Things to do in Bahrain

Bahrain National Museum

Deservedly the nation’s most famous attraction, this really is an outstanding introduction to Bahrain’s history, together with signage in English and Arabic. It is placed in a postmodern construction on the shore, along with the reduced floor exhibits that the archaeological finds of ancient Dilmun, the Hall of Graves and Bahrain’s traditions and customs, in which the south Asian effect on clothes is unexpectedly apparent. Upstairs, you will find displays on the Tylos and Islamic periods, historical manuscripts along with a beautiful reproduction of a traditional souq.

Beit Al Quran

The best collection of historical Qurans in the area, this superb homage to Islam’s holiest book shows Qurans from virtually every century since the arrival of Islam in 610, in addition to a number of the first translations into European languages. Including the English translation by George Sale, printed in London in the 18th century, a replica of which was purchased by US founding father and president Thomas Jefferson.

Al Fatih Mosque

That can be Bahrain’s grand mosque, constructed as a grand announcement in honor of the founder of contemporary Bahrain, Sheikh Ahmed Bin Muhammad Bin Khalifa, that had been called’Al Fatih’ (the conqueror). The mosque’s foundation stone was laid by his immediate descendant, the late emir Sheikh Isa Bin Salman Al Khalifa in 1983, just 200 years later Al Fatih free the state from the Persians. Constructed at a cost of US$20 million, it’s by far the most sumptuous mosque in the nation.

Manama Souq

Manama Souq is a warren of narrow streets and alleyways emanating south from Bab Al Bahrain. Here you can grab everything from digital products and purchase t-shirts to spices and shisha pipes. But the actual reason to see is to drift through the bustling streets of a marketplace that still elicits the feeling of an early souq.

Little India

Close your eyes at this tiny corner of Manama’s historical souq and you’d be forgiven for thinking you’re in downtown Delhi. The lingua franca is Hindi, along with the store owners trace their origins back into the subcontinent. Walking across these narrow alleyways, a cup of chai (tea) in hand, stopping off for a fast snack in Swagat and watching puja (worship) within the 200-year-old Khrishna Temple is in fact a one-off knowledge in Bahrain.

Bab Al Bahrain

This handsome twin-arched gate is a fitting entry into Manama Souq. Constructed by Sir Charles Dalrymple Belgrave, British advisor to the royals, in 1949, the’Gateway to Bahrain’ initially stood where enormous dhows (traditional freight ships ) laden with products arrived to dock, since it was Bahrain’s original traditions dock. The sea has been pushed several kilometres north through land reclamation, and Bab Al Bahrain currently houses an data centre.

World Trade Centre

Constructed in 2008, these 240m-high, 50-floor office systems were motivated by the conventional badqeers (end towers) found in historical Bahraini homes. They’re connected in the center by three full size wind turbines, which exploit the onshore winds as they pass through the double constructions. This has assisted the WTC win many awards for renewable energy, and has made it one of Manama’s most photographed contemporary landmarks.

Jai Shri Khrishna Temple

This 200-year-old sacred temple is the earliest in the Gulf and also a testimony to Bahrain’s early Indian neighborhood. Located down a narrow street in the center of Small India, a reddish gate opens to a courtyard overlooked by a painted two-storey construction with decorated Indian dinosaurs marching with vivid red, pink and yellow floral designs. From the courtyard, little shrines with enormous pictures of Roman deities sit at the open as worshippers pay their respects.

Albareh Art Gallery

Stylish and relaxing, this tiny gallery at artsy Adliya hosts operate from throughout the area. Two small sized chambers, where displays are often replenished, frequently exhibit function that pushes the bounds anticipated of Arab artists. Do not be shocked if that is one of the many galleries where you encounter a nude on screen. Albareh makes a refreshing change from the tired, cliched regional artwork you will see anyplace else, and if you enjoy what you see, you can purchase it.

Al Khamis Mosque

This could only be the oldest mosque in Bahrain. It’s considered a mosque has stood since the 8th century, even although the recent ruins, including two superbly restored, climbable minarets, date from the 12th and 13th centuries. The website is very evocative when lit at nighttime. The mosque’s title stems from the Thursday market that has been held for centuries. Black-and-white images constituting this compose the superb display from the visitors center.

La Fontaine Centre for Contemporary Art

Showcasing regional and international contemporary artists, this gorgeous space hosts regular exhibitions. The place is a stunning elaboration of a 19th-century Bahraini town home, with lots of features typical of Gulf Islamic structure, such as coated colonnades, archways along with the touch fountain. The complex also comprises an amphitheatre, a fine-dining restaurant and among the city’s greatest spas.

Fish Market

Bahrain’s most important fish market kicks off before the dawn call to prayer, when Manama’s anglers bring their new haul into this practical, snowy tile-covered hall. Local fish connoisseurs are combined by the team of exclusive restaurants since they make their everyday purchases. Get here early, once the sector is in its smelliest and noisiest –it is like nowhere else in Manama.

Financial Harbour Towers

These iconic twin studs, including two enormous glass slides, belong to this Financial Harbour and are one of Manama’s most varied examples of contemporary architecture. The West and East Towers are 260m large, with 52 floors every day, and are dwelling mostly to corporate offices, even though there are a few cafes and shopping places available to the public at the lower degrees.

Manama Craft Centre

Home to a number of showrooms and workshops, this facility boosts the revival of traditional Bahraini crafts, like weaving, palm-leaf newspaper manufacturing, pottery, jewelry manufacturing and ironwork. All of the work is available, as well as the workshops shut an hour earlier than the showrooms, so get there early in the event that you would like to view the artisans at work.

Yateem Mosque

Constructed in 1992 by Sheikh Isa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, this mosque is readily identified by its distinctive minaret, which (unusually for a mosque) also acts as a clock tower. But the actual gem is indoors: framed by exquisite Kufic calligraphy, four columns hold up the double arches of the mosque’s remarkable mihrab (niche indicating the direction of Mecca), which can be elaborately carved in distinct repeating geometric patterns, making a devastating effect.

Manama Central Market

Malls have defeated Manama in a large way, however the antidote lies within this darkened vestige of Old Bahrain, situated off Lulu Ave. Fruit and veg overlooks the cavernous principal area, and you will rub shoulders with a extensive cross-section of Manama society doing their buying much from the glitz of this retail temples. Do not overlook the aromatic fish marketplace , in another building off the northwestern corner.

Adliya Mosque

This mosque, with elbows onion domes resting on sleek lines and highlighted curves blending with more conventional regional attributes, has a marginally art deco feel. Fitting, since it stays at Manama’s artsy area of Adliya. Non-Muslim traffic (dressed ) may pop in out of local prayer times to respect the more traditional inside. There’s a women’s entry to the side that results in a balcony.

Arabesque Art Gallery

Tucked away in a tranquil southwest corner of Adliya, this longstanding gallery displays the oils and watercolours of its proprietor, Wahab Al Koheji, that participates in painting neighborhood Gulf structure and street scenes.

Abu Bakr Al Sadiq Mosque

This large, contemporary mosque is called after the second caliph of Islam and has an architectural design and interior shared across town. There are no formal tourist centers, but people can pop in out of local prayer times. Eliminate apparel and footwear : for guys, this usually means no shorts and for ladies, loose clothes that covers all feet and hands, along with a headscarf. Entrances are sex segregated.

Sail Monument

This iconic sculpture, probably a homage to the timeless Bahraini dhows, overlooks a busy roundabout and can be showcased on the BD1 note. Regrettably, it’s hard to reach and also the pollution means that it isn’t the most agreeable place; if you’re eager to have a picture, it is ideal to park close to the Pakistani Embassy on Rd 1901.