The Heritage Village
When you have seen most of the sights in Riyadh, consider a day trip to Ushaiger Heritage Village, also called Ashikar. It’s in the middle of an oasis-strewn region about 200 km northwest of Riyadh. A few kilometers to the east, a strip of red dunes runs from south to northwest, which you will cross on a drive there.
The village – a gem – is one of the oldest settlements in the Najd region. It is said that the first settlers were Bedouins 1,500 years ago. Like many other places, Ushaiger used to be a place for pilgrims to rest on their way to Hajj or Umrah in Mecca, as there were springs, palm and olive groves here.
Ushaiger’s center is surrounded by thick walls with several towers. It is characterised by a labyrinth of winding, sometimes shaded alleys and paths that connect the mud houses of the village, most of which are beautifully renovated.
The houses reflect the typical architecture of the Najd, with many of them characterised by triangular windows, open roofs and ornately carved wooden doors. Some still bear the names of the families who lived there.
Al Salem Museum
The Al Salem Museum is the first public building you see when you enter the village gate. The museum houses a smorgasbord of artefacts, including ornately embroidered clothing, jewellery and pottery, as well as weapons, radios, cooking utensils and many other ancient items. It also gives a good idea of how the other houses in the village might have been built and furnished. The mentor and owner is happy to chat with visitors and offer a cup of Saudi coffee on an appointment – a nice experience; admission is free, but a small tip would be appropriate.
Al-Faylaqiah Mosque
The Ushaiger Mosque of Al-Faylaqiah was built several centuries ago and consists of white-framed windows and columns in a beautifully restored courtyard.
If you want to know more also about the driving route past the Tuwayg Escarpment with Edge of the World, Faisal’s Finger and a small salt extraction site near the village of Marat, you can read about it in my ebook “Dr. Hans-F. Loth – Travel Guide Riyadh and Jeddah”.
