’s Palace are therefore not two different buildings but one. It was last renovated in 2018, so the complex is in good condition, although only very few rooms are equipped with furniture. It is distinguished by its architectural style, which corresponds to traditional Najd architecture.
